get the most from
RoofScape software

How to use RoofScape

If you have arrived at this webpage, then it is most likely you have come from the RoofScape software by clicking the top button on the “New Job” or "Welcome to RoofScape" dialog - "How to Use RoofScape". This pic and all the example pictures of dialog's below are not real dialogs, they are examples only and not active. Go back to RoofScape to use the functions described.

Note: you also have the help button on each and every dialog box. If you're not sure what to do, click the question mark button at the bottom right of the dialog box. It takes you directly to the explanation of the function you are using.


 

The RoofScape software allows the user to create fast quotations based on first creating a 3D roof shape, and then having the roofestimating.com web server prepare the customer quotation using the material and labour rates saved on the secure roofestimating.com website. The quoting process jumps between the RoofScape application and the roofestimating.com web server which is displayed through your default web browser, such as Internet Explorer.

It is summarised by 6 easy steps: 1. Job-Info (defining job address and job number etc); 2. Draw-Roof (creating the 3D roof model); 3. Modify-Roof (adding architectural features such as dormers); 4. Check-Quantities (to check roof dimensions and pitch); 5. Prepare Quotation (sends the roof model data to the roofestimating.com wber server for automatic preparation of your quotation); 6. View Quotation (drops you into the web browser and roofestimating.com to view your customer's quotation in PDF format).

Prior to using the software, it is advisable to set your User-ID and Material/Labour Rates up. Follow these steps to set up your material and labour rates - (these will be used to calculate the value of your quotation) and set then UserID so the quotation reports are identified as yours and may only be seen by you.

 

  • Setting User-ID

    • 1. Select Cancel from the “Welcome to RoofScape” dialog box (see image above).
    2. Select File -> Set UserID from the pulldown menu. From the resultant dialog box, enter your UserID, which you will have received in an email from RoofEstimating.com. The image below shows a typical UserID screen - don't insert the number displayed here, enter the number emailed to you.

    Note: If you don't have a user ID, then you need to register at roofestimating.com to get one emailed to you.

    3. Then select OK from the dialog box, and your UserID will be set for accessing the website at a later date and identifying your customer quotations.

     

  • Setting Material/Labour Rates

    • 1. Select File -> Set Rates from the pulldown menu. This will open up your web browser and load the Nett Rates page on the roofestimating.com web site. These are your rates and only accessible by you. No-one else has access to these rates.
    2. You may need to Log In to roofestimating.com in order to access the page. To do so, simply enter your preferred Username and Password that you set when you first registered.
    3. Once you have arrived at the “Specify your own rates” page, you can then specify material and labour rates according to your customer's needs - typically your selling price for each item. See image below for an example of this:


    Note: The rates are based on your base units ie metric will be cost per square metre orper linear metre; if your base units are feet and inches, the cost will be per square foot or per linear foot.


    4. When you are satisfied with the values you have entered, save these away using the “Update Rates” button at the bottom of the page. Once again, you will be asked to enter your password to make any amendments to this page. This is to ensure absolute security of your information.

     

  • Completing your first Quotation

    •

    Your first quotation will be the hardest, as you learn the basics of how the software works. As a result, we have provided a number of simple steps to guarantee a result. After you get the basic elements working, you will then be able to branch-out and do more with the RoofScape software. If at any stage you feel lost, refer to the pulldown menu File -> which guides you through the process in easy numbered steps (1 through 6).

    1. Defining the Job Information

    (a) Your Company Details
    Select this function using the File -> 1. Job-Info -> Your Company Details menu option.
    The first real work you do in the software is define your company information. You only ever need to do this once, as the values are stored away within the system for future use. Once set, these values will print on the reports that the software automatically generates.
    The values you enter are self-explanatory, see the dialog below for confirmation of the standard values shipped with the software.


    (b) The Job Details
    Select this function using the File -> 1. Job-Info -> The Job Details menu option.
    The details for each job will need to be entered each time. Once again, these values will be printed out on some of the reports that the software automatically generates, so it is important that the values are entered correctly.
    At the very least, the user is expected to enter the Job Number value, which is used as a prefix for the reports that are automatically generated by the software. Refer to the Reference Manual for the RoofScape software to learn about some of the other characteristics of this function.

    (c) Selecting the Customer
    Select this function using the File -> 1. Job-Info -> Customer Details menu option.
    The Customer details will need to be entered each time a new customer is required, however customer records can be stored within the system to prevent users from having to re-enter the customer information if they use a customer regularly. To create a new customer, type the customer’s details into the dialog box and then select the Add button. To select an existing customer, simply select the “Sel Customer” button from the dialog. Customers can also be deleted from the database if they are no longer required by selecting the Del-Customer button on the dialog.

    2. Drawing a Roof

    In most instances, you will have a roof sketched on paper that you will need to quote on. However, for the sake of getting started, we will use a template file to create a roof. To do this, simply select File -> 2. Draw Roof from the pulldown menu and the Job Outline Selection dialog will appear. This dialog allows for the selection of a roof template (outline) or if you would like to create your own outline, select the Custom or Saved-Outline buttons at the bottom of the dialog to enter your own shape or select from a previous outline entered.

    Once the outline has been chosen, select the OK button to continue.

    If you decide to modify the outline shape from the template, the following dialog box is displayed and allows you adjust the individual line lengths and direction. In this way you can completely revise the template outline to suit your particular roof shape. Use the preview button to see the effect of your changes. After making changes to the outline, you should then check that the outline closes square (if indeed that is what it supposed to do. Select the CSq button and verify the effect on screen. Your roof outline should now be ready to go to the next step.

    Selecting OK then allows you to choose between a Hip & Valley (pitched) roof, or a Flat Roof.

    For the sake of this tutorial, select Hip&Valley (if not selected) and then choose OK.

    Once you have completed these 3 steps, the Roof Defaults dialog appears, allowing you to enter the roof material type, as well as the Storey, roof Pitch, Eave offset, Verge overhang (Gable Overhang) and Eave height.

    Once you have entered appropriate values for this, select the OK button to continue.

    Finally, select Continue from the final dialog box and the software will build a “standard” Hip & Valley roof based on the defined outline. See result below. At a later date, you may wish to refer to the Reference Manual to see how modifying the gable ends and eave-verge overhangs etc.

    3. Modify the Roof

    Most roof shapes require some modification from the basic hip and valley shape created by the software. Use the  Modify Roof options from the pulldown menu. The various architectural features that you need to add are usually a single mouse click to add to the roof.

    Don't forget to keep your eye on the prompt area at the bottom of the screen - it will continually help by telling you what to do next. The prompts scroll upwards, so read the bottom line, not the top line. If you're not sure what to do, read here first!

    Refer to the Reference Guide for more details on each of the functions in the Mod Roof menu. Most modify functions are self evident, others will require some reading or at least some experimentation. Have a go and if it doesn't work, select Undo from the Icon menu to repair your attempts.

    Next to the Undo button (left hand button) is the Redo button if you go back too far with your undo.

    Once all the features have been added to the roof, you are ready to go to the next step. THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!

    4. Check the Roof

    The roof model must now be checked to ensure that you have modelled it correctly. The quotation that will be generated by the roofestimating.com server software uses the model geometry information - the areas. lengths etc. and your previously input materials and labour rates, to generate the quotation and the roof drawing. It is very important to ensure that the model geometry is correct.

    Use the Tools -> Dimension Roof -> Auto-Insert to dimension the extents of the roof. Compare these dimensions to your sketch and ensure that the roof is the same. You will also find the Tools -> Dimension Roof -> Roof line lengths very helpful in checking the job.

    If you leave these dimensions on the model, they will be included in the printout of your roof plan and on the client quotation.

    Also check the roof pitch has been correctly defined - a lot of errors occur by using the incorrect roof pitch on a job Tools -> Show Pitch. Then check the line categories Tools -> Show Line Types. If a line category needs to be something else, like an eave line needs to be a box guter instead of Fascia, use Tools -> Change Entity -> Line Type. Select the line type you want, then select the line(s) to change. Click the Tools-> Show Line Types off and on again to see the change.

    You can also check the total geometric quantities against your expectation. Tools -> Tally Quantities.

    5. Submit the job for Preparation of the Quotation

    The roof model and your customer's details are all part of the job. From the File menu, select the File -> 5. Prepare Quotation option and the job details are exported to the roofestimating.com web server. Your roof geometry, the pricing rates and the customer's details are all brought together to create a roof plan and the client quotation. A pdf file is made of each of the standard reports and then posted to the web site for you to review.

    To export the model details, you must have a working connection to the Internet so that a connection can be made to the roofestimating.com server. Select the File -> Prepare Quotation option and your job is exported. Your job will be sent to the roofestimating.com site and the following dialog box displays the progess.

    Once the transmission is complete the software reports that the file was successfully uploaded to the server.

    The server software processes the information and in a flash, it will be stored on the web server for your review. Select the option from the File menu, View Quotation to review the quotation that has just been prepared.

    6. View Quotation

    This option opens Internet Explorer and connects you to the roofestimating.com web server. You are asked to log in using the user name and password you setup when you registered. Your subscription will be checked as part of the process and if it is current, you will be connected to the View Quotation page. All your recent jobs (if you have any, plus the latest job) are listed in order. The files are created using a date/time stamp and your user ID so that you can easily find them. The Display page will look much like the one below.

    The files are all in a PDF file format and will require Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view. You might need to load this FREE application from the Adobe web site if you do not already have it loaded. Once open in Acrobat Reader, you can print them on your local printer. You may also wish to attach the PDF file to an email and send it to your customer that way. So that you can review the file at a later time, maybe when you're not connected to the web, use File -> Save As in Acrobat Reader.

    That just about wraps up the quick start Online Help. For more information, refer to the online tutorials found on this site or the software manuals accessible from the Tools -> Manuals menu option.

    Or download them from here -

     

     

    The Process

    The tutorials listed below will introduce the correct steps to use to create the roof shape, check that it is correct and then create a quotation using your predefined rates. You may jump to any of the links at any time, but we suggest that you start with the Overview first. At least then you will understand the process before you get too deep and lose the thread of how to get the best from your use of our online estimating system.

     

    These tutorials will get you started - if you have a further question, please drop us a line - info@roofestimating.com

     

    Software Services

    For our roofing customers, AppliCad has the most advanced software at a level that suits your business.

    A business doesn't make money costing, quoting, designing, documenting, drawing, scheduling, organising and managing. These things are important, however, you only make money installing the roof. AppliCad will significantly reduce the time spent on non-income-earning administration, and significantly speed up the actual income earning task of suppling and installing roofing.

    Visit the AppliCad web site for more details about the full range of products for modelling roofs, estimating roofing materials.