Release Guide

Sage Timberline Office

2007 Means Release

Means Databases

Construction Knowledgebase

Residential Knowledgebase

New in This Release

For 2007, RSMeans has adopted the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
MasterFormat 2004 (MF04) data structure for all of their databases. Previously, RSMeans
databases used the MasterFormat 1995 (MF95) data structure. The 2007 Means Integrator
wizard will update and convert existing Means databases from MF95 to MF04 or allow you
to create a new Means database in the MF04 format.

IMPORTANT:
■ You must upgrade to Sage Timberline Office Estimating products version 9.4.0 or later before you install
the 2007 Means Integrator.
■ The 2007 Means Integrator will only work for Means 2007 databases.

Overview
The Means databases correspond to the Means Cost Data Books you received with your
shipment.

With Sage Timberline Office Means Integrator you can combine multiple databases into
one composite database or you can update the pricing on an existing Means database with
current Means pricing.

Each Means database comes on a separate CD, which will install a file called <database
name>.mim.

1 Install Estimating 9.4.0 or later.

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2 Install each 2007 Means database and the 2007 Means Integrator found on the CD.

3 Start the 2007 Means Integrator by clicking Start > All Programs > Sage Software >
Sage Timberline Office > Estimating > Means Integrator.

4 Follow the steps through the Means Integrator wizard.

In the Prepare Database window:

‡ Select Transfer Data to create a new Means database or add items into an existing
Means database.
‡ Select Update Data to update prices in an existing Means database.
You have the option of combining or repricing multiple Means databases at the same
time. In the Prepare Database window, browse to and select multiple databases (.mim
files).

Moving MF95 to MF04

The 16-division MF95 scheme has been expanded to 49 divisions in MF04. Many of the
"traditional" divisions remain the same - such as Concrete in Division 3 or Finishes in
Division 9. However, some divisions have expanded across multiple divisions.

The table below illustrates where the 2007 Means Integrator conversion process will create
and place MF95 phases in the MF04 format.

Master Format 1995 Master Format 2004

Division 02 -- Site Construction Division 02 -- Existing Conditions

Division 31 -- Earthwork
Division 32 -- Exterior Improvements
Division 33 -- Utilities
Division 34 -- Transportation
Division 35 -- Waterway and Marine

Division 10 -- Specialties Division 10 -- Specialties

Division 08 - Openings

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 Master Format 1995
Division 11 -- Equipment
Division 13 -- Special Construction
Division 14 -- Conveying Systems
Division 15 -- Mechanical
Division 16 -- Electrical
Release Guide
Master Format 2004
Division 11 -- Equipment
Division 31 -- Earthwork
Division 32 -- Exterior Improvements
Division 33 -- Utilities
Division 34 -- Transportation
Division 35 -- Waterway and Marine
Division 41 -- Material Processing and Handling Equip
Division 42 -- Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying
Equipment
Division 43 -- Process Gas and Liquid Handling,
Purification and Storage Equipment
Division 44 -- Pollution Control Equipment
Division 13 -- Special Construction
Division 21 -- Fire Suppression
Division 25 -- Integrated Automation
Division 28 -- Electronic Safety and Security
Division 41 -- Material Processing and Handling Equip
Division 42 -- Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying
Equipment
Division 43 -- Process Gas and Liquid Handling,
Purification and Storage Equipment
Division 44 -- Pollution Control Equipment
Division 14 -- Conveying Systems
Division 41 -- Material Processing and Handling Equip
Division 42 -- Process Heating, Cooling, and Drying
Equipment
Division 43 -- Process Gas and Liquid Handling,
Purification and Storage Equipment
Division 44 -- Pollution Control Equipment
Division 22 -- Plumbing
Division 23 -- HVAC
Division 26 -- Electrical
Division 27 -- Communications
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2007 Means Integrator Workflows

In the Means Integrator wizard Prepare Database window, you can select whether to
transfer data or update data. The following information describes the outcome of various
options for moving your MF95 data to the MF04 format.

Transfer Data
Select Transfer Data if you are ready to start using the MasterFormat 2004 structure
exclusively. You can select to transfer Means 2007 data to a new database or to an existing
database you have already been working with.

If you select an existing database that is currently in the MasterFormat 1995 structure, the
Means Integrator will create a copy of that database and automatically convert it to the
MasterFormat 2004 structure and transfer in the new 2007 items.

Transfer Data—New Database

A new Sage Timberline Office Estimating database is created and populated with all of the
Means 2007 items in the MF04 format.

Transfer Data—Existing Means MF95 Database

When you transfer the Means 2007 items to an existing Means MF95 database, the
Integrator will first copy your existing database and convert it to Master Format 2004. It
will then transfer in the new Means 2007 items to the copied database.

Any custom phases and corresponding items you have created are renumbered to the
appropriate "holding" group (Divisions 51-67) during conversion. See the section below
titled “Mapping Non-Means Phases.”

Transfer Data—Existing Means MF04 Database

If you select to transfer to an existing MF04 database, the Integrator will transfer any new
Means 2007 items to your database.

Transfer Data—Non Means Database

If you select to integrate with a non-Means database, the Integrator will transfer the Means
2007 items to your existing database. The resulting database will contain both your existing
phases and items and the Means phases and items. Addition of Means 2007 phases and
items could cause your phase sort to look differently in Estimating.
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Update Data
Select Update Data if you have current databases in the MF95 structure that need to be
updated with 2007 prices. The Means Integrator will create a copy of your MF95 database
and automatically convert it to MF04. Items in both databases will then be updated with
2007 information. When you have completed your MF95 estimates, you can then switch
over to the MF04 database. We strongly encourage you to switch to MF04 this year. The
2008 Means Integrator will not recognize MF95 databases.

Update Data—Existing Means MF95 Database

If you select to update your existing Means MF95 database, the Integrator will create a copy
of your existing database and convert it automatically to Master Format 2004. Items in both
databases will then be updated with Means 2007 information.

Update Data—Existing Means MF04 Database

If you select to update an existing MF04 database, the Integrator will update the items you
specify with 2007 information.

Update Data—Non Means Database

If you select to update a non-Means database, the Integrator will ask you to make another
selection. Updating a non-Means database will result in no change.

Notes
■
Your existing MF95 databases will be converted to MF04 automatically while running
through the wizard.
■ 2007 data will provide price updates in both the MF95 and MF04 format. You will
automatically receive price updates for both databases with 2007 pricing information.
■ New databases will automatically be formatted using MF04.
■ The Means Integrator will put the MF95 in three WBS codes on the item record, allowing
Estimating Extended users to sequence their data by MF95 or MF04.
■ Custom phases will be renumbered. See the section below titled “Mapping Non-Means
Phases.”
■ Existing estimates will not be converted to the new formatting scheme.
■ We recommend that you complete your existing estimates in MF95 and move to the
MF04 when you start new estimates.
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■ 2007 RSMeans pricing books are available only in the MF04 data format.
■ MF95 data format will not be available with the January 2008 Means Release and MF95
databases will not be updated with 2008 prices.

Mapping Non-Means Phases and Items

If you have created custom phases that do not exist in the Means database of RSMeans
books, the conversion process will create a holding group phase and move the custom
phases appropriately. After the conversion, you can move the phases from the holding
group phase to the desired location using Database Editor.
NOTE: If you have created custom items under existing Means phases, the Means integration process will
move the items with the phase for the MF04 conversion. The item will retain the existing item number.

Determining where non-Means phases are moved.

The conversion process will move each custom phase to the appropriate group by replacing
the first digit of the MF95 (0 or 1) with a 5 or 6.

Phase 67 is created for any other phases that do not have a corresponding Means mapping.
For example, if you created a division 17 or higher or utilized a non-Means formatting
scheme, it would be placed in Phase 67.
NOTE: Use the Database Editor application to renumber or move the phase from this location to the
desired location.
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Estimating Cost Index

This feature in Estimating gives you greater access to cost index information in RSMeans
databases. If you select the standard national average pricing method when you transfer an
RSMeans database (Select Pricing window), the RSMeans standard national average will
be used as the base price, and all RSMeans city cost indexes will be available for use in the
Estimating Cost Index feature. If you select a city cost index as the pricing method, no cost
indexes will be available in Estimating.

Help and Information

The 2007 Means Integrator contains updated Help to assist you in converting and updating
your databases. To use Help, select Help Topics from the Help menu or click [Help] in
most windows.

Sage Timberline Office Customer Support

For Support in the U.S. or Canada:

For further assistance, contact Customer Support. If your service plan provides online
technical support, you can:

Log on to www.sagetimberlineonline.com.
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Click Solve > Support > Request Support. This sends your request directly to Customer
Support.

If you prefer to speak to Customer Support, contact us by phone at the number listed below:

In the U.S. or Canada, call 800-551-8307. Support hours are Monday through Friday from
6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT (Pacific time).

© 2007 Sage Software, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective holders.

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