2026-02-28 12:02:03

It is difficult to express how little accubid does for the user. Except for LiveCount and SupplierLink (which are separate programs anyhow) 100% of its functionality could be replicated with database queries.

This trait is not unique to Accubid,¹ what is unique (and uniquely frustrating) is how little the workflow would change if it was.

If you were to replace the Takeoff tab with a command prompt, this is what it would look like to take off two receptacles:

INSERT INTO Takeoff (drawing,area,phase,system,bid_item,labor_factor,assembly,length,count)
VALUES ('E1.01','Level 01','BOH','Electrical','Building','Standard','DUPLEX REC',0,2);

Given the option, I'd already pick the console; but I'm aware I'm an outlier. Consider though, that ... Not to mention that such a schema would allow mouse-less takeoff, a considerable boon for ergonomics.

I get strange looks when I suggest that construction estimating could be fun. Truly I believe it would be fun, except for the total absence of skeuomorphism, interfaces designed to resemble their physical counterparts.

!level-selector.jpg

Mock-up of a level selection interface, perhaps for quickly creating typicals.

   |     Roof     |
   |   Level 15   |
   ⭍ Levels 04-14 ⭍
   |   Level 03   |
   |   Level 02   |
___|   Level 01   |___
   |   Level G1   |

Programs like this are called CRUD (Create Read Update Delete) apps. ↩︎

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2026-02-28 12:02:03

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