Estimating Program help

[Harshaw]

I am an estimator for an industrial and commercial insulation contractor. I have compiled an enormous amount of data over the years but I am still figuring all of my estimates by hand.
For instance, I might need to figure that a 3” pipe will be insulated with 2” thick fiberglass pipe covering. This pipe is outside, so it will need to be jacketed with .016” thick aluminum secured every 4” with sheet metal screws.
The 90 and 45 degree elbows need to be insulated with preformed fiberglass elbows and jacketed with preformed aluminum elbow covers. Every 15 feet there will be a pipe support. This line is a schedule 40 steel pipe and it has valves on it and each valve has a flange at both ends so the insulation for the valves will have to be big enough to fit over the flanges. Where the 3” pipe might require 2” of insulation, a 1” pipe might only require 1-1/2” of insulation. Each size and thickness has its own production figures. This is the same with prices for the types of insulation and jacketing.
I have compiled all of this information into tables. Where before I had to get out my books and look each up, no I go to my tables, find the amount per day, and calculated that by the number of items. I can look up each type of insulation for each type of fitting or valve and I can calculate how much time all of this will take. I can also look up to see what size covering will fit on a 3” flanged valve. I have another table that will tell me how many square feet of jacketing the pipe, fittings and valves will require. I have prices for all of the associated materials.
The same happens when I try to figure equipment or ductwork. We deal with many kinds of insulation and just as many jacketing and finishes.

I bought Access 2007 and have brought my tables in. I want to have a spreadsheet or form that will allow me to link this information together and make the proper calculations. I want to be able to change the pipe sizes or materials from a list and have the calculations adjusted accordingly.
Again, I have all of the figures; I just don't know exactly how to go about getting all of this linked together in one place. I have only dabbled in computer code writing and I really don't know very much about it. That is why I picked Access because I figured it would have about everything in it that I need. I know the layout of the form I need, I just don’t know where to go from there.
Any guidance would be appreciated.

[JustJim]

I am an estimator for an industrial and commercial insulation contractor. I have compiled an enormous amount of data over the years but I am still figuring all of my estimates by hand.
For instance, I might need to figure that a 3” pipe will be insulated with 2” thick fiberglass pipe covering. This pipe is outside, so it will need to be jacketed with .016” thick aluminum secured every 4” with sheet metal screws.
The 90 and 45 degree elbows need to be insulated with preformed fiberglass elbows and jacketed with preformed aluminum elbow covers. Every 15 feet there will be a pipe support. This line is a schedule 40 steel pipe and it has valves on it and each valve has a flange at both ends so the insulation for the valves will have to be big enough to fit over the flanges. Where the 3” pipe might require 2” of insulation, a 1” pipe might only require 1-1/2” of insulation. Each size and thickness has its own production figures. This is the same with prices for the types of insulation and jacketing.
I have compiled all of this information into tables. Where before I had to get out my books and look each up, no I go to my tables, find the amount per day, and calculated that by the number of items. I can look up each type of insulation for each type of fitting or valve and I can calculate how much time all of this will take. I can also look up to see what size covering will fit on a 3” flanged valve. I have another table that will tell me how many square feet of jacketing the pipe, fittings and valves will require. I have prices for all of the associated materials.
The same happens when I try to figure equipment or ductwork. We deal with many kinds of insulation and just as many jacketing and finishes.

I bought Access 2007 and have brought my tables in. I want to have a spreadsheet or form that will allow me to link this information together and make the proper calculations. I want to be able to change the pipe sizes or materials from a list and have the calculations adjusted accordingly.
Again, I have all of the figures; I just don't know exactly how to go about getting all of this linked together in one place. I have only dabbled in computer code writing and I really don't know very much about it. That is why I picked Access because I figured it would have about everything in it that I need. I know the layout of the form I need, I just don’t know where to go from there.
Any guidance would be appreciated.

Now that's a bunch of information!

I suspect that the stopping point is when you say that you have "compiled all of this information into tables". You have probably got your information in spreadsheets (engineers love spreadsheets!)

As an alternative, read this , it may lead you down a different path.

I'm sure that we can help you build a relational database that will achieve your objectives.

Jim