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The most common question we have received from adjusters so far is, "Does Xactimate work with Windows 7".  We contacted Xactimate, and they claim that Windows 7 is fully compatible with Xactimate.  Please see below.

Trouble importing pictures to photo sheet in Windows 7 when using Xactimate

I contacted two of our adjusters who switched from Windows Vista to Windows 7.  Both adjusters love Windows 7.  At first, both thought there were no compatibility issues with Xact; however, we have found that if you place pictures on your computer (in a folder on your desktop for example), and then import them to your photo sheet, the clarity is degraded to the point the photos are almost unacceptable. 

Solution

To get around this, you can import the photos directly from your camera memory card or thumbdrive into Xactimate.  As long as you do not save the photos on your computer, the clarity will not be degraded.

I will note that both of these adjusters were using Xactimate v. 25.4.

We have contacted Xactimate Corporate and made them aware of this situation.  They report that at this time, there is no "fix" for this problem.

Thanks,

Shane Pratt
Claims Adjusters 411, Inc
Xactimate Affiliate Trainer
http://www.claimsadjusters411.com/a.../training/

Dear Allmike,

I'm probably not the best person to answer your question, as I have not worked with XM8 26 or 27.  I'll share what little I know.

The easy way to diagram an elevation is to change the wall thickness to 1" and draw it as a room with the wall tool.  That, of course, would generate an inspection violation since the room would be larger than XM8 expects...so you would have to explain that.   If you don't like the violation, you can chop up the elevation into smaller sections.  Draw in windows and doors with the reference tool.  Use the varables in your estimate with a note to explain why you are putting siding on the floor.

If you want to waste a lot of time, you can build the rooms that form the elevation and define the ceilings as box, sloped, peaked or whatever to match the actual elevation.  You'll have to use the orientation tool to get them turned right relative to each other, and plug in the tall wall, short wall, and peak heights in the properties section of each room. 

When you get this done, you can view each room elevation by placing the elevation arrow facing the wall you want to see,....but you want to see the full exterior elevation.  You can do that, too!  

Look at it in 3D, selecting all levels if you have more than one.  Roll it up to view the elevation you want.  There is your elevation, but most reviewers can't  see this since they are viewing in pdf.    You have to do a screen capture, paste that into Photoshop, rastorize it, save it as an jpg, reopen in Photoshop, and add text to show dimensions  and other labels you would use in a hand drawn diagram.  Save it again, and add it to your photos of the same elevation with appropriate details in the caption.

Maybe the experts have a better way that I don't know about.  I think there is a good reason why most adjusters draw their diagrams by hand.

I hope this helps or leads to a better answer,

Randy Cox

If it doesn't fit....adjust it.

Tim,

You have to remember that xm8 was designed by a contractor for contractors. That in it self says a lot. No way were they going to get shorted on a job.

You would think that xm8 would have a max allowable under the  BSC factored in  so that it would never exceed the original BSC. However, too many carriers are saying to factor in bsc to get the claim resolved. I am supprised that they have not tried. Gee, here is xm8 29 with max allowable for base service charges. xm8 could then charge $40/version for all the versions you would need. So what if you had to pay $350/mo or more to have all the versions just to keep up with your clients.

Having the factored in is good for the IA writing the estimate, good for the contractor and bad for the public when they see their premiums increase because of it.  

Aw Roche, that is a dirty little secret that you told the public who keep paying higher cost for hazard insurance each year. The adjuster makes more fee,s the contractor makes much more profit and the 80% of insurance carriers who write Homeowners require x-mate charge all paid losses to the loss expense factor; therefore, rate increase each and ever year.

Do you really mean carriers who use xmate as the ONLY software program THEY will accept with their staff and independent adjusters  are using BSC as a fudge factor for the hard cases to settle. I remember the old "fudge factor" on the DOS programs that was up to the adjuster to make this call. Not the one infallible program......because 80% of Homeowner insurance claims in the US would be somewhat inflated by just software alone.

Makes an old adjuster think the ones who are getting screwed are the policyholders on the cost of insurance. I have been hearing that for years and remember my cost increasing 100% with the mold gold in Texas, when carriers were paying claims they did not owe.

  My close adjuster friend sent me Macros to load into exactimate.I am fairly new to x so I was wondering how I can download these to the program. Also is it possible to load them to the training demo program? I know it must be fairly easy.

Please read my question above about inserting overlays on a roof in sketch

A two day course in Xactimate is a waste of time. I have been in the field about 20 years and used Integriclaim for many of the past 8 or so years. Seeing that the trend is moving to Xactimate, I enrolled in a 5 day course. The people who taught the course were pathetic and what I learned essentially was almost nothing. I proceeded some time later to take a 3 day course which was far better but still overwhelming if you had never used it before.

First, make sure whomever you take the initial course from knows how to teach. You should be able to take very good notes and lastly, immediately after leaving your course, you should allow about 3 hours per day study time to review workbooks and any other materials you can get your hands on. If you do not practice daily after your initial introduction to the course, you will forget what you were presented with in a week.

Hope this gives you a good insight.

I am working with Xactimate, practicing daily.

Here is my question. After I have completed a Sketch floorplan and I am preparing to put a Sketch roof on the home. I know there is a way to produce a shadow of the floorplan on the Sketch and then put the new Roof drawing on it using it as a guide for the Roof.

How do I produce the shadow of the floorplan on the new drawing I am preparing to make of the Roof?

Hi Peter,

Sketch uses levels to distinguish between different parts of the house. I'm assuming your floor plan was done on the main level. Locate the main level tab at the bottom left of your sketch and right click on it. Select "insert above." Write "roof" in the blank for level name. Press OK; then close the dialogue box.

The "shadow" of your floor plan should be there for you to lay your roof over. If you can't see it, tilt your laptop a little up or down and it should appear in dotted lines.

Alternately, you can name this level "2nd Floor" add a second floor sketch, then a roof level over those two.

After you get your sketch done, look around at the various "properties" of the levels you have created. You've used default values, but they can be changed to reflect the varying values you'll find in the real world.

Good luck
Randy Cox