How Complicated is it to Add a Square-Footage Calculator to a Site?

[SteveO]

I have a client who needs a web site. I'm the writer on the job. He told me he wants a square-footage calculator to figure area (he is a building materials supplier) so customers can get an idea of how much their job is going to cost. He said that a site designer told him this is very expensive to put together. I can see how it would be if you did the coding from scratch. But it would seem logical that a "stock" calculator from a web design tools site (I assume these exist) could do the same thing for a nominal fee, if not for free.

Any web design folks care to comment? Suggestions on where this might be found? TIA.

[beagledave]

Google "widget square footage"..wouldn't that do it?

[Seacrest]

sf = x * y

Done.

[SteveO]

Yeah Seacrest but he wanted an actual calculator on there. I already fed him that suggestion, but thanks! Beagledave, nope, that didn't yield much, but thanks.

[Seacrest]

How does he define "expensive."
That kind of thing is pretty easy to write.
All you need is a couple of form elements for input and a container for output.
The most time-consuming part of it is probably the look and feel of the UI.

[M A V I C]

Also depends on if it needs live updating (ajax), graphical representations, variants like odd shapes, materials....

But if you just want someone to be able to input their square footage and output a price, that's like a $50 job you post on craigslist.

[SteveO]

Yeah, that's what I thought! A simple, cheap job. I don't know the web designer, but I've shared my thoughts with the client on why this should be a cheap job.