Import Cost Items from On Center On-Screen Takeoff

On Center On-Screen Takeoff enables the display of digital plans at scale and allows interaction with the physical parameters in the plan to easily calculate a wide range of quantity types, such as counts, lengths, and areas. Estimate then imports quantities and incorporates them into the Estimate cost model in order to derive labor and equipment hours, resource costs, overheads and contingencies, and more.

This import provides you with the ability to import cost items, and employ Estimate resources and assemblies to cost items, as a means of setting up a preliminary estimate in Estimate. Specifically, this import provides a means for you to define cost item data in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register.

You have the ability to create new Level 1 cost items, or add subordinate cost items under existing cost items in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register.

Any new units of measure found in the cost items imported from On Center On-Screen Takeoff are automatically added to the job's Units of Measure register.

It is recommended that you review these new units of measure and modify them as appropriate (e.g., define conversion factors and alternate units of measure).

Design Data Integrator

The Estimate Design Data Integrator shows the take-off items and quantities from the selected On Center On-Screen Takeoff Project that are available to import into the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register.

Status Field

The Status column on the Estimate Design Data Integrator register indicates the relationship between the source project and the Estimate job:

  • New - This item is not currently included in the Estimate job.

  • Imported-Current - This item has been imported into the Estimate job, and it has not changed in the source project since import.

  • Imported-Not Current - This item has been imported into the Estimate job, but it has changed in the source project and it needs to be updated in Estimate to keep the information synchronized.

View Options

Use the following options to personalize your view of the Estimate Design Data Integrator screen:

  • Select the Show source items not imported check box to display all items with a Status of New.

  • Select the Show source items already imported check box to display all items with a Status of Imported-Current or Imported-Not Current.

  • Select the Only show imported items that have changed check box (only available when the Show source items already imported check box is selected) to show all items with a Status of Imported-Not Current, and hide all items with a Status of Imported-Current.

  • Click Hide selected to hide all currently selected (checked) items.

  • Click the Refresh button to display any previously hidden items.

  • Click the Tile w/ CBS button to display the Estimate Design Data Integrator and the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register side by side.

Imported Columns

When importing an item into the CBS from the Estimate Design Data Integrator, the following fields are filled on the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register:

  • The Description column for imported Cost Items in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register is populated from the Name column in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

  • The Description column for employed Resources in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register, along with related cost information, is populated from the Resource Rate Register.

  • The Description column for employed Assemblies in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register, along with the Assembly field and the assembly's line items, is populated from the Resource Assembly Register.

  • The Forecast (T/O) Quantity column in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register is populated from the Quantity column in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

  • The Unit of Measure column in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register is populated from the UM column in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

  • The Notes column in the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register is populated from the Notes column in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

  • The Data Source column on the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register is populated with On Center:<On Center Project name>.

Import Cost Items

Use the following step-by-step to import cost items.

Step by Step — Import Cost Items

  1. From the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register Actions tab, choose Import/update CBS > On Center On-Screen Takeoff.

  2. The Estimate Design Data Integrator shows. If the CBS does not display next to it, select the Tile w/CBS check box.

  3. On the CBS, highlight the row where you want to add the cost items:

    • To create Level 1 cost items, highlight the first blank row on the register.

    • To create subordinate cost items, highlight the existing cost item under which you want to create subordinates.

  4. On the Estimate Design Data Integrator, select the check box next to each item that you want to import.

    To select or unselect all of the items at after, click the Select All toggle button.

  5. Click the Import/Update options... link. The Import/Update Rules dialog shows.

  6. On the Import/Update Rules dialog, select Cost Item from the Import/Update as: combo box and click OK.

    The check boxes on the Import/Update Rules dialog are only used when updating an item already in the CBS. All of this information is automatically included when importing a new item.

  7. Click the Update CBS button to import the selected items. The new cost items appear in green on the CBS.

Employ Resources and Assemblies

Use the following step-by-step to employ resources and assemblies.

Step by Step — Employ Resources and Assemblies

  1. From the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register Actions tab, choose Import/update CBS > On Center On-Screen Takeoff.

  2. The Estimate Design Data Integrator shows. If the CBS does not display next to it, select the Tile w/ CBS check box.

  3. On the CBS, highlight the cost item (row) that you want to employ a resource or assembly.

  4. On the Estimate Design Data Integrator, click the Import/Update options... link. The Import/Update Rules dialog shows.

  5. On the Import/Update Rules dialog box, select an option from the Import/Update as: combo box:

    • To employ a resource, select Resource Employment and click OK.

    • To employ an assembly, select Assembly Employment and click OK.

    The check boxes on the Import/Update Rules dialog are only used when updating an item already in the CBS. All of this information is automatically included when importing a new item.

  6. On the Estimate Design Data Integrator, select the check box next to the item that you want to employ as a resource or assembly to the selected cost item.

  7. Click in the Resource column on that row, and click on the arrow in that cell to display a selection register.

  8. Select the resource or assembly on the selection register and click OK.

  9. Click the Update CBS button to import the selected item. The new resource or assembly has now been employed to the cost item, and it appears in green in the CBS.

    To employ multiple resources or assemblies to the same cost item, select the check box and choose the resource or assembly code on each applicable row in the Estimate Design Data Integrator before clicking Update CBS.

Update Previously Imported Items

The Update feature is used to refresh Quantities, Descriptions, Units of Measure and Notes on items that have a Status of Imported-Not Current in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

After a resource or assembly has been employed to a cost item in the Estimate Design Data Integrator, the resource or assembly assignment can only be changed from within the CBS. It cannot be changed directly in the Estimate Design Data Integrator.

Use the following step-by-step to update previously imported items.

Step by Step — Update Previously Imported Items

  1. From the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) Register Actions tab, choose Import/update CBS > On Center On-Screen Takeoff.

  2. The Estimate Design Data Integrator shows. If the CBS does not display next to it, select the Tile w/CBS check box.

  3. To view only the Estimate Design Data Integrator items that need to be updated in Estimate:

    1. Remove the check mark from the Show source items not imported check box.

    2. Select the Show source items already imported check box.

    3. Select the Only show imported items that have changed check box. Only the items with a Status of Imported-Not Current are now shown.

  4. In the Estimate Design Data Integrator, select the items to update:

    • To update all of the items, click the Select All button.

    • To update selected items, select one or more individual check boxes.

  5. Click the Import/Update options... link. The Import/Update Rules dialog shows.

  6. Select the appropriate check boxes to update Quantities, Descriptions, Units of Measure, and Notes, and click OK.

    The combo box on the Import/Update Rules dialog is only used when importing a new cost item or employing a new resource or assembly. It is not used when updating items already existing in the CBS.

  7. Click the Update CBS button to update the selected items.