TUG Tip - Estimating

Grand Total Unit Price Column (SQL):

The Grand Total Unit Price column shows the price per unit including addons. Collapse the spreadsheet. Enter the total job size in the first overline field. Your spreadsheet needs to show the Grand Total Unit Price column.

TUG Tip - Estimating

Fill Down

Use the Fill Down function when you have several items that need the same value, name, or description. The fields to be changed do not need to be directly below the starting field, but they can be anywhere in the estimate. To do this:     1) Enter the value in the first cell. Select the cells that you want to fill with the same value.     2) Right-click the selected area and select Fill Down. Tip: You can skip items by using the CTRL key. Select the starting cell, press CTRL, and click the rest of the fields that you want to change.

TUG Tip - Estimating

Drag and Drop Items Between Estimates

It portions of an estimate are the same or very similar to a new estimate, you can drag and drop the items rather that doing takeoff on the similar portions. To do this:

1) Select the item or items

2) Hold down the left mouse button

3) Drag the items to the new estimate

TUG Tip - Estimating

Copy and Paste One-Time Items

Occasionally you have a one-time item you need to copy, to make changes to the description or pricing information. To copy one-time item: 1) Click in the row header, right-click, and select Copy, then right-click and select Paste to duplicate the item. 2) Continue this procedure for as many copies or the item as you need.

TUG Tip - Sage Estimating

Auto Sum (SQL)

Select (hold down left mouse) takeoff quantities in the takeoff column. You can see the total “sum” on the status bar, and then copy (right click) and paste the total “sum” into the overlines.

TUG Tip - Estimating

Working in the Items List (SQL)

Selecting Multiple Items by Using CTRL and SHIFT Keys. The CTRL and SHIFT keys let you select multiple items. Select and item, press the SHIFT key, and select a second item. All items between the two are selected. Select an item, press the CTRL Key and select more items. Only the items you click are selected, not the ones in between.

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

Spreadsheet Tip - Show Addons

You can see exactly what addons are allocated to each item and how many dollars each addon represents. To do this, click an item or overline, right-click, and select Addons Details…

TUG Tip -- Estimating

Spreadsheet Tip - Adjust Overlines

You can adjust an entire group of items by typing an amount in the overline field. This automatically opens the Adjust Column window: Select Spread and click OK. All the items under that overline are proportionally adjusted.

TUG Tip -- Estimating

Spreadsheet Tip - Adjust Columns

You can adjust columns on the spreadsheet by any of the following Adjustment Types: Percent, Multiply, Divide, Replace, Add or Spread. To adjust the columns, use one of these techniques:

1) Drag the mouse

2) Use CTRL + click and SHIFT + click

3) Right-click and select Adjust…

Tip: The tool tip shows both the accumulated adjustments and the original amount. You can select an item and then select Adjust Column. Select Undo Adjustment to return the item to the original amount. Select Finalize Adjustment to make the adjusted amount permanent. (You cannot undo a finalized adjustment).

TUG Tip --Estimating

SQL Estimating - Move or Copy Items

Move or copy items from one location or WBS code to another if the Location or WBS code was not assigned, or it was assigned incorrectly. To do this with a Location: Click on the Location tab Select the item/items Right-click from the header row and select Move/Copy to move them to the correct Location Similar operation with a WBS code

TIP: In some areas of work the same part of the project is repeated many times. For example, you may have several floors of a building. You can take off one floor, then copy the items on the spreadsheet into the other floors, and make required changes to the subsequent floors.

You are also able to Move/Copy assemblies. Copying assemblies between WBS codes brings the audit trail and review with it.

TUG Tip -- Estimating

Multiple Estimates Opened At Once

Tabbed estimates vs Non tabbed estimates. Go to File - Options to switch between how you see your estimates, tabbed vs non tabbed. Check the box if you would like to view your estimates in tabs. Once you have multiple estimates open you can collapse the estimates. Tile the estimates vertically and compare unit prices (the unit price column must be visible in your spreadsheet layout). You can drag and drop items between estimates: If portions of an estimate are the same or very similar to a new estimate, you can drag and drop the items rather that doing takeoff on the similar portions. To do this: 1) Select the item or items, 2) Hold down the left mouse button 3) Drag the items to the new estimate. NOTE: You can drag and drop assemblies between estimates and the audit trail goes along for the ride.

TUG Tip -- Estimating

SQL Estimating - Crews Multiple Rates Tables

You can assign multiple rate tables to an estimate. For instance, if the project you’re bidding will take multiple years and labor wages will have increases after the first year, you can assign the wage rates accordingly. If you have taken the project off with one wage rate table, you’ll need to adjust your estimate by; at your spreadsheet, turn on the Labor Rate Table Column and adjust items accordingly to the year they will be built by selecting the correct rate table from the drop down list. Or if you know prior to taking off items, have the first year wage rate table on the estimate information page, complete the first year’s takeoff. Go to the Estimating Information page and adjust the wage rate table to the second years’ wage rate table. When closing the estimate information page, do not update the wage rates for the existing items in the estimate. Now, everything you take off from that point on will have the second years’ wage rates. Another way to address this issue is by utilizing an addon to allocate labor/wage increases over a given period of time, and you can even use a "range" addon to allocate increased labor costs to specific areas/WBS values of your estimate.

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

Use Template Estimates

Template estimates let you save time when you create estimates. If you have certain portions of jobs that are the same – for example, general conditions, locations, WBS codes, cover page information, addons – template estimates can save you time during setup. To use a template estimate:

• Takeoff items and assign WBS codes and locations
  
• Delete the items from the estimate
• Set up the addons and cover page information
• Takeoff any items that stay the same
• To create a new estimate, select File > Duplicate Estimate (rather than New Estimate) and copy the template estimate. Or you can Manage Estimate to Duplicate your template Estimate, just right click on your template estimate and Duplicate
• All of your addons, cover page information and items are already set up for you. In addition, the locations and WBS values are already in the drop-down lists for you to select; you don't have to type them again.
  

TUG Tip -- Estimating

SQL Estimating - Export Files

We can export estimate files to a .pdf format. To save an estimated report in a read-only electronic format that can be emailed, export the files to a *.pdf format. These files can be viewed using an Adobe Acrobat reader (available for free) or Bluebeam Revu. Select the report you desire and select the options for how you want it to print. Click the Export button. Give the report a name then select “Portable Document Format” from the drop-down list. You can also Print to PDF by using the Printer Setup button in any of the desired reports.

We can export files to Excel. Select the report you desire and select the options for how you want it to print. Click the Export button. Export a file to a native *.xlsx format by choosing Microsoft Excel Workbook as the file type. All formatting, fonts, colors etc., will save correctly. It creates 3 tabs, cover page, main body and totals. In File/Options, there is now an option to Include Formulas when exporting a spreadsheet to Excel [be cautious if you are choosing a Spreadsheet Report, as you will have columns hidden in your Excel export].

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

SQL Estimating - Merge Estimates

Merge Estimates allow you to merge multiple estimates into one. One use for the merge estimate feature is to allow multiple estimators to work on a project. Each estimator creates their own estimate, then you can merge them into a Master Estimate. Merge Estimates is found on the File Tab. The Merge Estimate Wizard will walk you through the steps for a successful merge. Please note: if you have different add-ons on each estimate, you’ll need to update the desired add-ons in your Master Estimate.

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

SQL Estimating - Substitute Items on the Spreadsheet

To substitute items on the spreadsheet with an item from your database, highlight the row of the desired item, right-click and select Substitute Item. The substitute item feature takes you to the same location in the item list as the previous item. If you choose to substitute an item, the quantity stays the same, but the item is priced with the default database item pricing. If you have multiple of the same item in your estimate, it will ask you “Would you like to substitute duplicate items?”

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

Managing Default WBS Assignments in Sage Estimating

Managing Default WBS Assignments in Sage Estimating To assign WBS values for Takeoff, we’ve found the workflow below to be most efficient:

1. Select Takeoff / Default Values
2. Select or enter the intended wbs values from the grid
3. DON’T CLOSE THE WINDOW, THAT TURNS OFF FOLLOWING ASSIGNMENTS !!
4. Instead, drag the window towards the top of your screen which turns on Docking
5. Dock the window at the top of your screen (our preference)
6. Then on the top right of the screen, click the black triangle & select Auto Hide 
7. This maintains your pending wbs assignments and politely nests the window at the top of your screen, without taking up precious screen real estate. Moving your cursor to the top of your screen opens the Default Values screen to check or change values.
8. Moving your cursor down below the window, hides the window again
9. To close assigning Default Values, simply select the red X
   

That’s all there is to it, happy estimating!

TUG Tip --Sage Estimating

How Many Zeros?

Having trouble seeing your totals page? Hold the <ctrl> key while using your mouse scroll button to zoom in. You can also do the same to zoom in on the item and assembly takeoff grids as well as any of the grids under the data tab.

Oh, I see - now!

TUG Tip -- Sage Estimating

SQL Estimating - Auto Sum

Select (hold down left mouse) takeoff quantities in the takeoff column.  You can see the total “sum” on the status bar, and then Copy Sum (right click or Ctrl+Shift+A) and paste the total “sum” into an overline.

TUG Tip -- SQL Estimating - Auto Sum

Select (hold down left mouse) takeoff quantities in the takeoff column.  You can see the total “sum” on the status bar, and then Copy Sum (right click or Ctrl+Shift+A) and paste the total “sum” into an overline.

TUG Tip -- SQL Estimating - Grand Total Unit Price Column

The Grand Total Unit Price column shows the price per unit including addons. Collapse the spreadsheet. Enter the total job size in the first overline field. Your spreadsheet needs to show the Grand Total Unit Price column.

TUG Tip -- SQL Estimating - Substitute Items on the Spreadsheet:

To substitute items on the spreadsheet with an item from your database, highlight the row of the desired item, right-click and select Substitute Item. The quantity stays the same, but the item is priced with the default item prices. If you have multiple of the same item in your estimate it will ask you “Would you like to substitute duplicate items?

TUG Tip -- SQL Estimating - Show Overline Totals on the Spreadsheet

To show overline totals on the spreadsheet, select File > Options. On the Spreadsheet tab select Display overline totals when expanded. You can also choose to display overline grand totals amount and overline addon amount.

TUG Tip -- SQL Estimating - Copy and Paste One-Time Items

Occasionally you have a one-time item you need to copy, to make changes to the description or pricing information. To copy one-time item: 1) Click in the row header, right-click, and select Copy, then right-click and select Paste to duplicate the item. 2) Continue this procedure for as many copies or the item as you need.

TUG Tip - Estimating

Spreadsheet Tip - Moved  of Renamed Columns on Reports

When you use the Spreadsheet report, any columns that have been moved or renamed in your layout appear with the new names on the report. Also, if you prefill from a spreadsheet containing moved or renamed columns, the reports show the new column names and locations.