About question formulas

Question formulas, which are specific to each model, provide logic during takeoff. Question formulas can calculate a value using the responses to one or more questions or determine the correct value based on certain conditions. They can even include the appropriate options by feeding a zero to the Quantity field of any item or assembly you want to exclude from your estimate.

To use a question formula to solve for any variable in an item or assembly, you simply select the question formula that will provide the correct value. If necessary, you can create whatever question formulas you need and check to make sure they return the proper values as you build the model.

In addition to using question formulas to solve for any variable in your model, you can also use them to determine which questions appear and how they are phrased. Click a link below to see examples of the many ways you can use question formulas to make takeoff more efficient:

Question formulas used to calculate values

Question formula used to determine question text

Question formula used to include or exclude lines in the model

Tip:  

• Within a question formula, operations are performed according to the rules of algebraic logic. Use parentheses to set off separate operations within a formula. Example
• In addition to the functions available for regular formulas in Estimating, there are other functions developed specifically for working with question formulas in Model Estimating. To see a list of these functions, click here.