Regenerating a model to the spreadsheet

Regeneration allows you to make changes to a model that has already been generated to your estimate. The process affects only the items and assemblies you have modified during the interview.

Important! If you change an item or assembly in the spreadsheet, it no longer corresponds to what you entered during model takeoff. When you regenerate that item or assembly, you will lose your changes.

Before you begin

  • Open the database that contains the model you want to generate.

    1. Click File > Open Standard Database.

      In classic view, select Database menu > Open Database.

    2. Select the standard database you want to open.

    Tip: You can attach a different standard database to an estimate by opening a different standard database while the estimate is open. This new standard database remains attached to the estimate until you close it or open a different standard database.

  • Make your desired changes to the estimate model. For more information, see:

To regenerate a model to the spreadsheet:

  1. Open the Model Takeoff window in one of these ways:

    • On the ribbon, on the Takeoff tab, click An image of the Assembly Takeoff icon on the ribbon.
    • In classic view, click Takeoff menu > Model Takeoff, or click An image showing the Model Takeoff button in classic view on the toolbar.

  2. In the Model Takeoff window, select Estimate as the source and choose a model that has a status of Ready to Re-Generate from the list.

  3. Click [Generate].

  4. In the Generate Models window, Estimating lists all the models that have a status of Ready to Generate or Ready to Re-Generate. The model you have selected is marked. You can select more than one.

  5. Click [OK]. Estimating begins generating items and assemblies into the spreadsheet.

    During the process, a progress bar appears at the bottom of the window and the generation log lists each model generated along with its items and assemblies. Any problems found during generation appear at the end of the log.

  6. To stop the process, click [Cancel].

    Any items or assemblies processed at this point are included in the estimate and the model status changes to In Estimate – Generated with Errors.

  7. When processing is complete, click [OK].

  8. Click [Close] to return to the Model Takeoff window.

    All items and assemblies from the models are now included on the estimate and the model has a status of In Estimate. (If errors occurred, the model has a status of In Estimate – Generated with errors and should be taken off again. For more information, see Performing model takeoff.)

  9. Click [Close] again to return to the spreadsheet.

Tips:  

  • Most changes to the model should be made in the interview. Any changes you make directly to the spreadsheet may be overwritten when you regenerate a model.

  • After you generate a model to the spreadsheet, its items and assemblies appear at the appropriate level based on the current spreadsheet sequence. Because Model is an available sorting level, you can easily reorganize the spreadsheet by model. For more information, see Setting up spreadsheet sequences.