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Changing the calculation methods for assembly items

How Estimating calculates takeoff quantities for assemblies

Changing an existing item table

Changing the cells in an item table

Changing the conditions for an item table

Setting up a new item table

Before you begin

Understand what an item table is and why you would want to create one before completing this procedure.

For more information, see About item tables

To create an item table:

  1. Open the Item Table window in one of the following ways:

    • On the ribbon, from the Elements group on the Data tab, click Item Tables.
    • In classic view, select Database menu > Assemblies > Item Tables.

  2. Click [Add].

    Estimating displays the Adding Database Item Table window.

  3. In the Item Table box, enter a name for the new item table.

  4. From the Row Selector list, select Select Variable, Select Formula, or Select Formula Table, depending on the criteria you want to use for item selection.

    Estimating displays a selection window that displays variables or formula tables or the Formula List window, depending on your choice for the row selector.

  5. Select the variable, formula table, or formula that you want to use for the row selector, as follows:

    • To insert a variable or a formula table into the item table, select the row for the variable or formula table , and then click [Select] or press the Enter key, or double-click the row.

      Tip: To find a variable or a formula table quickly in a long list, you can type a keyword in the Search box. As you type, Estimating displays only the variables or formula tables that match the characters in the Search box. You can also use arrows in the column headers to sort the grid in ascending or descending order by that element.

    • To use a formula for the row selector:

      1. Select the formula you want from the Formula List window.

        If the formula does not appear in the list, you can create it “on the fly,” as follows:

        1. Click [Create Formula].

          You can also right-click anywhere in the list, and then select Create Formula from the shortcut menu.

        2. In the Adding Database Formula window, enter properties for the new formula.

        3. Click [OK].

        Tip: You can also view or edit the properties of an existing formula by selecting it on the list, and then clicking [Edit Formula],

      2. Click [OK].

        Estimating displays the Adding Database Item Table window, with the row selector you chose as the first column in the item table grid.

    Estimating returns you to the Adding Database Item Table window, with the row selector you chose as the first column in the item table grid.

  6. In the Adding Database Item Table window, in the Row Selector Required column, enter ranges of entries that can be accepted for the variable or formula during takeoff, from smallest to largest.

  7. If you are creating a two-dimensional table, select the Two Dimensional option, and then:

    1. From the Column Selector list, select Select Variable, Select Formula, or Select Formula Table, depending on the criteria you want to use for item selection.

    2. Select the variable, formula table, or formula that you want to use for the column selector, as follows:

      • To insert a variable or a formula table into the item table, select the row for the variable or formula table that you want to use, and then click [Select] or press the Enter key, or double-click the row.

        Estimating returns you to the Adding Database Item Table window.

      • To use a formula for the column selector:

        1. Select the formula you want from the Formula List window.

          If the formula does not appear in the list, create it “on the fly.”

        2. Click [OK].

          3. Estimating displays the Adding Database Item Table window, with the column selector you chose in the item table grid.

    3. In the Column Selector Required columns, in the first row, enter ranges of entries that can be accepted for the variable or formula during takeoff, from smallest to largest.

  8. In the grid, insert items in the cells for the specified ranges of variable or formula inputs.

    For more information, see Tips for filling in the item table.

  9. When you finish setting up the item table, click [OK] to save it.

Tips:  

  • By default, the quantity for an item within the table is calculated using the calculation entered (if any) for the item table within the assembly.

    To set up a custom calculation for a particular item, right-click the table cell that contains the item, and then select Use Custom Calculation from the shortcut menu. Build the calculation in the window that opens. The calculation can contain any combination of variables, formulas, formula tables, functions, math operators, and numeric constants.

  • You can resize the Item Table window by pointing to one of its corners or borders and then dragging the corner or border until the window is the size you want.

  • You can also create an item table quickly when you are working in the Edit Assembly window.

    In the Item Table List , either click the [Create Item Table] button, or right-click in the list, and then select Create Item Table from the shortcut menu. You can also press Alt-C to create a table.

After creating an item table

Create as many item tables as you need in a similar manner.

When you next open the Item Table window, it displays the last item table you created or edited.