Setting up item list sort orders

You use the Edit Item List Sort Orders window to define as many item sort orders as you need for a standard database. Each sort order can contain up to four levels that organize items by WBS code, group phase, phase, price code, job cost phase, or material class.

You can select a sort order from the Sort Item List By shortcut menu when you perform takeoff or standard database maintenance.

Before you begin

You need to open a standard database to set up item sorting.

  1. Click File > Open Standard Database.

    In classic view, select Database menu > Open Database.

  2. Select the standard database you want to open.

To set up an item sort order:

  1. Open the Edit Item List Sort Orders window in one of these ways:

    • On the ribbon, from the Elements group on the Data tab, click Item List Orders.
    • In classic view, click Database > Item Sort.

    The Edit Item List Sort Order window lists any existing item sort orders.

  2. To add a new item sort order:

    1. Click [Add].

      Estimating adds a new row to the list of sort orders, with the Name cell selected for that row.

    2. In the Name column, type a name for the item sort order on the new row.

      If you do not enter a name, Sage Estimating uses the elements that you select as the name.

    3. Press Tab.
  3. Select each sort level to include in the item sort order as follows:

    1. Beside the Grouping Hierarchy cell, click the list List button button.
    2. In the Edit Grouping Hierarchy window, for each field or WBS code you want to include in the item sort order, select the field from the list of available fields, and then click the right arrow Image of the right arrow icon button.

      To remove a field from the sequence, select it on the Selected Fields list, and then click the left arrow Image of the left arrow icon button.

    3. To rearrange the order of sort levels, select a level on the Selected Fields list, and then use the up arrow Image of the Up arrow icon or down arrow Image of the Down arrow icon button to place the field in the priority you want.
  4. When you finish setting up your item sorts, click [OK] and then close the Edit Item List Sort Order window.

Tip: To use a work breakdown structure (WBS) in an item sort, you need to first set up the WBS code. For more information, see Defining work breakdown structures (WBS).