Linking items to eTakeoff Dimension

You can take off new, one-time items and connect them to Dimension without having to first map the items in eTakeoff Bridge. For even greater efficiency, by starting with an estimate template, you can easily update quantities for your new estimate by retrieving them from the corresponding plans in Dimension.

You can link a Takeoff Quantity cell to a measurement in Dimension. Then, you can drill down to the source measurement, review its quantity list, or update the linked quantity from Dimension. You can also copy and paste the cell to another estimate item. The pasted cell keeps the Dimension link and any matching WBS code values, so both items can remain linked to the same trace.

 

For information about how breakdown values and WBS codes are transferred between eTakeoff Dimension and Sage Estimating, see About using measurements, breakdown structures, and WBS codes from eTakeoff Dimension.

To link an item in Estimating to a trace in eTakeoff and retrieve quantities for a selected measurement:

1. On the Estimating spreadsheet, right-click the Takeoff Quantity cell for the item you want to take off.

   Tip: Make sure you select the item, and not an overline.

2. From the shortcut menu, select one of the following options:

   • Get Quantity from Dimension. You use this command to return the measurement's primary quantity to the estimate.

   • Get Quantity from Dimension and Select Variable. Use this command to select a quantity or variable other than the measurement's primary quantity.

   Selecting either of these options opens eTakeoff Dimension.

3. In eTakeoff Dimension:

   1. Select the project and the plan corresponding to your estimate.

   2. On the plan, select the measurement that has the quantity you want:

   3. If you selected Get Quantity from Dimension in step 2, right-click and then select Return to Estimating with Quantity.

      If you selected Get Quantity from Dimension and Select Variable:

      1. Right-click the measurement and then select Return to Estimating with Quantity. The eTakeoff Measurement Variable List opens, where you can select a different variable or quantity.

      2. In the grid, select the variable or quantity you want to use for the item in Estimating, such as Perimeter.

         You can either accept the default item name in Estimating or change it.

      3. To change the item description, select one of the following options from the Item description options list:

         • Select Append the measurement description to add the Dimension description to the item description in the estimate.

         • Select Replace with the measurement description to replace the existing item description in the estimate with measurement description from Dimension.

      4. Click [OK] or double-click the variable to send the quantity to Estimating.

You are returned to the estimate in Sage Estimating.