Starts the project setup workflow.
⌕Ctrl K
Visual user guide
From project setup to measured quantity.
This guide follows the actual screens of Engineering Estimator. Each section explains what the screen is for, what the important controls mean, and what to do next.
Example data: screenshots in this guide use a neutral Demo User identity. Project names and values shown in screenshots are illustrative examples.
1. Dashboard — your project starting point
The Estimates screen is the starting point for creating or continuing work. A project card shows the project identity, location/work classification, estimate total and item/heading counts.
Use when an estimate/project file already exists and needs to be brought into the application.
Continues an existing project. The card also provides a quick view of total value and structure size.
2. Create a project
Project creation establishes the shared context used by the estimate. The project does not force one Work Type for the entire estimate; Civil/E&M classification belongs to individual headings.
The name displayed on the dashboard and project workspace.
Resolves the applicable location profile for Civil and E&M headings.
Water Charge, Contractor P&OH, Tax and notes establish project-level defaults where applicable.
Important: do not look for a project-wide Civil/E&M switch. A project may contain both; the heading owns the Work Type.
3. Heading settings — classify the work
A heading is the boundary that determines the source-data context and calculation policy for everything placed beneath it.
Human-readable section name such as Civil & Structural Works.
Choose Civil or E&M. This is authoritative for source filtering and rate-analysis policy.
Stores the accounting/category context associated with the heading.
4. Add an item
The Add Item workflow is heading-aware. Start from the active heading and select an appropriate source record rather than editing source catalogue data directly.
Heading→Source→Database / Chapter→Search→Preview→Add
- Choose the source mode. Standard Data is for catalogue/source records; Observed Data is used where the workflow requires an observed/custom source.
- Narrow the source context. Database and Chapter/Category reduce ambiguity and unnecessary results.
- Search and inspect. Confirm the code, unit, description and applicable source record.
- Add. The selected source item is copied into the estimate context and opens for measurement.
Source protection: standard and approved source records are read-only in the estimate. Creating an editable custom item is a separate Create OD workflow.
5. Measurement — quantity take-off
The Measurement page is the primary quantity-entry surface. Each measurement heading groups related rows and produces a subtotal; the item aggregates the measurement headings into the item quantity.
| Field | Use |
|---|---|
| Description | Describe the measurement line or component. |
| No | Number/repetition factor. |
| Length / Width / Height | Dimensional inputs used by the quantity formula. |
| Coefficient | Additional multiplier for the row calculation. |
| Qty | Calculated quantity produced by the row. |
Adds another take-off line inside the current measurement heading.
Creates another logical measurement group, useful for separating quantities by location or construction component.
Use these values as a quick arithmetic check before auditing the rate.
6. Measurement references and formulas
When a quantity depends on another measurement field or a reusable engineering value, use the formula/reference workflow instead of repeatedly typing the same number.
Points to an existing field such as Length, Width, Height or Qty from a project item.
Provides an explicit reusable name such as floor_area or wall_length.
Shows the formula being assembled before it is inserted into the measurement field.
Rule of thumb: use a reference when you mean “use that existing measurement”; use a Named Variable when you mean “this engineering value has a reusable name.”
7. Create OD — author a custom observed-data item
Create OD is intentionally separate from normal source-item selection. Use it when an appropriate standard/approved source item is not available or when an independent editable custom item is required.
Start from an existing source when you want an independent editable draft rather than modifying the source.
Record the specification that defines what the custom item represents.
Persists the custom item and inserts it into the current estimate heading.
8. Complete workflow
Dashboard→Project→Heading→Item→Measurement→Data Analysis→Report / Excel
1
Create or open the project. Confirm identity and Place of Work.
2
Create headings. Assign Civil or E&M according to the work being estimated.
3
Add source items. Use the heading-aware picker and verify the specification/unit.
4
Take off quantity. Add measurement rows/headings and use references or Named Variables where useful.
5
Audit the rate. Inspect Data Analysis, resources, MR, Cost Index and applicable Civil/E&M additions.
6
Produce output. Review Abstract/Detailed Report and export Excel when required.
9. Civil and E&M classification
A single project can contain both Civil and E&M headings. The heading Work Type determines which source records are offered and which calculation policy applies.
| Scope | Civil | E&M |
|---|---|---|
| Classification owner | Heading | Heading |
| Source filtering | Civil sources | E&M sources |
| Cost Index | Project location + Civil profile | Project location + E&M profile |
| Policy | Water Charge + applicable P&OH and Cost Index | Classification-specific carriage policy + applicable P&OH and Cost Index |
Do not infer Work Type from the project name. The active heading is the authoritative classification.
10. Practical estimating tips
Separate quantities by location, component or drawing reference so the take-off can be audited later.
Use references and Named Variables when a dependency is real. Avoid hiding repeated constants inside unrelated formulas.
Before accepting a rate, confirm the item source, unit, analysis lines, Cost Index context and applicable work-type policy.
11. FAQ
A project can contain both Civil and E&M work. Heading-level classification lets each section resolve the appropriate source filtering, Cost Index and calculation policy.
Use Create OD when an appropriate standard/approved source item is unavailable or when you deliberately need an independent editable custom item.
A measurement reference points to an existing measurement field. A Named Variable gives a reusable engineering value or formula an explicit project-scoped name.
No. Standard source records remain protected; the estimate works with its own source-backed item state. Custom OD editing is a separate authoring workflow.