About takeoff templates
You can create and use templates that contain all the data you need to generate takeoffs. Essentially, takeoff templates are estimates that are not tied to a particular job until you choose to assign a template to a job. Takeoff templates can save you considerable time, provide consistency, and help to ensure that estimators do not overlook any aspects or opportunities for a job.
Because takeoff templates are not tied to a particular job or bid items, they provide greater flexibility than standard takeoffs. For example, you can:
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Set up templates that represent typical job estimates with parts and costs from your database that you can update, adapt, and assign to different jobs in future.
- Set up alternate cost scenarios using templates and bid items (active and inactive), enabling you to prepare alternative bids before you assign the template to a job.
The ability to mark bid items active and inactive is what gives takeoff templates their power and versatility. When you set bid items Inactive in a template, they are not displayed in the takeoff grid or used in calculations when you assign the template to a job. You can set bid items Active or Inactive at any time, depending on the job. Before you assign a template to a job, make sure all the bid items you need are marked Active and those you do not need are marked Inactive. When you assign a template to a job, only the active bid items are used in the job takeoff and saved to the database.
Important! Values for certain fields in the template must exist in the database before you can assign a template to a Job. These required fields are Assemblies, Parts, Tax Districts, Vendor, Cost Code, Cost Type, Task, and Inventory Locations. If any of these fields exist in the template, but have no values in the database, Sage 100 Contractor will prompt you to resolve these issues before you can assign the template to a job.
You create and modify takeoff templates as you would a regular takeoff, with the following differences:
- You use the 9-5 Takeoff Templates window to work with templates. (You use the Takeoff Launch window to open takeoff templates.)
- Templates do not support attachments, custom fields, row tags, or printing.
- Templates do not support options that would modify the database (for example, you cannot export purchase orders or budgets).
- Because templates do not write data to the database, there is no record or field history to track. Therefore, the View menu does not exist for templates.
Tip: You don't always need to create templates from scratch. If an existing takeoff or takeoff template contains elements that you frequently use in jobs, you can export the takeoff or template to create a new takeoff template that you can modify as needed.
Assigning takeoff templates to a job
You assign templates to specific jobs using the 9-5 Takeoff Templates window.
Note: Saved templates are stored in the Takeoff Templates folder in your company folder. They are not part of the database.