Use the tabs in the Manage Estimates screen and the Manage Takeoffs screen to access the estimating features.

• Use the Sheets tab to manage the sheets in a job. The Sheets tab displays thumbnail images of the sheets, allowing you to see multiple sheets at a glance. You can add tags to sheets for sorting and filtering purposes or edit other sheet properties from the Sheets tab. If needed, filter the sheets displayed so that you can easily find the sheet you want to work with in the Takeoff tab. Make this sheet the active sheet.

• Use the Takeoff Tab tab to begin the estimating process by performing takeoff. Trace over your plans, using a stylus pen and digitizer board to perform takeoff or import digital plans and perform the takeoff with your mouse to generate accurate measurements and quantities. The Takeoff tab can handle multiple sheets, works with any known scale, and can use Imperial units or metric units. Takeoff tools enable you to easily digitize lines, areas, and count items. You can even customize all your line styles, area hatching, and symbols.

• Use the Shape Recognition Tab tab to have the application search your plans for count items to add to the estimate, alternates, or change orders. You define the images for which you want to search your plans and set how closely those images should match.

• Use the Notepad Tab tab as a quick-reference tool to organize your takeoff information in a basic spreadsheet format. All items included in the takeoff, complete with quantities, units of measurement are listed, and you can add any notations you want. You can sort items as needed, convert items from one unit of measurement to another, or get sum totals for your quantities.

• Use the Catalog Tab tab to store cost item details. You can customize the catalogs within the Catalog tab, which means you can build catalogs around your business practices. Each catalog holds an unlimited number of cost items, and you can edit the details for any item to reflect changes in real-world costs. The Catalog tab is compatible with 3rd-party supplier catalogs—you can even import your old Excel spreadsheets. It is the perfect tool for tracking historical cost data.

• Use the Estimate Tab Overview tab to pull together your quantities (generated in the Takeoff tab) and your cost item information (from the Catalog tab) to calculate your job totals. Use the Global Update feature to quickly apply changes to broad classes of cost items, instead of updating each cost item individually. You can allocate your financial cost items, either across all cost items or just across those that meet certain criteria. You can create sorts and filters.

• Use the Alternates Tab tab to run "what if" scenarios and show your clients the cost impacts of adding or removing particular cost items. Simply add an alternate cost item, then change its status—"pending," "accepted," "rejected," and so on—as it moves through the approval process. Once it is approved, it is immediately added to the estimate. There's no limit to the number of alternates you can consider and include, and all alternate cost items are fully customizable.

• Use the Change Orders Tab tab to create and keep track of changes to your bid once it is approved.

• Use the Summary Tab tab to subtotal costs from your estimate, organized by work breakdown structure codes. You have complete control over which codes to subtotal—choose whichever codes are most important to you. You can set baseline costs and compare any changes in the estimate to those baselines.

  Note: If you have a license for Standalone Takeoff, you will only be able to access the Sheets, Takeoff, Shape Recognition, and NotePad tabs in the Manage Estimates screen. Furthermore, some functions and features in the Takeoff, Shape Recognition, and NotePad tabs may be disabled.