Generating Workbook Grouped by Code

To utilise the coding feature it is necessary to generate a new workbook based on code, which is available from the drop down menu under the “Add” button on the Workbook ribbon.

After naming the new workbook

it is necessary to select the rate library (if coded) to use, then select which sub-sheets to sort (cost only, cost and quantity or cost and rate – depending on which levels coding has been applied to), then the Code library and finally the Code Column, ie. the column in which the codes have been entered.

Up to four levels of coding may be specified to create a sort hierarchy. For each code, the relevant library and column must

be specified. If cost and rate sheets are to be sorted and the coded rate or rate build-up is linked to a rate library, tick the “Expand Live Rate Sheets” box. If the Use Code Group box is ticked, an additional Code Group summary level is introduced.

When “OK” is clicked, an entirely new workbook is created but the two workbooks are not linked. This is important, as changes to either the original or the coded workbook will not affect the other. However, live links are retained in the new workbook, so where live link information is adjusted, such as a quantity in a dimension group, then this adjustment will be reflected in the sorted workbooks by simply doing a ‘re-calc’.

Therefore it is advisable to select a primary base workbook to which any changes will be made, and then generate a new workbook each time a code generated workbook is required. Locking code generated workbooks is a good measure to ensure changes are only made to the primary workbook.

All workbooks generated by code place an optional location reference in parenthesis at the end of each description. This enables the relevant item to be located in the original workbook. Each number represents a level or location, hence a reference (3.1) will be located in row 1 in the second level of row 3. Where a letter is indicated, such as Q, then the item is located in the quantity sub-sheet of the relevant column.

Hence in the case of (3.1Q) the original item is located in row 1 in the quantity build-up to row 3. Tick the

“Append Row Path” box to enable this feature.

The sorting of workbooks based on code can also be carried out on workbooks that have already been sorted.

ADVANCED MANUAL Phraseologies

12. Phraseologies

(Not available in CostX® Takeoff versions)

Standard phraseologies or model description libraries may be imported into CostX^® and accessed via a Phraseologies tab. Click on the text to select it, and hold the Ctrl key to select multiple text strings to build detailed descriptions. Release the Ctrl key, and drag and drop the text into the workbook. Each string of a multiple selection will be placed on a separate line in the workbook. To combine the strings into a single description, move the cursor to the destination cell, then hold the Alt key, move the cursor slightly so that the blue highlighted workbook cells compress to a single cell, then click.

When joining text using the ALT key, it is possible to choose which separator character to use between the words or phrases. The default is for the separator to be a space. Use the Click for Options and Filtering button. This also provides a search function. In the Separator: box, insert the required separator character.

Rate codes can be associated with phrases in Phraseologies so that when the phrase is dragged and dropped to the workbook, the associated rate is automatically live linked in the rate column.

ADVANCED MANUAL Phraseologies Phraseologies are created in Excel^® and imported into CostX^® via CSV files.

The format of the Excel^® file is as follows:

Column A; Item code (Optional)

Column B; Unit of Measure (only inserted against the lowest level description) Column C; Main Heading (highest level description)

Column D onwards; Headings, sub-headings, descriptions, etc. each on a consecutive row and placed sequentially in Columns D,E,F,G etc to form branches in the Phraseologies tab tree structure.

Final Column; Rate Item Code

Once the Excel^® sheet is correctly formatted it should be “Saved As” “Other Formats” and saved as a .csv (Comma delimited) file, then you can import it into CostX^®. Phraseologies can also be edited in CostX^®.

ADVANCED MANUAL Values and Constants

13. Values and Constants

(Not available in CostX® Takeoff versions)

13.1 Values

Values can represent any variable numeric amount that you wish to reference in workbooks. For example, Values may represent mark-up allowances, percentage factors, GFA values, and even boolean values that are used in conditional 'If' functions in workbooks (use 1 and 0 to represent true and false). Values can be dragged and dropped from the Values list into the Factor column in workbook Cost or Rate sheets and will then be live linked so will update in the workbook when they are adjusted.

Values can be established on a Global or Project basis, or both. Global Values are created in System Administration. Project values can be assigned as a Project Property at any time. If given the same name, Project Values take precedence over Global Values. Hence, a Global Value can be established at a default amount with live-links pre-established in workbook templates, but can then be overwritten as a Project Value for specific projects.