Add ability to sum like measurements to a 'master' measurement

If I’m understanding you correctly, You should be able to get what you‘re asking, as long as you have a part with the same name in each takeoff.

I’ve had a situation where I wanted dimensions in the name so I added a zero cost part to allow me to

get exactly what you’re asking.

I have the same issue with sorting logic. It’s odd when dealing with numbers, so much so that I can’t even figure out what the sorting logic is. It’s not random but more consistently nonsensical if that makes sense .

I can see this as a solution for some, but I don't utilize parts/items. They don't seem to have an output for takeoff type reports which is our preferred way of exporting takeoff data right now.

I think the sorting logic goes through the string one character at a time. Seemingly it sorts first numerically then alphabetically. I wonder if there's a way to code the sorting algorithm so that if the sorting logic encounters a number it checks if there is another number next to it, then combines them into a larger digit number and uses that for sorting instead.

The paint quantity rollup example is a takeoff pain we have all struggled with over here (drywall as another example with so many heights). How can I use parts/items to roll up the total?

Each paint takeoff has a part/item that shares a common name (e.g. paint) that outputs the area of the takeoff. When you go to an item report it tallies up all the parts/items with the same name into one.

ahh one way I see this working is the “usage” I the item. Any other ideas? My goal is to transfer this automatically to our estimating tool and usage is not ideal for automated (works awesome for manual tho)

Yeah, I don't like the usage work around either. I think I'm a bit lower tech than you are- I am simply exporting to my excel template. My current work around is having a manual '0' quantity placeholder that I then sum to in my sheet.

There are quite a few use cases that I could use this functionality for- painting, drywall, concrete, excavation, and the list goes on and on.

Love your picture in main post with the circled number, if we can get that to sum up various items below that would be what I need to mark as they key over line quantity for a assembly in Ediphi (estimating tool). Ideally it’s at the parts/item level.

now I know with the new update that dropped yesterday you can have child takeoff items and wonder if that could help us here…. Hmmmm.

I think if you are consistent with the naming of your parts/item, then they should automatically sum for you in the reports.

This:

Outputs this already:

@Victor

thx for the picture and another way to do it! Question, I’ve been debating if we should setup our template to where every takeoff item (parent) has a child line item.

I feel like you could export the child line items to excel and now the child line items are your new workflow? Hmmm, thoughts??

I've had the same thought, but ultimately I simply don't want to do that. It feels like double work and a slow down to workflow. Plus, it would be annoying to teach to other estimators that ultimately might not have the same desire as me to get off OST and onto a modern takeoff solution.

From my point of view, parts/items are more geared towards subcontractor/self-perform level contractors. Where I think you and I are, more in the GC/CM/consultant world, we don't care as much about figuring out exactly how many buckets of paint, boxes of screws, rolls of carpet, etc. are needed for the project. We're just trying to a quantity and apply a unit cost that we've received from a subcontractor or exists in our cost database. Ultimately, we're not ordering material.

Well said. Keeping it simple is what made OST great.

We also do self perform and it’s wonderful we can setup multiple templates. One with items/parts and one with just parent takeoff items like OST.

I know it will only get better from here but need to keep it simple for the folks transitioning over till the GC does more material ordering, we will be ready!

Thanks for all the comments here. One way to do this would be to create a "Group" custom property for WBS, and just group by that. In this example you could add these various Takeoffs with different wall heights, and assign the group to "Paint". You could even call it "Takeoff Group" for clarity if you wanted.

Then you can create a custom Report View that shows the total. You could also show & sort by the Wall Height column in your report:

This may not be exactly what you're after, but might be an option. We will keep improving and adding features. The reports are quite powerful in how you can group/sort the data.

EDIT: If you do this you would want to popup the worksheet at the bottom of the screen and use that instead of the right sidebar during takeoff.