Q & A
Template Names
This is a question and also could potentially be a feature request......
I was working with one of our estimators and as we don't have the ability to lock down templates YET...... We continue to run into people not knowing what to use for "boxes", vs "fittings", or "demo - curb" vs "demo - Fence". Most of this comes down to a training issue (which we are going to cover Monday), but I also had the thought of having a "generic display label" of the item be set, and when you update the properties, that label disappears.
For example, I have three selective demo "templates", and because other users didn't/don't know (again training issue) they needed to grab item "X" from the custom property drop down, they went ahead and added 17 additional items. This type of housekeeping is keeping alot of us up at night.........
As I was thinking through some of my other items, the utility items came to mind. I have four "template" items 03 ea count items, and 01 ea linear item. Count item 1 is for Manholes, Count item 02 is for boxes and vaults, & Count item 03 is for fittings. I would like to see a "generic tag" display that information in the template screen only, and again it would disappear when I grab another custom property.
Maybe there is a better way to set up my custom properties too?
Comments, and suggestions are welcome.
I love the brainstorm, and I'm sure we will have locking soon!
@ Justin,
Your idea of a generic display label that guides the user (and disappears once a property is selected) is a really good one. It would help reduce mistakes at the selection stage without relying entirely on training.
Another way to approach it could be a default or placeholder label in templates (e.g. “Select Item Type”) that updates automatically once the correct custom property is chosen. That way, the template guides the user instead of relying on them knowing what to pick.
In the meantime, the only practical workaround is to keep templates as simple and clearly named as possible, reduce the number of similar items (less choice = fewer mistakes), and reinforce it through training, like you mentioned.
That said, I agree some level of template control or guided selection would make a big difference here and help reduce the amount of housekeeping.
This could be a useful future improvement with some form of template guidance or control to help standardise item selection and reduce duplication.