Tutorial 8 - Batch Importing Items From Excel and Google Sheets

Let's take some time to explain and use the Batch Insert Product feature in zzTakeoff, but first let me explain the differences and similarities between Products and Items.

Products are generally lists that can be used inside of the items in zz Takeoff. This is better explained as a list database that can be imported and used in any item parts, to even better explain, let's open a new item in an existing takeoff and select New Item and then select material. While we are here, you will notice that an item can be: material, Labor, Equipment, Subcontractor or Other. These are the 5 types of items that we will be using.

Now that we have selected material you will see a new item window. This is where we can enter formulas, variables and more, but for this video we need to look at the product portion of this window. You will notice a Product list which is going to be any imported list that we will be inserting into our lists tab, when we import these lists they will populate the product properties. This is the subject of this video for now.

To be able to batch insert a list from either google sheets or Microsoft Excel, they will need to be in the following order for column layouts. Let's open the Lists and select Batch Insert Products. You may need to create a new List first if you have not already, but you should see five columns; SKU, Description, Cost Each, Markup percentage and Units. Your Spreadsheet needs to be in this order. I will open an existing Spreadsheet and show this to you now.

When you are ready copy the excel columns and then go back to the Batch Insert Products and paste your copied selection into the first row in the first columns under SKU. This should populate all of your columns,. When you are finished select Add Products.

Well done. You now have a new product list that you can use. To see how use this list let's go back to the takeoff page and add a new material item and when we get to the product portion of the window, you should now be able to select the product list and then the product. After you have selected this product you will notice that the remaining product properties have been set.

You can have as many product lists that you need, and as many products as needed, . Please watch the video on batch inserting Items to find out more about inserting formulas and how the items and the products can work together simultaneously.