Price Using Microsoft Excel
Use this option if you keep track of your pricing in an Excel spreadsheet. On Screen Takeoff gives you two options to link takeoff data to your Excel spreadsheet for pricing material and labor:
- Cell
- Name
To automatically link a condition quantity to an Excel spreadsheet you must have Price Using Microsoft Excel (cell or name) selected on your bid Cover Sheet.
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Microsoft Excel (cell) - This allows you to designate a cell you want data to be placed in by using the cell’s location (i.e. Sheet1, A3 or Sheet2, Q27). If any changes are made to the spreadsheet, On-Screen Takeoff will still place data in the specified cell, if you add columns or rows, On-Screen Takeoff does not adjust the destination of the quantity information.
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Microsoft Excel (name) - This allows you to link data to a named range. If the named range is moved within the spreadsheet, On-Screen Takeoff responds to the change. For example, it will recognize when a named range has moved due to added columns or rows and update date in the new location. This is sort of like a dynamic cell reference that updates to the new location of the destination cell. Once a named cell is assigned, the Export field will be grayed out and unable to be modified other than the Grid icon.
When you select Price Using Microsoft Excel (cell or name), you must specify the location of an existing Excel Workbook.
- If you know the file location, you can input it directly, or click the Lookup icon to locate your Excel Workbook file
- Click OK to save the changes to your Cover Sheet
- Click on the Image tab if it not already open
- Open the Condition Properties dialog by double-clicking on a Condition from the Image tab - The Results field will appear like the example below depending on the Quantity results you select
- To designate the Excel cell, you click on the Grid icon
- This will display your spreadsheet
- Locate the cell to which you want On-Screen Takeoff to link the Condition Quantity Result
- Double-click in the cell and it will be linked to On-Screen Takeoff
- On-Screen Takeoff either uses the cell reference (E13) or assigns a range name (like Sheet1.qty631.1) and uses this as a reference
- The Quantity's cell or range name is used as the destination within the worksheet to export the Quantity value
- To update or refresh your Excel spreadsheet press <F9> on your keyboard, or from the Bid menu, click Refresh Worksheet on the main menu bar
- By default, any time you leave this bid or close the program, you will be prompted to refresh your Excel spreadsheet with current condition values You can disable this prompt by clicking Tools > Options and removing the check mark for Prompt to refresh worksheet before closing bid
