You can dynamically link your On-Screen Takeoff bid to Microsoft Excel™. Each Condition Result's quantity is linked to a specific cell (or named range) in Excel and you simply press F9 to update values.
On-Screen Takeoff provides two options to link takeoff quantities to Excel:
Microsoft Excel (cell) - designates a specific cell to which a Condition Quantity Result is linked - uses the cell’s absolute location (i.e. Sheet1, A3 or Sheet2, Q27). If you make any changes to where cells are in the spreadsheet (adding rows or columns, for example), On-Screen Takeoff will still place data in the specified cell.
Microsoft Excel (name) - On-Screen Takeoff defines a "named range" in Excel and the Condition Quantity is linked to that named range. Because the Condition quantity is not linked to a specific cell (such as A2, Q27), when you make changes the spreadsheet (such as adding or rearranging rows/columns), the Quantities are still sent to the correct location in the spreadsheet.
You must have a FULLY LICENSED version of Microsoft Excel installed on your PC to use "Price using Excel". Neither Student, Home, nor any trial editions will work correctly. Excel is not provided by, sold, or supported by On Center Software or included with On-Screen Takeoff. See the full System Requirements at www.oncenter.com for supported versions of Microsoft Excel.
After you select the workbook, the Cover Sheet displays the path and file name
Click OK to save the changes to the Cover Sheet
Next, you must link each Condition Quantity result to a specific cell or named range.
Results for linking to a "CELL"
Results for linking to a "Named Range"
Even though you are creating a link while viewing a particular Page, the values sent to Excel are for the cumulative Condition Quantity Results for the entire Bid. There is no breakdown by Type, Area, Zone, or Page when exporting to Excel - the entire Condition's value is exported to the linked spreadsheet.
To refresh the Excel spreadsheet (meaning to push Quantity Results from On-Screen Takeoff to Excel) press <F9> or click Bid > Refresh Worksheet on the main menu bar. By default, any time you leave a Bid linked to Excel or close the program, you are prompted to refresh the Excel spreadsheet. To disable this prompt, click Tools > Options and remove the check mark for Prompt to refresh worksheet before closing Bid.
If you just want to copy and paste Takeoff or Worksheet Tab data to Excel, see Exporting the Bids, Takeoff and Worksheet Tabs.