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OST - 16.06.01 Importing Bid Packages (*.OSP files)

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You can import a Bid Package from the File menu, by double-clicking an OSP file (sent as an attachment file by e-mail), or double-clicking a file in Project Express list (see Project Express Overview for more information).

Change to How On-Screen Takeoff Imports OSP Bid Packages

Effective with version 3.98.07.57 and newer, when you import an OSP Bid Package file into a database that already contains a copy of this Bid, you are prompted to overwrite the existing Bid or create a new Bid.

OST import OSP prompt to overwrite or create new

If you click Create New Bid (the default action), OST creates a new Bid where you can review what's changed, and then copy-paste information from this new Bid into your working Bid or make the new Bid your "working" copy, copy and paste your work into it, and archive your old copy. Creating a New Bid assigns the Bid an entirely new internal ID so it is no longer "connected" to the original Bid from which it was sent.

If you click Overwrite Bid, any work you have done in this Bid will be lost. If you are sending/receiving this Bid to another estimator (or estimators) to collaborate on it, do not overwrite your Bid - you will lose any work you've done since the last time you sent a Bid package out. Instead, use "Create New Bid", and copy/paste your work into that Bid and then archive your original Bid.

If you are in doubt, do not click "Overwrite Bid" - you don't want to lost your hard work!

***Versions of OST older than 3.98.07.57 always overwrite the existing Bid. The only way to create a new Bid is to import the OSP Bid Package into a different database (you can then copy it to your work database).***

To import a bid package,

Click File > Import - the Import dialog displays

OST import dialog box options

Select Bid Package File (*.osp), (*.coe, and *.txt imports are not used)
Click OK

The Import Bid Package dialog displays.

browse to OSP Bid Package location

Browse to the location of the OSP file
Select the file, and click Open

On-Screen Takeoff imports the selected file, and the Bid is created (if it doesn't exist in the active database, or you select "Create New Bid") or updated (if the bid package was created from the same origin Bid and you select "Overwrite Bid").

Note

To import a project file received via e-mailed just double-click the attachment. On-Screen Takeoff launches and the import process begins automatically (if no database is open, On-Screen Takeoff creates a new Access database based on the project's name).

Secured Projects

If the database from which the Bid was exported required logins, the Bid is not imported into any existing database. OST creates a new database set to "Login Required" but for which no Employees exist. You will need to add at least one employee with Administrator Access Level to adjust "Logins Required" although the database will allow you to open it without a login.

See Related articles for more information on database security.

Importing Bids

Importing Takeoff Projects (*.ost files)

OST - 20.06 Securing Your Databases (using Access Levels to Restrict What Users Can Do)