Build detailed estimates using the database, assemblies, and sectional structure.
31 articles
Introduction to Estimating
An overview of the Ensign estimating module, from inputting items to building your sectional structure.
Updated 26 March 2026
Creating a Job
How to create a new estimating job, fill in the job header, set labour options, and configure travel and submission dates.
Creating and Managing Sections
How to create, rename, duplicate, move, and delete A/B/C/D level sections on the takeoff screen to build your tender return structure.
Section Multipliers
How to use section multipliers to handle repetitive layouts such as hotel rooms, student accommodation, or identical house types without pricing each instance individually.
Section Status and Locking
How to use section status indicators to track your progress and lock completed sections to prevent accidental changes.
Section Templates
How to save and import section structure templates for reuse across projects, and how to keep sections globally expanded.
Browsing the Database
How to browse the Ensign item database by category, manufacturer, and range to find and add materials to your estimate.
Searching for Items
How to use advanced search, component type search, and description or product code search to find items in the Ensign database.
Viewing Item Details
How to view item details including unit labour hours, trade price, discount, and net rate, and how to override discounts and prices.
Moving Items and Toggling Disciplines
How to move items between sections using cut and paste, and how to toggle between electrical and mechanical databases in MEP mode.
Free Type Items
How to add one-off custom items to your estimate using the free type function, including prime costs and provisional sums.
Contractor's Choice
How to create and manage your own reusable product library using the contractor's choice feature, saving custom items for use across all future jobs.
Subcontract and Specials
How to add specialist quotations and subcontractor packages using the subcontract and specials feature, including custom categories and markup separation.
Labour Only and Comment Lines
How to add labour-only items for tasks with no material element, and how to insert comment lines for notes and assumptions within your estimate.
Amend Job Toolbar Buttons
An overview of the amend job screen and its toolbar buttons, including Current User Activity, Create Job, Refresh Job Listing, Generate Report, File Explorer, and Support.
Amend Job Search and Filters
How to use the search panel and filter panel on the amend job screen to find and narrow down your job list by code, name, client, status, job type, discipline, and date.
Tender Submission Date Colour Coding
How the traffic-light colour coding system works on the amend job screen to indicate tender deadline proximity, and how to customise the colours and thresholds.
Delete Bills and Calc Files
How to use the Delete All Bills and Delete Calc Files options on the amend job screen to reset quotation documents and recalculate your estimate.
Edit Sections from Amend Job
How to use the Edit Sections option on the amend job screen to perform bulk operations on sections, including deleting multiple sections, clearing takeoff lines, and changing disciplines.
Delete and Archive Jobs
How to delete or archive jobs from the amend job screen, including recovery options and best practices for managing completed tenders.
Copy Job
A full walkthrough of the Copy Job function on the amend job screen, including the four copy modes, locking the original, and when to use Copy Job for variations, re-pricing, templates, and code corrections.
Browsing and Inputting Assemblies
What assemblies are, how to browse and search for them on the takeoff screen, and how to input unit and linear assemblies with the correct quantities.
Assembly Display and Preferences
How split lines and consolidated lines affect the examine grid and reports, and how to configure assembly system preferences for zero-quantity handling and one-off instances.
Assembly Price Updates and Labour Types
How items inside assemblies stay current with price updates and discount changes, and how to assign different labour types to assembly components.
Creating Assemblies
How to build custom assemblies from scratch on the takeoff screen, configure the assembly builder with unit or linear measurement, set per-metre quantities using the calculator, name and categorise your assembly, assign a user assembly code, and save it to your database.
Picking-List Assemblies
How to create picking-list assemblies using the zero-quantity technique for variant selection at input time, how the ignore-zero-quantities preference works, how to add free-type items to assemblies, and practical applications for front plates, distribution boards, and more.
Modifying Pre-Built Assemblies
How to use Ensign's pre-built assemblies as a starting point, swap out components, re-save as your own, and understand supplier pricing differences.
Setting Up Associated Components
How to configure associated components on assemblies for automatic bend and fitting detection when using the Ensign X PDF takeoff, including creative uses for basket tray and updating pre-built assemblies.
Managing Assemblies
How to amend, copy, and delete assemblies from the assemblies browser, including best practices for managing your assembly library.
Assembly Import and Export
How to manage your assembly library in bulk using Excel import and export, including the H/C/A row format, CSV recommendations, the merge versus delete option, and common import scenarios.
Changing Disciplines (MEP)
How to set and change disciplines in the multidiscipline (MEP) estimating software, including section-level control and user restrictions.
