Creating a Job

Starting a new job

Select Create Job from the home screen or the amend job screen. This opens the job header — the first stage of the six-step estimating process.

The job header is split into two areas: job information at the top, and labour settings below.

Job information

Job code

The job code is the only mandatory field. You have up to 12 characters and can use letters or numbers. Spaces and symbols are not supported, but hyphens are fine.

Once a job is created, the job code cannot be changed. If you need to correct it, copy the job and assign a new code.

Job name and client

Enter a descriptive job name and select or create a client from the drop-down. Both appear on your final quotation, so make them presentable.

To add a new client, click the drop-down, select Add New Customer, fill in the details, and press Confirm. The client is then stored for future use across all users.

Tender submission date

Tick the Tender Submission Date box and pick the due date. This changes the colour of the job on the amend job screen:

• Green — plenty of time remaining
• Amber — the deadline is approaching
• Red — the job is overdue

The colours and timing thresholds can be customised in Tools > System Preferences.

Parent code

The parent code is an optional internal grouping code. Use it to link related quotations together — for example, multiple estimates for the same project. It does not appear on any final printouts.

Labour settings

Site rates

Select a pre-configured labour rate from the drop-down, or click Add New/Amend to create additional rates (e.g. standard, out of hours, weekend). You can set up as many options as you need.

If the job requires a one-off rate, tick Special Labour Rate and type in the hourly amount.

Travel distance

1. 1

   Tick the Travel Distance box to enable the feature.

2. 2

   Fill in the three values at the bottom of the table: cost per mile, lodge value (per week), and start point of lodge (the mileage threshold where lodging kicks in).

3. 3

   Enter how many miles away the job site is. The software calculates the daily travel and lodging allowance automatically.

Daily additional costs

Use this field for any per-day expenses such as parking, congestion charges, or fuel allowances. The amount is added for each accumulated day on the project.

Supply only and install only

Only tick Supply Only Job or Install Only Job if the entire project falls into one of those categories. For a standard supply-and-fit job — even one with some install-only elements like lighting — leave both boxes unticked.

Site difficulty factor (MEP)

If you are using the MEP version, the job header also includes a Site Difficulty Factor. This multiplies all labour times across the job. Leave it at 1.00 for standard conditions. Increase it for projects with lower productivity — hospitals, airports, or high-level work, for example. You can also apply this per section on the takeoff screen if only certain areas are affected.

Completing the job header

Once you have filled in the information you need, press Continue to create the job and move to the takeoff screen. You can return to the job header at any time to update any field except the job code.