Creating and Managing Sections

The sectional structure

The sectional structure sits in the centre of the takeoff screen. It defines how your tender return is broken down — by location, service, trade, or whatever structure suits the project. Building a clear structure here directly shapes the quotation documents you produce later, including the tender summary and quantified schedule of rates.

The screen is divided into three areas: the item database on the left, the sectional structure in the centre, and the examine grid on the right. The sectional structure supports up to four hierarchy levels — A, B, C, and D — though most users find A and B levels sufficient.

Creating sections

When you first arrive on the takeoff screen, a default section is ready for you to rename.

1. 1

   Triple-click the default section name to select it, then type your new name (e.g. "Ground Floor"). Press Enter to confirm.

2. 2

   To add subsections, select the B level button at the bottom of the section panel, then press the plus (+) icon. This turns the A-level section into a folder with a B-level section inside it.

3. 3

   Keep pressing plus with B selected to add more subsections — for example, Lighting, Small Power, and Containment under Ground Floor.

You can go further with C and D level sections if you need a deeper breakdown. To create a new A-level section for the next area (e.g. "First Floor"), select A at the bottom and press plus.

Duplicating sections

Once you have built out one area, you can duplicate its entire structure rather than recreating it from scratch. This is particularly useful for projects with repeating floors or zones.

1. 1

   Right-click the parent folder you want to copy (e.g. "Ground Floor").

2. 2

   Select Duplicate. An identical copy is created, including any subsections.

3. 3

   Triple-click the copied folder name and rename it (e.g. "First Floor").

Moving sections

To reorder sections, click and hold on a section, drag it to the desired position, and release. This works for both individual sections and parent folders. The section structure updates immediately, and the change is reflected in your tender documents.

Deleting sections

• B/C/D level sections — right-click and select Delete, or highlight the section and press the minus (-) button at the bottom of the section panel.
• Parent folders — you must remove all subsections inside a folder first. Once the last subsection is deleted, the folder disappears automatically. You cannot delete a parent folder directly while it still contains subsections.

Restoring deleted lines

If you accidentally delete items from a section, right-click on the examine grid and select Restore Deleted Lines. The software keeps a record of recently removed items so you can recover them without re-entering the data.