Split vs. single-line display
When you import an assembly into the estimating module, a tick box in the import dialog controls how it displays in the examine grid.
Split (tick box enabled)
Each component appears on its own line in the examine grid. For a socket assembly, you would see three separate lines: the socket, the back box, and the cable allowance. This gives you full visibility and the ability to adjust each component individually — for example, changing the cable length on just one socket.
Single line (tick box disabled)
The assembly appears as one line with a combined total for price and hours. This keeps the examine grid tidier, especially on large projects with hundreds of assembly instances.
Material reports are unaffected
Importantly, even when you use the single-line display, the individual components are still broken out in material reports sent to wholesalers. You will not send a wholesaler a vague line that just says "MK Switch Socket Two Gang" — the report correctly lists the socket, the back box, and the cable with their respective quantities and product codes. The single-line option only affects how the assembly appears on your own schedule of rates.
If you are unsure which option to use, start with the split view. It is easier to spot errors and adjust quantities when you can see every component. Once you are comfortable with your standard assemblies, you may prefer the single-line view for a cleaner examine grid.
Contractor's choice items
The Contractor's Choice tab in the database dialog gives you access to any custom items or assemblies you have set up in the estimating module. These are products or groups that sit outside the standard Ensign database — for example:
- A preferred socket from a manufacturer not yet in the main database.
- A bespoke assembly tailored to your company's standard installation method.
- A product with a non-standard cable allowance or fitting combination.
- Items with company-specific pricing or specifications.
How to use contractor's choice items
- 1
Click the Add Item button (blue plus icon) to open the database browser.
- 2
Click the Contractor's Choice tab along the top of the dialog.
- 3
Browse or select the item you need. Contractor's choice items work in exactly the same way as standard database items — select the item, choose a colour and pixel size, press Start, and measure on the drawing.
Contractor's choice items also support Auto Count, so you can use automated symbol recognition with your own custom products and assemblies.
Contractor's choice is the bridge between the estimating module and Ensign X. Anything you set up on the estimating side — whether it is a single custom item or a fully built assembly — becomes available in the PDF takeoff software. If the standard Ensign assemblies do not match your specification, build your own in the estimating module and they will appear under Contractor's Choice after a data refresh.
Creating custom assemblies
Custom assemblies are created in the estimating module, not in Ensign X. The process is straightforward: you group together the items you want (the main product plus any fittings, cables, or allowances), save them as an assembly, and they become available in both the estimating software and Ensign X.
If you create or modify an assembly while Ensign X is already open, press the Refresh Data button in the toolbar to reload the database — see Refresh Data Button for details. Alternatively, close and reopen Ensign X, but the Refresh Data button is considerably faster.
When altering quantities within a standard assembly (for example, changing the cable allowance from 14 metres to 10 metres), be aware of your settings. With default settings, changes may update the master assembly file. There are settings in the estimating module that allow you to alter quantities per input without affecting the master. Speak to Ensign support if you need this configured.
Why assemblies are recommended
Assemblies are strongly recommended for takeoff, particularly for containment work. They combine the linear measurement with automatic bend and tee detection (see Associated Components and Bend Detection), eliminating the need to go back and count fittings manually.
But the principle applies across all material types — why count things three or four times when you can count them once?
| Without assemblies | With assemblies |
|---|---|
| Count sockets separately | Count once — socket, back box, and cable captured together |
| Count back boxes separately | -- |
| Measure cable separately | -- |
| Three takeoff operations per socket location | One takeoff operation per socket location |
Additional advantages
- Accuracy — fewer manual steps means fewer opportunities for errors.
- Speed — counting once instead of three times saves significant time on large projects.
- Consistency — assemblies enforce your company's standard installation method across every project.
- Estimating integration — assembly components carry their product codes, trade prices, and installation hours directly into the estimating module, reducing data entry.
Make assemblies the default approach in your workflow. Use individual database items only when a specific product does not fit into an assembly, or when you need to measure a standalone item that has no associated fittings.