Browsing and Using Assemblies in PDF Takeoff

Overview

Assemblies are pre-built groups of items saved in the database. A typical assembly bundles a main product with all of its associated fittings or allowances, so you measure once and capture everything. For example:

• A socket assembly might include the socket itself, a back box, and a cable allowance (e.g. 14 metres of twin and earth).
• A trunking assembly might include the trunking itself plus 90-degree bends, 45-degree bends, tees, and couplers.
• A lighting assembly might include the light fitting plus a flex and a ceiling rose.

Using assemblies is the most efficient way to take off in Ensign X, especially for repetitive items. Rather than counting a socket, a back box, and a cable run as three separate takeoff operations, you count them once as an assembly. The time saved compounds quickly across a large project.

Browsing assemblies

1. 1

   Click the Add Item button in the toolbar (the blue plus icon) to open the database browser.

2. 2

   Click the Assemblies tab along the top of the dialog. This switches from the individual product view to the assembly catalogue.

3. 3

   Browse through the assembly categories. These follow the same structure as the main database — cable management, distribution, general, lighting, sockets and switches, and so on. Ensign provides a set of standard assemblies covering common product combinations.

4. 4

   Select an assembly to see its summary information, including the combined price and total installation hours.

You can also switch between the Items, Assemblies, and Contractor's Choice tabs without closing the dialog. If you click on the wrong tab, simply switch to the correct one.

Inspecting an assembly with More Info

Before you take off an assembly, you may want to see exactly what it contains. The More Info button reveals the full breakdown of every component within the assembly.

1. 1

   Select an assembly in the browser.

2. 2

   Click the More Info button. A detailed panel expands, showing each component item — for example, the socket itself, the back box, and the cable allowance — along with their individual quantities, product codes, trade prices, and installation hours.

3. 3

   Review the components to confirm the assembly matches your specification. If the cable allowance is too high or too low, or the back box is the wrong type, you may prefer to create a custom assembly in the estimating module instead.

Taking off an assembly

Assemblies are taken off in the same way as individual database items. The method (unit or linear) depends on the type of assembly.

Unit assembly takeoff

Most assemblies — such as sockets, switches, and light fittings — are unit items.

1. 1

   Select the assembly in the browser and choose a colour and pixel size for the drawing markers.

2. 2

   Press Start.

3. 3

   Left-click on the drawing at each location where the item appears. Each click places a marker and counts one complete assembly (the socket, the back box, the cable allowance — all in one click).

4. 4

   Right-click to finalise. The assembly is logged in the service panel with its combined price and hours.

Linear assembly takeoff

Some assemblies — particularly containment assemblies such as trunking — are linear items. These may also have associated components configured for automatic bend detection, which is covered in detail in Associated Components and Bend Detection.

1. 1

   Select the assembly and choose a colour and pixel size.

2. 2

   If the run is vertical, tick the Riser option and enter the riser height.

3. 3

   Press Start.

4. 4

   Left-click at each corner of the route to trace the path, then right-click to finalise.

When using a linear assembly with associated components, the software automatically places bends at each change of direction when you right-click to finalise. You will see coloured circles appear at each corner point, representing the fittings that have been added.

Auto count with assemblies

You can also use the Auto Count function with assemblies. This combines the detail of a database assembly (product codes, prices, hours) with the speed of automated symbol recognition. Instead of pressing Start, press the Auto Count button and follow the symbol selection process — see Auto-Count Setup and Symbol Selection for the full workflow. Every symbol the system matches counts as one complete assembly.

Multi-select for flow and return

When you need to take off paired items — such as flow and return pipework — use the multi-select feature:

1. 1

   Select the first item or assembly in the browser.

2. 2

   Press Multi-Select to lock in that selection.

3. 3

   Select the second item (or the same item again for identical paired runs).

4. 4

   Press Multi-Select again. The counter at the top should show 2.

5. 5

   Press Start and trace the route as normal. Both items are measured simultaneously along the same path.

This is particularly useful for mechanical takeoff where heating or chilled water pipework runs in pairs, but it works equally well for any scenario where two or more items share the same route.