Copying to create variations
If you need several versions of the same assembly with minor differences — for example, different bracket centres or different cable allowances — use the Copy button in the assembly screen. This is much faster than building the second assembly from scratch, and it ensures you do not accidentally miss a component.
- 1
Open the assembly you want to copy (via Amend on the assembly screen).
- 2
Click Copy and confirm.
- 3
Update the description to reflect the variation (e.g. change "at 1.2m" to "at 1.8m").
- 4
Adjust the quantities that differ. For example, two clips every 1.8 m instead of every 1.2 m changes the quantity from 1.67 to 1.11.
- 5
Click Save and Exit. You now have two assemblies covering both bracket centre options.
You can also copy assemblies to create "easy" and "difficult" versions of the same item. For instance, an electrical socket assembly might have 10 metres of cable for straightforward areas and 20 metres for areas with longer or more complex cable routes.
Modifying an Ensign assembly
You do not need to start from scratch if an Ensign assembly is close to what you need.
- 1
Go to Assembly on the takeoff screen and navigate to the Ensign assembly you want to change.
- 2
Click Amend to open it for editing.
- 3
Make your changes. Common modifications include:
- Adjusting a cable allowance — change the cable quantity from 10 to 15 metres per point.
- Swapping a component — delete a pre-made hanger and add your own built-up support (channel, rod, nuts, and bolts) using Delete Selected Line and then navigating to the replacement items.
- Adding components — if you want to include items not in the original assembly, find them in the database and add them to the assembly with appropriate quantities.
- 4
Click Save and Exit. The change applies from this point forward for all users.
Modifying an Ensign assembly changes it permanently for everyone on the database. If you want to keep the original intact, use Copy first to create a duplicate, then modify the copy.
Adding items to an existing assembly
On the electrical platform, there is a shortcut for adding new components to an assembly that already exists:
- 1
Input the new items onto the takeoff screen as individual lines.
- 2
Highlight all the new items from the left-hand side.
- 3
Right-click and select Add to an Existing Assembly (instead of Create Assembly).
- 4
Navigate to the assembly you want to add the items to, select it, and confirm.
- 5
Set the quantities for the newly added components and click Save and Exit.
This is useful when you have already created an assembly but later realise you need additional components in it — for example, adding built-up hanger materials (rod, channel, nuts) to a tray assembly that previously used a pre-made hanger.