What is split upon entry?
When you add an assembly to the takeoff screen, you can choose how it is displayed:
- Not split (one-liner) — the assembly appears as a single row. The description shows the assembly name, and the labour and material costs are combined totals.
- Split upon entry — the assembly is broken out into its individual component lines, so you can see every item that makes up the assembly.
When to split
There is no right or wrong answer — it depends on how much detail you want to see on the takeoff screen.
| One-liner | Split |
|---|---|
| Cleaner, more compact takeoff screen | Full visibility of every component |
| Faster to scan when you have many assemblies | Easier to spot-check quantities and items |
| Total cost is immediately visible | Individual material costs are visible |
| Preferred by most mechanical users | Preferred by most electrical users |
You can choose differently each time you input an assembly. The default setting just controls which option is pre-selected — you can always tick or untick the split checkbox before confirming.
Default behaviour by platform
| Platform | Default |
|---|---|
| Mechanical | Not split (one-liner) |
| Electrical | Split upon entry |
Changing the default
If you find you are always ticking (or unticking) the split option, change the default so it matches your preference.
- 1
Go to Tools > System Preferences.
- 2
Find the Split assemblies upon entry checkbox.
- 3
Tick it to default to split, or untick it to default to one-liner.
- 4
Click Exit.
This setting applies to all new assembly inputs going forward. It does not change how assemblies already on the takeoff screen are displayed.
Splitting an assembly after the fact
If you entered an assembly as a one-liner but later decide you want to see the breakdown, you can split it from the takeoff screen. Similarly, if you split an assembly but want to collapse it back to a single line, that option is available too. Look for the split/unsplit options when right-clicking on an assembly line.