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Standard Takeoff

MEP Estimating, version 10.3

• You can now launch Harrison CINX from Takeoff and select items to import into Specials. From the Takeoff screen, right-click on the Special item that you want to get CINX information/listings for. Select the new option Import From CINX.
  See the Help topic, Takeoff Specials: Import from CINX for details.

MEP Estimating, version 10.1

• Import from CAD has been updated to check the Key Flag and number of sizes before merging sizes for the match. In the Select a Matching Data Item dialog box, there is a new Size field to specify which size you want to use. For example, CAD may flag an item as a 2 sized item but you may have it in the Mechanical database as a 3 sized item. Use the Size field to ensure the correct size is being matched When launching the Design Spec Editor from Takeoff, the KeyPad now shows the size keys.

Estimating, version 10.0

• EastCoast CAD versions 5.0 and 6.0 are compatible with Estimating, version 10.

• You can now import from REVIT MEP. This is in addition to AutoCad MEP, East Coast CAD, CADPIPE HVAC on the Import from CAD dialog (Takeoff > File > Import from CAD).

• General Preferences have been updated so you can now change the font color of your notes and attachments in Takeoff. Select the new Colors option to open the Edit Colors dialog.

• When launching the Design Spec Editor from Takeoff, the KeyPad now shows the size keys.

• Preset hangers (not assembly items) will now oversize for insulation in takeoff.

• When dragging items to a custom estimate assembly and the line amount exceeds 100, a message will display stating that the action will be cancelled and suggesting an alternate form of copy.

• In Takeoff, you can now enter Material Unit/Discount per individual assembly (instead of pricing items individually), this is similar to the Labor override feature. You can set the material assembly override in Takeoff or at the data set level. Select the Cost and Unit Overrides needed, including Material and Material Discount.
  From the Takeoff screen, double-click on the Assembly header to open the Edit Assembly Header dialog.

• There is a new checkbox on the Import from CAD screen for Prompt immediately for unmatched Fab Items. When this prompt is checked, you can add unmatched Fab Item(s) as a Database/Special item. You must create a match to a data item the first time and select to save this match to the estimate, job or dataset.  Any further occurrences in the session will show the error as it previously has and you can answer Yes to use the match that you just created. If you add a Fabricated item as a data item, you will need to setup categories with all sizes for that item or take off as a special. When the prompt is not checked, Estimating reports warnings during the import and skips the item(s).

• There is a new function on the toolbar in takeoff. Reprocess Aux(iliary items) is available on the toolbar, from the Edit menu and through the right-click Edit menu. Use Reprocess Auxiliary to automatically recalculate a takeoff. Previously, you would have had to highlight the items and multiply the column QTY by 1 to recalculate; this option does the calculation for you.
  Additionally, Undo Reprocess Auxiliary Items is available from the Edit menu.

• Takeoff now offers the option to insulate pipe and all fittings, using insulation categories that contain specific items for elbows, tees, etc.  Insulation fittings will take off the matching key in the specified category. The items that have insulation fittings must have at least one joint and be of the key flags: Pipe, Sized, or Standard Len. Pipe.

• In Takeoff, the Pipe Insulation Option now has a checkbox for you to specify if you want to insulate fittings as well. Checking this box will prompt you to pick a category that has Fitting Insulation. If Fitting Insulation is used, Estimating automatically selects the insulation key for each item taken off (the keys must match between the two categories).

• A new key flag for Fitting Insulation has been added to Databook.

• A new key flag for Fitting Insulation has been added to Mechanical. If fitting insulation is chosen, changing the item's key automatically updates the insulation on it. 

• The checkbox for Insulate Fittings is now in the Edit Item dialog, the in-place edit dialog, and in the column edit dialogs.

Estimating, version 9.4.1

• To enhance performance in Takeoff, there is a toolbar option for Quick Takeoff (QTO) . Using this Quick Takeoff feature, a separate “QTO session” is started for you to complete a new takeoff without the burden of refreshing the entire session of past takeoff entries with each edit performed. The QTO option acts as a toggle; click the icon to turn QTO on and then when you are finished, click the icon again to toggle it off and it will automatically merge your QTO session into the original session. See the online Help topic Quick Takeoff for more details.

• Estimating is now integrated with AutoCAD 2013 and MEP 2013.

Estimating, version 9.4

• In the Open Section, sections display inredwhen they are locked because they are in use by another Estimating user on the network.

• Item #is now available as a Customized field selection on the Takeoff screen.

• In Takeoff, the Save to Match options will be disabled if you choose to map to a special. The option buttons in the "Save Match To" area of the "Select a Matching Data Item" dialog are hidden when you choose to map to a special.

• NEW! Estimating is now integrated with Autodesk MEP software. The Maxwell Autodesk MEP 2012 Plug-In provides added support to MEP 2012 to export drawing objects to Estimating Takeoff.  For objects to be exported properly, the objects must be from the Autodesk MEP 2012 Catalog.

1.    ADDMAXMENU – Adds a ribbon bar for export commands.

2.     REMOVEMAXMENU – Removes the Maxwell ribbon bar.

3.  TAKEOFFALL – Exports all objects in the drawing to a file for Estimating Takeoff.

4.  TAKEOFFSELECTED – Prompts you to select a bounding rectangle of objects to be exported to Estimating Takeoff.

5.  TAKEOFFOPTIONS – Allows selection of whether or not to accumulate identical fittings for a total count of each group.

Use AutoCAD MEP as your file type when importing AutoCad MEP files into Estimating. The import works the same as the other HVAC imports. See the Help topic Import from CAD for more details. Please contact your Maxwell Systems sales representative for more information on the Autodesk MEP plug in.

Estimating, version 9.3

• The Item Lookup function now includes two new fields to help narrow your search. You can select “Ignore Case” and/or “Exact Matches Only” to quicken your search. Previously, if you entered a “base item”, the item and all of its variations would display. If you select Exact Matches Only, only the base item will display. Ignore Case will default to being checked and Exact Match will default to being unchecked. If you change these settings, Estimating will default to your settings the next time you use Lookup. See Using Lookup.

• The Reapply Pressure to Section option no longer forces the gauge and seam values to be overridden (checked).

• Import From CAD:

• • Estimating is now integrated with East Coast Sheet Metal CAD software. You must have Autodesk MEP 2011 and East Coast “Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP” version 3.4 installed. This import will work exactly like importing from CADPIPE HVAC.
    Note: Currently, the import works for Fabricated items only. See Import From CAD.

  • The Next Section button has been removed from the Import from CAD screen.

  • Estimations’ Import From Cad functionality allows you to map an imported CAD item to a new or existing Special when using any of the CAD imports (East Coast CAD, CADPIPE HVAC). Note: All “Special” maps are saved to the Current Estimate only. See Import From CAD.

Estimating, version 9.2

• When taking off special sized items Estimating will now default to Pick Existing Item rather than Manually Enter Sizes.

• Added None to the Hanger/Riser/Underground options in the Hanger drop-down window.

Estimating, version 9.1

• Takeoff Options has a new option: Retain Active Levels Between Sections.  This option, when checked, will cause any Levels that have been marked as active to carry over when you switch Sections.

• A new option has been added to File > Options > General Preferences.  The Takeoff Next Larger Size option, when checked, will cause the program to use the next larger size of an Item if you attempt to take it off with an invalid size.  For example, an Item has valid sized of 3 and 5 inches.  You attempt to takeoff that Item with a size of 4 inches.  If the Takeoff Next Larger Size option is active, then instead of putting an invalid item in the Takeoff Maintenance window, the program will takeoff the Item with a size of 5.
   

• Assembly Keys can be edited in the Takeoff Maintenance view by using the Edit > Edit Associated Assembly Header option. This new option allows you to edit the Assembly Header for the selected Assembly.  You can then override the default Labor values. The changes are saved either to the Data File Maintenance or Estimate File Maintenance file.
   

Estimating, version 9.0

• Two new columns: “Last Edit Time” and “Last Edit By” are now available for the Takeoff Maintenance view.  The “Last Edit Time” column will display a timestamp for the last edit to the takeoff item while the “Last Edit By” shows who had made the last edit to the item.    

• Users can now define Connection Type and number of Connections when configuring Hanger Items in Takeoff.    

•  Takeoff Maintenance View now allows Design Specs to be removed from individual items. A "None" entry is now available in both the in-place and column edit windows for Design Specs.    

• Some cosmetic display changes were made to the Category and Menu options in order to make them more distinct.  Different Category and Menu selections will now only have their number displayed by the Category/Menu name.  In addition, in the Select Menu window, only Shifted menus will be marked.      

• Users now have the ability to customize the information that appears on the Status Bar.  The new options can be found by going to File >> Options >> Status Bar.  Furthermore, users can customize the order of the new options by dragging them either up or down.  The selected options will display in the lower-right portion of the screen on the Status Bar.  Please note that if View > Status Bar is not checked, users will not be able to see these options.

• The Options Bar will now display the number of active design Specifications.