HomeTech ADVANTAGE Tip

Creating and Editing Assemblies

Reduce the amount of time it takes to create an estimate by using the “Assembly” feature.

The “Assembly” feature is one of the most powerful timesaving features in the HomeTech ADVANTAGE software. If you are trying to reduce the amount of time it takes to create an estimate, the “Assembly” feature can help you accomplish this. You can modify or delete existing Assemblies, as well as create your own. To get the most benefits from the “Assembly” feature, you will probably need to modify the existing assemblies, and create your own new assemblies.

This newsletter tip is a continuation of the March 2007 tip, "Using the ‘Assembly’ Feature to Transfer Data into an Estimate."

Here are some key points to review from last month about assemblies:

• Assemblies are simply a collection of Cost Book item numbers. When you transfer an Assembly into your estimate, the software “looks” at what line items are in that particular Assembly, finds those Cost Book line items, and transfers those Cost Book line items into your estimate (as those items currently appear in the Cost Books).
• Simply put, an Assembly is merely a “template” for a specific job or task.
• Assemblies are Cost Book specific.
  

Creating New Assemblies

Creating new Assemblies, or modifying existing Assemblies, is accomplished in the “Assembly Maintenance” window.

The “Assembly Maintenance” window can be accessed thru the ADD & EDIT ASSEMBLIES feature from either the Estimate Grid window or the Cost Book Grid window. In the Estimate Grid, use the ASEMBLIES button from either the top or bottom of the “Vertical Slider” menu, then choose ADD & EDIT ASSEMBLIES.

As seen below, the “Assembly Maintenance” window is being accessed from the Cost Book Grid, where — in addition to the “Vertical Slider” menu — you can also access the “Assembly Maintenance” window using the ASSEMBLIES pull-down menu, and then choosing ADD & EDIT ASSEMBLIES.

Organize Your Assemblies Using Categories
Use the ADD CATEGORY and DELETE CATEGORY buttons to add and delete categories in the ‘Assembly Categories’ list. Categorize your Assemblies in a manner that is logical to you, and that allows for easy recall of the Assemblies.

Step 1. Choose the ADD CATEGORY button to add a new category to the list.

Step 2. Type the name of the new category in the ‘Category Name’ field. In the example below ‘Bathroom New’ is the name of the new category.

Step 3. Choose ENTER (from your keyboard) to add the new category name to the category list.

NOTE: Use only alphabetical or numerical text in category names. Do not use punctuation or alphanumeric characters in the category names.

Step 4. Select/Highlight the category name in the ‘Assemblies Categories’ list you want to delete from the list.

Step 5. Choose the DELETE CATEGORY button to permanently delete the category (and all Assemblies in that category) from the list.

NOTE: Deleting a category will permanently delete the category and all Assemblies within that category.

Create a New Assembly Name

Step 1. Select/Highlight the category (from the ‘Assembly Category’ list) that you want the assembly to reside in.

Step 2. Choose the CREATE NEW ASSEMBLY button.

Step 3. Enter the name of your new assembly in the space provided in the ‘Assembly Title’ field.

Step 4. Choose ENTER (on your keyboard) to add the new assembly name to the chosen category. Choose ESC to cancel.

NOTE: Use only alphabetical or numerical text in assembly names. Do not use punctuation or alphanumeric characters assembly names.

Delete An Assembly

Step 1. Select/Highlight the category (from the ‘Assembly Category’ list) that contains the assembly you want to delete. In this example ‘Basements’ is selected.

Step 2. Select/Highlight the assembly name from the ‘Assembly List’ box. In this example ‘Basement Refinish’ is selected.

Step 3. Choose the DELETE ASSEMBLY button to permanently delete the chosen assembly from the program.

Step 4. Choose “YES” to the message prompts to permanently delete the chosen assembly from the software. Or, choose “NO” to the message prompts to not delete the chosen assembly.

Add Items Into an Assembly (Tag & Transfer)

Step 1. Select/Highlight the category where the assembly resides. In this example, the ‘ELECTRICAL’ category is chosen.

Step 2. Select/Highlight the assembly to which you want to add the line items. In this example, ‘ELECTRICAL Bath Remodel’ is chosen.

Step 3. Choose the ADD ITEMS TO ASSEMBLY button to go to the Cost Book Grid to tag the items you want to add to your chosen assembly.

NOTE: Assemblies are Cost Book specific. You will have different assemblies for each of the four HomeTech Cost Books (Remodeling & Renovation, Kitchen & Bath, HouseBuilders, and Handyman). Likewise, the assemblies in the Remodeling & Renovation Cost Book can only contain line items from the Remodeling & Renovation Cost Book.

Tag Items in the Assembly

Step 1. Tag the Cost Book items you want to add into your chosen assembly.

Step 2. Choose TRANSFER TO ASSEMBLY from the “Horizontal Slider” menu above the Cost Book Grid. The tagged items will now be added into your selected assembly, and you will be returned to the “Assembly Maintenance” window.

Add Items Into an Assembly (Enter Item Number)

If you know the “Item Number” for a specific item you want to add into your assembly, you can enter the item number directly in the ‘Item Number’ box without having to go to the Cost Book Grid.

Step 1. Select/Highlight the category where the assembly resides. In this example, the ‘ELECTRICAL’ category is chosen.

Step 2. Select/Highlight the assembly to which you want to add the line items. In this example, ‘ELECTRICAL Bath Remodel’ is chosen.

Step 3. Enter the Item Number in the “Item Number” box.

Step 4. Choose ENTER (on your keyboard) to add the item to the chosen assembly.

NOTE: This feature can be very useful if you are browsing thru the printed HomeTech estimating manuals. Item numbers in the HomeTech estimating manuals match the item numbers in the software.

Delete Items from an Assembly

Step 1. Select/Highlight the assembly category in which the assembly resides.

Step 2. Select/Highlight the assembly name.

Step 3. Select/Highlight the specific line items you want to permanently remove from the assembly.

Step 4. Choose the DELETE SELECTED ITEMS FROM ASSEMBLY button to remove the selected items from the selected assembly.

NOTE: When selecting items try holding the CTRL button on your keyboard to select multiple items, or hold SHIFT to select a range of items.