IMPORTING SCHEDULES/BILLS from Excel WORKBOOKS

Generally

EstimatorVJ contains an option to import Schedules or Bills of Quantities provided in Excel Workbook format.

The Method below will show you how to align the columns in the workbook with the appropriate columns in your Estimate. There are also options which allow you to ignore unwanton headings in each of the Tables, and ignore control words in the UNIT column which some clumsy programs use to signify as headings etc. when exporting to these workbooks.

Considerations

1. The Workbook must be in 'Excel Workbook' format
2. Each sheet in the Workbook must have the same columnar format and order
3. The name of each sheet in the Workbook is what VJ will use and insert into the Section List
4. ALL sheets will be imported and each placed into their own Section in the Estimate. Currently there is no facility to choose a single or group of sheets to import.
5. VJ will treat Summary Sheets as normal sheets
6. Workbook sheets will be inserted into the Estimate at the currently selected Section.

Step 1 - Create the Estimate

Use an appropriate Template to Create the New project.

Step 2 - Import the Excel Workbook

Currently VJ will only handle 'Excel Workbook' document formats, so if you need to import another type of document, open it in Excel or equivalent, then save it as an 'XLS' document.

1. Open the Project to receive the document
2. Click (select) the row in the project Window where you want the program to start inserting the Sections out of the Workbook.
3. Select the option 'Project->Import XLS'
4. Select the 'Excel' workbook to import
5. Select the options for the Import from the following dialog:
   
   
   
   
   

   1. 'Contains headings for each column on the first row'
      Tick this if the workbook tables contain the column headings on the first line
   2. 'Special words are used in the 'Unit' Column......'
      Some clumsy programs use key words in the UNIT column to denote special meanings to data - e.g. headings, and these unfortunately get included in the workbook. If you click this option, the program will remove these, and try to interpret them and act according.
      If you tick the 'BOLD' and 'UNDERLINE' options, the program will attempt to interpret these key words and BOLD/UNDERLINE headings as selected.
   3. Align the columns in the Workbook with the columns in the Estimate Worksheets.
      EstimatorVJ is only interested in the BQRef, Description, Unit, Qty, Rate, and Cost columns from the Workbook, but it needs to know which columns in the Workbook are which.
      Therefore you need to look at the Workbook, and place the appropriate letter against each of these columns in the box to their left. You can use uppercase OR lowercase letters - it doesn't matter.
      
6. Click the 'Import' button and the process will occur.
   The Status panel will show the progress, and once complete, the Project Window will be updated
7. Done.