PROJECT TEMPLATES

Project Templates are used to create new Projects. When you choose to create a new project, a dialog appears whereby you choose the JOBCODE for the project, and the Template (by default STANDARD) which is copied to produce the new project.

You can create as many Project Templates as you like. They are also given a JOBCODE  when you create them, but are stored in a different location to Projects. Their location is '.......Estdata8/Templates'

The default installation of EstimatorVJ includes two templates - 'STANDARD' and 'V5 EWS FORMAT' .

These can be used as the backbone for creating new Templates.

Creating a New Project Template

The following steps are followed to create a new Template.

1. Create a New Project using an existing Template that most closely resembles what you want.
2. Modify the Structure of each Worksheet type that you want changed and 'Set as Default'
   The different Worksheet types that exist in any project are:
   • Resource Library
   • Section Names
   • Estimate Worksheet
   • Quantity workup sheet
   • Rate workup shhet
   • Cost workup sheet
3. 'Save as Template' this modified project

Creating  a new Default Worksheet

The following steps show you how to create a NEW DEFAULT Worksheet:

1. Create a NEW worksheet of the desired type
2. Modify the Worksheet as desired (see below for more details if necessary)
   
3. Remove any existing data (otherwise this will be saved as well)
4. Click the option 'Defaults->Save as Default'
   

All NEW worksheets of this type will now have the new structure.

Modifying Existing Worksheets to create a new Default

When you Open/Create a worksheet for the first time, the program uses the 'Default Structure' stored within the project for that worksheet type. This default structure is initially set up in the project Template from which this project was created, or the Project that was copied to produce it.

If you want a different default structure in a project for a particular worksheet type, then you need to

1. Modify the structure of an existing worksheet of that type
2. Save this modified worksheet as the Default - option 'Defaults->Save as Default'

Once you have done this, all NEW worksheets of that type will have this new structure. Note: Any worksheets of this type created prior to these structure modifications, will remain unchanged. Furthermore, remove any data you don't want in the default before you choose to set it as default, because any data will also become part of your default.

There are a number of PRIME columns in each worksheet type - BQRef, Description, Section Name, Unit, Qty, Rate, and Cost. Various Reports and functions within EstimatorVJ access the data in these columns through their names. Consequently it is not advisable to modify these columns in any way without fully testing the ramifications of doing so - in particular their names and formula.

The structure of a worksheet is made up of and changed by:

1. The number of columns
   Use the CTRL+ALT+INS (add) or CTRL+ALT+DEL (delete) keystrokes to add/delete columns
2. Their order
   Click on the column heading and drag to reposition
3. Each columns characteristics
   Right mouse click on the column heading to bring up a popup menu for selecting the option to change
   • Name
   • Width
   • Formula
   • Data type
     • Text
     • Number
     • Rate
     • Cost
     • Comma format
   • Options
     • Show Column Total
     • Protected
     • Printable
     • Receives Overhead Spread
   • Precisions
     • Qty
     • Rate
     • Cost
     • Other
   • Alignment
     • Left
     • Right
     • Centre
   • Data Entry
     • Insert
     • Overtype
     • Replace
     • Upper Case
4. Colours
   Click on the button 'Edit Colours/Fonts' in the Defaults TAB
   • Text
   • Background
   • Lines
   • Value Column Text
5. Font
   Click on the button 'Edit Colours/Fonts' in the Defaults TAB
6. Window Size and Location
   Size the window, and position it on the screen where and how you want it to initially appear
7. Initial cursor position and column positions
   Set up the view in the window (which columns are in view and which column is the first column in the view) and which cell you want to be intially selected

Once you are satisfied with the new structure, enter some data and test it fully, especially any formula modifications you have made.

If everything is working satisfactorily, remove any test data, then choose the option 'Set as Default' in the Defaults TAB.

Saving a New Project Template

Once you have finished modifying the Structure of each Worksheet type, remove any data that you don't want to exist in the Template, then click the option 'Save as Template' in the Edit TAB of the Project Window.

Adding a New Column

There are two ways to Add a new column

1. using a dialog
2. using shortcut keys

1. Using a Dialog

• This method is for less experienced users - follow these steps:

• click the 'Modify Structure' button in the Defaults TAB
• the following dialog will appear



• click the right/left arrow next to the 'Title' text field, until the column that currently exists and is most similar to the column you want to add, shows in this 'Title' textfield.
• now click the '+' (Add) button
• this will 'create' a new column with the same title as the currently selected column's title, but preceded with the words 'Copy of ....'
• click the 'right arrow' repeatedly until the title of this added column displays (NOTE: At the moment it's order will be indeterminant)
• type into the 'Title' text box the name  you want for this new column (NOTE: Make sure you do not create DUPLICATE column titles)
• make the appropriate selections for the 'Data Type', and 'Options' in the 'General' TAB, and 'Precisions', 'Alignment' , and 'Data Entry' in the 'Data' TAB
• when satisfied with all the details, click 'Finish'
• you will now be taken back into the Worksheet you were working on
• the new column can now be 'dragged' into the position in the column order - do this by clicking in the heading of the column, and while still holding the mouse button down, drag the column to it's destination position
• you are now done

2. Using Shortcut Keys

• click in the column that currently exists and is most similar to the column you want to add
• press the 'CTRL+ALT+'+' key combination
• this will 'create' a new column with the same title as the currently selected column's title, but preceded with the words 'Copy of ....'
• right mouse click in the New column's heading - a popup menu will appear
• adjust the options in this menu to suit
• the new column can now be 'dragged' into the position in the column order - do this by clicking in the heading of the column, and while still holding the mouse button down, drag the column to it's destination position
• you are now done