Job Specifications
Overview
Job Specifications uses groups of items to allocate specifications and allowed costs to the different sections of the job. Entering a QTY or selecting a () green ticked circle, will automatically add this item into the quote. Job Specifications is used for entering, tracking and reporting on all PC & PS item allowances. By entering the PC & PS Actual Costs against their allowances, it will show a profit or loss Balance for each.
Do not use the Cost Schedule to enter PC & PS item allowances, you will not be able to track the actual costs against the allowed cost amounts.
Specification items can be set up as Included, Not Included, Owner To Supply (OTS), Prime Cost (PC) or Provisional Sum (PS).
The specification descriptions are designed to be in point form layout, keeping it direct, minimal and easy to read. You can customise the group names and items required, and set up default selections for each, which can be connected directly to Price List items.
Toolbar

Adds a new Group to the Job Specifications. Groups are built-up of items for specific sections of the job.
You can…
- Group item allowances together for specific sections of the job. E.g. Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings for each Bathroom, Tiling Specifications, etc.
- Group together specifications in point form detailing the works you'll be carrying out on each part of the job.
- Group together a list of exclusions or inclusions.
- Use it for client selections. e.g. Colour Selections, Roof & Gutter types & profiles, Shower Screen types, Basin & Tapware types, etc.
See the Job Specifications setup in the Sample Template, it will help you get started. Also, check-out the Job Specifications Settings to setup your default item selections.

Opens the selected Group to view or edit. Double-clicking on the Group heading will also open it.

Deletes the selected Group/s. Once deleted, it cannot be undone.

Use your mouse cursor to drag & drop a Group to a new location.

Adds a new Item to the selected Group. Items are capable of receiving multiple (QTY's) quantities sent from Plan Scan.

Opens the selected Item to view or edit. Double-clicking on the item will also open it.

Deletes the selected Item/s. Once deleted, it cannot be undone.

Use your mouse cursor to drag & drop items up or down its Group.


Lets you select an Item or Group to copy and paste its duplication to another location within Job Specifications.

Opens the Price List for updating prices, adding or editing items, and setting up suppliers price lists. It also opens the Live Pricing to import price files from your suppliers manually or directly using the 24/7 Live Pricing supplier connection.

Opens the on-screen takeoff measuring tool. This enables you to add job plans, calibrate them to scale, then start measuring up your quantities. Your quantities can be linked and sent to the Cost Schedule, Timber List or Job Specifications.
Measure: Areas, Vertical Areas, Roof Areas, Lengths, Lengths (with heights), Counts, Counts (with lengths) and Volumes.

Opens the Job Specifications Settings to setup you default groups of item specification selections.

Allows you to Export the Job Specifications data in CSV file format to other applications, such as Excel.
Importing a CSV file to Excel
Open Microsoft Excel ► Open New Blank workbook ► Go to the Data tab ► Select From Text/CSV (Get & Transform Data) ► then find & open the CSV file you're wanting to view or edit ► File Origin 1252: Western European (Windows) ► Delimiter Comma ► Select Load
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Related Features
Item Types
Included
Items marked Included will show in the quote print report as an included allowance in the price.
Not Included
Items marked Not Included will show in the quote print report as a not included allowance in the price.
Owner To Supply (OTS)
Items marked OTS (Owner To Supply) will show in the quote print report as the owner's responsibility to provide or pay directly for this item. Do not enter a cost for this item.
Prime Costs (PC)
Prime Cost Item allowances are used for Items with no labour component.
Provisional Sums (PS)
Provisional Sum item allowances are used for Items with a labour component with or without materials.
PC & PS Items
PC and PS Profit Markup Distribution
In the Quotation print report, the PC & PS items distribution markup is spread across all other contributing Work Groups on the Cost Schedule. It is spread in ratio to the amount the work group contributes to the contract total. This way it makes it impossible for the client to reverse engineer your business markup allowances. This can be changed in the Print Options ► Cost Schedule (selections).
PC and PS Totals
Overview
Prime Cost and Provisional Sum Item allowances are added into your quote in the Job Specifications view. The Job Specifications view is setup to track each PC & PS Item allowance and the overall PC & PS amount totals. The Job Specifications overall totals are then transferred to the Cost Schedule Work Group ► Job Specifications. The Cost Schedule is where your Business Markups are applied onto the Job Specifications totals.
Note, the Job Specifications Settings () is where the PC & PS excess (overrun) markup percentage is set. Example: 20% (default)
Below are the (3) totals transferred from the Job Specifications view to the Cost Schedule ► Work Group ► Job Specifications.
1) Total - Included Items (These are item allowances that are not PC or PS items.)
2) Total - Prime Costs
3) Total - Provisional Sums
How do I...
Add a New Group?
To add a New Group to the Job Specifications view, follow the steps below.

Then click OK to add the group.
User Tip 1
After a New Group has been added to the Job Specifications view, you can drag & drop it up or down to a different location, if required.
Add a New Item?
To add a New Item into a Job Specifications Group, follow the steps below.

To setup this item, you have (3) options.
Option 1 - Manually Enter
You can manually enter the Item Name, Item Specification, Cost (inc. GST), and select the Item Type.
This method does not require you to Select from Default Specifications or link to a Price List Item.
Once you have setup the item, then click OK to add the item.
Option 2 - Select from Default Specifications
This option allows you to select from the Job Specifications default specifications pre-setup. Selecting a default specification will auto add the Item Name, Item Specification, Item Type, and Cost (inc GST). These selections can be customised and edited in the Job Specifications Settings (). Specifications can also be added on the run, by pressing the Save button when it becomes active.
Once you have setup the item, then click OK to add the item.
Option 3 - Price List Item
This option allows you to setup a Price List Item as the Item Specification. It will auto add the Item Name, Item Specification and Cost (inc. GST). The Item Type will default to Included but it can be manually overridden, if required.
Once you have setup the item, then click OK to add the item.
Add a PC or PS Item Allowance?
To add a PC or PS Item allowance, see both options below.

Change the PC and PS Excess Markup Rate?
Open the Job Specifications Settings () and change the PC & PS Excess Markup Rate %.
The Sample Template has been default set at 20%.
Setup default groups of item specifications for selections?

Link the Included Items, PC items and PS items total amounts, to the Cost Schedule?
Example - Sample Template.quo
The Job Specifications Included items total, PC items total and PS items total amounts are transferred to the Job Specifications work group in the Cost Schedule. This is done by entering JS, PC and PS respectively into each of the Rates fields Items. From there, the Job Specifications work group gets applied with business markups and added into the Contract Total.
Export a CSV file?
Go to the toolbar and select Export, then save the CSV file into your job folder.
Open Microsoft Excel ► Open New Blank workbook ► Go to the Data tab ► Select From Text/CSV (Get & Transform Data) ► Open the SoloAssist CSV file ► File Origin 1252: Western European (Windows) ► Delimiter Comma ► Select Load
Troubleshooting
None yet
Let us know if you hit any problems in Job Specifications, and we will write up the troubleshooting tips here…