Variations
Overview
Variations are used for job or build changes with or without price adjustments. They can be allocated to existing Cost Centre budgets or created as new Cost Centre budget for tracking its costs against in Cost Control. Also, variation payment claims can be separated and allocated to multiple claim stages in Progress Payments.
Variations can be raised for both a client or sub-contractor, previewed, saved to PDF, and auto-filed chronologically for easy tracking.
Variations will only show in Cost Control and or Progress Payments after they have been marked () Approved.
See Toolbar and Related Features below to learn how Variations work and interact with other features in SoloAssist.
Toolbar

This will save all changes to current job open.

Opens a new client or sub-contractor Variation for entering its items, costs and setting up its payment claims. It can then be previewed, printed or saved to PDF.

Deletes the selected Variation. Once deleted, it cannot be undone.

Enables the selected Variation to be previewed, printed or saved to PDF.

Is used for Lump Sum (% complete monthly, fortnightly, weekly) or Cost Plus claim methods. It works in conjunction with the Cost Centres % complete and expense invoices in Cost Control.

This opens the Plans on-screen takeoff measuring tool. It enables you to add job plans, calibrate plans to scale, measure quantities, and send them directly into your quote. Your quantities can be sent simultaneously to multiple items in the Cost Schedule, Timber List, or Job Specifications. We recommend to setup with duel 27“+ screens to optimise the visual plans space to measure, and increase your quoting efficiency.

Allows you to customise the Variations terms & conditions for both a client and sub-contractor. This will show on the Variation print report with its details.

Opens the SoloAssist Help Centre to the topic you are currently in. Learn more faster!
How do I...
Setup for a new Variation?
If you require all the SoloAssist features to calculate the price of the new Variation. e.g. Price List, Cost Schedule, Timber List, Job Specifications. Then it's best to copy the active job file, then clear it's views. For this process, follow the steps below to setup for the new Variation.
Ensure you save the new name with the same job name but add the Variation abbreviation code after it. SoloAssist uses these codes by default, so make sure they match. e.g: 173 Grange Rd - VO1
VO1 = Variation Order #1
The new file name should now be showing at the top middle of your screen in SoloAssist.
The quote template has now been cleared ready for you to quote the new job Variation. Once you have completed the new Variation price. Then add its Total to the original active job in a new Variation. Quoting a Variation this way, allows you to print to PDF and send a Variation quotation to your client. Same as the original quote process.
Add a new Variation?


Step 5 is used for Client Variations only.



Print and email a Variation?
When printing reports from SoloAssist, select the Microsoft Print to PDF printer option, then select Preview. After checking over the document in Preview, select Print and you will be prompted to save the file to PDF. Then you can attach the PDF file to email.
Digitally sign documents
If you have a touch-screen device with a digital pen, you can digitally sign any PDF documentation saved from SoloAssist.
Use an existing quote to price a different section of the job.
This is for quoting a large job variation by utilising a copy of the original existing job. This will retain your job details and plans added. It will clear your job template data entries to start quoting again from a $0.00 contract total. Then you can either run your job through this new job, or you can add its contract total into your original existing job as a variation.
Claim Methods
Variation - Fixed Price in Payment Stages (Standard)
When raising a Fixed Price Variation you will need to follow the steps below.

Then go to Progress Payments and add a new Sales Invoice against the Payment Stage of the Variation and make sure it is marked included ().

Preview the Sales Invoice, Save as PDF, then email the Sales Invoice with the signed Variation to the client.
Variation - Lump Sum (% Complete)
When using a Lump Sum claim method, the Variation will be claimed from the % complete entered against the Variations Cost Centre in Cost Control.
Make sure when using this claim method, not to allocate payment claims to the Progress Payments claim stages. Otherwise, you will be double claiming the Variation.
Variation - Cost Plus
Cost Plus - Variations in a Cost Plus Contract
Fixed Price - Variations in a Cost Plus Contract
Troubleshooting
Variations - Approved / Unapproved?
() Unapproved Variations will not show in Cost Control or Progress Payments until marked (
) Approved.