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Estimating allows definition of Estimate details at any level of the Work Breakdown Structure "WBS". Detail lines can include; Labour, Equipment, Materials, Subcontractors, Expenses and custom Line Types. Each line defines Cost, Overhead and Charge using manual entry, markups or margin calculations. Estimators can build summary or detailed costings at any level in the WBS. The detail lines are associated to SL Entities such as; Employees, Equipment, or custom Supplier Catalogues ensuring rates are accurate and current.

An Estimate can create the Project or be linked to any existing Project. The Project Budget is calculated as a summation of all approved Versions of Estimate.  Full version control enables the management of Revisions (complete replacements) and Variations (incremental changes). Each Estimate version can be flagged to update Original Budget, ‘Estimate at Complete’ (EAC) or ‘Forecast at Complete’ (FAC).

Example: Revision 0001 may be a ‘Rough Cut’ with summary details defined at the top WBS level only.  Once the bid is won Estimators can create Revision 0002 with detailed definition of all Labour, Materials, Equipment, required to perform the work. Labour Lines can be defined generic or employee resources.  Labour lines copy across to the Estimate as Task Assignments with the applicable Start and End dates.

Estimate Work Breakdown Structure | Right Click Menu Options
A menu is provided in the tree control to enable functions within each node of the WBS.  It is possible to Add, Edit or Delete a Section of the WBS. It is possible to copy and paste a Section to a new location within an Estimate or from one Estimate to another.  Copying Sections can make building new Estimates exceptional quick and accurate.

Options are also available for viewing summarised totals for individual Sections or a selected Estimate level.   This is handy for reviewing summary totals for Phases, Stages, Disciplines or any other logical grouping of work. Mark-ups and/or adjustments can be made at any summary level to making Estimate presentation easier for clients, subcontractors or management. 

Estimate Copy Function 
A function is provided to copy a Section and then paste it into a new location in the same Estimate Version or across to a alternate Estimate or Version. All details at all levels below the selected Section will be copied to the new location or Estimate.  This provides a quick and accurate way to build Estimates based on predefined templates or previously completed Estimates.

Export / Import Functionality for Line Details
Importing and exporting facilities are provided. This enables complex calculations and formulas to be built in Excel and once calculated imported into the SL Estimate for security, budget control and tracking.
An Excel mapping function is provided to enable headers and footers to be used in Excel but ignored in the import to an Estimate.



Estimate and Section Summaries
Summary totals can be reviewed and edited at any level of the Work Breakdown Structure.  Where a summary total is amended in a summary grid an adjustment record is written to the Section node ensuring the totals can be reconciled to supporting detail records.  Summaries are often rounded for presentation to sub-contractors or the client. 

Estimate Revenue Calculation (Cost Plus vs Time & Material Charges)
It is possible to calculate Estimate Revenues using either Detail Line Charges Rates or Cost Plus. 

It is possible to define Direct Cost, Overhead and Charge on each detail line. The Charge Rate can be propagated to the line using a number of methods. 
- Default the Charge from the selected Entity record (Eg Employee, Inventory Item, Equipment, etc).
- Calculate the Charge based on a Cost Mark factor or Margin % define against the Line Type or Section
- Calculate the Charge based on a Mark-Up rule defaulted to the line from the Line Type or Section
Estimate Revenues are then calculated as the sum of the charges defined on all detail lines. 


An alternative method is to define only cost in the detail lines and calculate Estimate Revenues using Mark-Up rules assigned to the Estimate or Estimate Sections.  It is possible to define different Mark-up rules for each Section of the Estimate.  The Mark-ups can be assigned at any level in the Estimate WBS. The Overhead and Revenue totals are then calculated based the lines in the Mark-up rule.


Mark-Up Maintenance
Mark-up rules can be defined in Mark-Up maintenance.  The Mark-up code can the be assigned at any level of the Estimate.  A Mark-up can be assigned to the Estimate as a whole, or assigned to individual Sections or discrete detail lines.  Different Mark-up codes can be assigned to different lines or sections if required.  The Estimate may have an on-shore and off-shore component so mark-ups can be set differently for each applicable Section.

Mark-up Maintenance allows definition of multiple lines with different calculation and application methods.
- Each line can calculate either an Overhead Cost or Charge amount.
- The amount can be calculated using the source record Base Cost or current Running Balance
- Each mark-up line can be applied to selected cost types (Labour, Materials, etc)
  This allows different mark-ups to be used for each costs type. (One rate for labour another for materials.)
This flexibility allows calculation of Mark-ups for discrete components, with each component calculating against varying line types and building up to either Overhead Cost or Revenue.