Hi Ben,

Estimate Cost Codes in Sage CM are more like work breakdown structures. They are specific to Estimating and are used for grouping your estimate items. This allows you to create an estimate that you can summarize at the Estimate cost code level or view in detail at the item level. See this example:

There are many ways that you can configure this, it sounds like you're looking for a 1-1 relationship between Estimate cost codes, Items, and Job Cost Codes? In that case, you would have to set up the Estimate Cost Codes list and then add the items.

One way to make this easier would be to set up a template lead with a template estimate that has all of your cost codes, then you can copy that and remove any you don't need for the new lead, or you can use Excel to import the estimate items and cost codes. Here are instruction and a few sample templates you can use:

https://help.sagecm.intacct.com/Content/Modules/Import/ImportEstimate.htm

Thanks!

The one to one ratio is the most common use for the number and detail of cost codes we already have. I am looking for would be a simple code and a drop down option on the items tab "use cost codes selected in this estimate for all items". and if a user wanted to break down an individual code they could do that. 

I'm not sure that you are understanding the number of codes that we have to select from and that you are asking us to do it once to set up a lead then 70-200 more times as we enter items. All this before we enter the take offs and prices for each item individually, because we cant open a multi edit screen.

I am requesting a workable solution on a usable platform not a work around.

We will be setting up templates, but when we have to start from scratch using the program, as designed, is tedious at best and a soul crushing waste of time at worst.

In the mean time, could you make some informative video or series that walks through this process for more than three cost codes and items?

The demo and training we had only showed three items and none of our team realized the inefficient way that sage does these steps.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Ben. This is how the estimate item creation process has always worked. I started using this software in 2017 when it was Corecon, and this function hasn't changed much since then.

We have over 200 cost codes, and I always dread updating them to a new version because it requires creating a new "template" estimate. Using SCM's system is very time-consuming, so I typically upload a spreadsheet to create the initial list of estimate items. After that, the estimator goes in to delete the items they don't need. This multi-step, multi-user process is still faster than creating each estimate item one at a time.

Hi Ben,

You can go to Help (?), Product Help and Training,  Getting Started, Training, Sage University. Sage University has specific training sessions for Sage CM Estimating that have more information.

Thanks!

Hi Ben,

You can go to Help (?), Product Help and Training,  Getting Started, Training, Sage University. Sage University has specific training sessions for Sage CM Estimating that have more information.

Thanks!

Jesse,

I appreciate that you are trying to help and are limited to the perimeters of a broken program. I also understand you are not a programmer coding these systems or the fixes.

Sage university is for an extra fee of course.

Does the training make the program work better and more intuitively or does it just show you the work arounds to the inadequacies of the system?

I just started using this program and I have been able to find these holes and functional inadequacies with the estimating module. That means other users have already discovered these as well. My question is this, if i am not the first one to ask these questions and to suggest solutions, why has nothing been changed?

The free videos are from the corecon version of the program. I am trying to glean what I can from these videos and trying my best to muscle through our first estimate.

Thank you for your patience with my ignorance.