FAQs
Q: Why does the Template library empty when I try to add a component from my database?
Ans: This happens when the database doesn’t have any templates. In such an instance you may see “Import OST database” highlighted on the right-hand corner because the OST database wasn’t imported. This is where the component templates are located.
You can also create new Templates within the Database as well & create Template sets for them:
Q: How to create or add a new section under an existing division?
Ans: Head over to your Database → Click on CSI Codes → New CSI Codes to add sections. *Note: Organization permissions must be granted to make certain within the Database.
Q: How to duplicate master items within a Database?
Ans: Click on the three dots at the end of the line & select Clone to duplicate items.
FYI: This is designed so that the new item reuses the source item’s configuration in the same database, with the ability to adjust naming and pricing without starting from scratch.
Q: What items can I export from my Database?
Ans: You can export Items (CSV), Payroll (CSV), or Items + Chained Items (Excel).
Besides that you can also export your CSI, Cost & Accounting Codes as well. Exporting is available to admins only, so if you don’t see the Export menu, ask your admin.
Q: I changed a price in the database. Why hasn’t my estimate picked it up?
Ans: Changes to a master item only apply going forward. Estimates that already use the item keep their own copy. To bring an estimate up to date, select the item in the Takeoff/Estimate → Right click & select Edit item → click on Sync with master item.
Q: Can I copy a template instead of building a new one from scratch?
Ans: Under the Templates tab click the ⋯ at the end of the template’s row and select Duplicate. Then use Edit to rename it and Items to adjust what’s in it.
Q: Can I sort my items by more than one column?
Ans: You can hold Shift and click on the desired columns enabling multi sort across columns
How it works
- Sort by your first column: click a column header, e.g. Item Type.
- Add more columns: hold Shift and click another header, e.g. Description. Items are grouped by the first column, then sorted by the next one within each group.
- Ties are sorted by code: when items match on every column you’ve sorted by, they’re listed in Code order, so the list is always in a predictable order.
Eg: Sort by Item Type, then Description. All your ACT Grid items appear together in A→Z description order, followed by ACT Tile, and so on
Q: A tab is missing from my database. Where did it go?
Ans: Each database tab has its own permission. If a tab such as Payroll or Templates is missing, ask your admin to check your database permissions.
Q: My templates have disappeared. Where are they?
Ans: Check the Show only my templates toggle. When it’s on, you’ll only see templates you created. Turn it off to see everyone’s.
To note: This applies to Assemblies as well. But as Show only my assemblies.
Q: Why is my item’s quantity at zero?
Ans: Check that Layers has a viable value. Inside the Master item under Calculation. If layers is blank or 0, the quantity will be 0.
You can change the value to 1 or any other value you desire and save. Doing do you’ll have to Sync from Master see You can also Edit the Layer within the Edit item window and save the changes.
Q: Why do my Material costs appear multiplied instead of taking the value I’ve entered?
Ans: This happens when the price is calculated by dividing the total value by the 'price per' value. Depending on the item & how it was configured in the master item settings. Eg: Entering 1 inside Material Cost. If Price Per is sitting at 0.01, a “cost per unit” field might show 100 (because 1 ÷ 0.01 = 100). That can look like the system “turned 1 into 100,” but it’s a mathematical calculation derived from the two fields, not the Material Cost cell rewriting your input.
Another example would be: When you enter 1 as the batch price, but the job quantity is 100. The total material for that line might show 100 (1 × 100), which can again appear as "×100".