Cubit’s Options Management feature allows a user to dynamically include or exclude (filter) items within a job, immediately reflecting the overall cost implications throughout the job in real-time, without having to spend time creating a new Job for each scenario the client may require.
Similar to Grouping Codes (used for Subcontractor Packages or Tender Analysis), Option Codes can be assigned directly to the Estimate items, or delve further down and assigned to the Calculation Sheet and Rate Sheet items.
So how can it help?
For example, let’s say you are building a school and the project has 5 main phases: The Main School Building, a Science Lab, a Sports Hall, a Running Track and Tennis Courts.
Fig 1. Options Setup
- Firstly, you need to create an Option Group and Container with a separate code for each phase; this is done on the Job Manager screen by selecting Option Groups on the ribbon.
- Open the Job, then using the 2D PDF/CAD drawings and/or BIM models, complete the takeoff with as many differences in quantities and costs for each phase as needed.
- When the takeoff is complete (or as you are doing it); assign an Option Code to each of the items in the job to distinguish what part of the school it refers to. Text such as And, Or and Not can be used when coding items for greater flexibility and to avoid duplication.
- Once all the items are coded; you can use the Options pane to select a specific option or combination of options using the display check box next to each code. As you select or deselect an Option your estimate and takeoff instantly adjust to reflect the Options chosen.
Mutually Exclusive Options
Fig 2. Options Setup (Mutually Exclusive – If an option is selected the others are automatically deselected)
Different from the above; where you can select multiple codes at the same time, selecting Mutual against the container will only allow you choose one option at a time within that container. You can use Mutually Exclusive Options to switch between different types of finishes that you have priced in your project. For example, you can price for a number of different types of ceramic tiles in your estimate with each coded separately. Depending on your client’s requirements or budget, you can very quickly switch between the different tiling options giving you an instant updated estimate total based on which tile type you had selected.
Option Configurations
Fig 3. Filtering the Options
Rather than selecting the different options every time you want to look at a different scenario you; Option configurations allow you create and quickly access pre-sets of your Option selections. Selecting a configuration, will change your entire estimate to match the Options that are saved within that configuration. As you apply these different configurations your estimate is updated in real-time.
Using the above example; You could create configurations to show only the Science Lab or the Tennis Court information or even show different combinations such as the Main Building and the Science lab or show everything except for the Running Track. Depending on what the client wants to know, you can provide a detailed and accurate estimate for each specific section of the school or any combination using Cubit Options Management.
So let’s have a look at Options in action.