Import work items from an Excel file

Work items, including materials, are used for estimating, but they can also be imported into project management features.

Prepare an Excel file for import

Open a blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or download the sample file.
Label the first row with the column names shown in the table below.
Make sure that all the required fields are included. Field names do not contain any spacing within the word, or before and after.
Make sure that the sheet is labeled as Sheet1.
Enter your data starting from the second row.
Save the file in Excel 97-2003 format (*.xls).
Close the file to enable Sage Construction Management to import the data.

Import the file

Go to Cost DB.
In the Internal Cost Database Stats section, select the actions menu icon () in the Work Items row.
Select Import From Excel.
Select Choose File and find the file on your local drive.

The data will be imported automatically.

Microsoft Excel import sample

Download the import work items sample file.

Work item file fields

Column name / First row	Required (*)	Field type	Comments
Code	*	Text	Must be 25 characters or fewer.
Description	*	Text	Must be 255 characters or fewer.
Units	*	Text	Must be 10 characters or fewer. Commonly used for the MatlUnits, LbrUnits, EqpUnits, SubUnits, and OtherUnits fields.
Manufacturers Information
Manufacturer		Text
UPC		Text	The universal part code.
CatalogNum		Text	The manufacturer's catalog number.
Size		Text	The overall size or dimensions.
Color		Text	The item color.
Finish		Text	The item finish.
ShipWeight		Text	The shipping weight.
ShipHeight		Text	The shipping height dimension.
ShipWidth		Text	The shipping width dimension.
ShipDepth		Text	The shipping depth dimension.
Material Fields
MatlConv		Number	If the material cost rate (MatlCostRate) is specified in the spreadsheet, it's recommended to specify also the MatlConv, MatlWaste, and MatlUnits columns. If the material sell rate column (MatlSellRate) is not included in the spreadsheet as recommended, Sage Construction Management will automatically set the sell rate equal to the material cost rate.
MatlWaste		Number
MatlUnits		Text
MatlCostRate		Number
MatlSellRate		Number
Labor Fields
LbrConv		Number	If labor cost rates (LbrBaseCostRate or LbrBurdenCostRate) are specified in the spreadsheet, it's recommended to specify also the LbrConv and LbrUnits fields. If the labor sell rate column (LbrSellRate) is not included in the spreadsheet as recommended, the rate will default to the sum of the labor base cost rate (LbrBaseCostRate) and the labor burden cost rate (LbrBurdenCostRate). If hours, days, weeks, or months are used in the LbrUnits column, Sage Construction Management will automatically calculate the correct man-hours for the line item. For example, if the Quantity is 24 and the LbrConv is 0.5, then LbrQty = Quantity * LbrConv = 24 * 0.5 = 12 The LbrUnit field must be 10 characters or fewer. The following units are recognized and supported: Hour or Hr For example, Hour, Hours, Hr, Hrs, or ManHr. If the LbrUnit is Hours or Hrs, then the estimate item's man hours is 12. Day For example, Day, Days, or ManDay. If LbrUnit is Days or Day, then the estimate item's man hours is 12 * 8 = 96. Week or Wk For example, Week, Weeks, or Wks If LbrUnit is Weeks or Week, then the estimate item's man hours is 12 * 40 = 480. Month or Mnth For example, Month, Months, or Mnth.
LbrUnits		Text
LbrBaseCostRate		Number
LbrBurdenCostRate		Number
LbrSellRate		Number
Equipment Fields
EqpConv		Number	If you include equipment cost rates (EqpBaseCostRate or EqpBurdenCostRate) in your spreadsheet, it's recommended to include also the EqpConv and EqpUnits columns. If the equipment sell rate (EqpSellRate) column is not provided as recommended, Sage Construction Management will automatically calculate it as the sum of the equipment base cost rate and equipment burden cost rate. The EqpUnit field must be 10 characters or few. The following units are recognized and supported: Hour or Hr For example, Hour, Hours, Hr, Hrs, or ManHr. Day For example, Day, Days, or ManDay. Week or Wk For example, Week, Weeks, or Wks Month or Mnth For example, Month, Months, or Mnth. If EqpUnits uses time-based values such as hours, days, weeks, or months, Sage Construction Management will automatically calculate the appropriate equipment hours for each line item, similar to how labor hours are handled.
EqpUnits		Text
EqpBaseCostRate		Number
EqpBurdenCostRate		Number
EqpSellRate		Number
Subcontractor Fields
SubConv		Number	If the subcontractor cost rate (SubCostRate) is specified in the spreadsheet, it's recommended to include also the SubConv and SubUnits columns. If the subcontractor sell rate column (SubSellRate) is not included in the spreadsheet as recommended, then this rate will be equal to the sub cost rate.
SubUnits		Text
SubCostRate		Number
SubSellRate		Number
Other Fields
OtherConv		Number	If the other cost rate (OtherCostRate) is specified in the spreadsheet, it's recommended to include also the OtherConv and OtherUnits columns. If the other sell rate column (OtherSellRate) is not included in the spreadsheet as recommended, then this rate will be equal to the other cost rate.
OtherUnits		Text
OtherCostRate		Number
OtherSellRate		Number
Comment Fields
Comments		Text
ProposalComments		Text
RFPComments		Text
Labor and Equipment Resources (Used by Lbr/Eqp Calculator)
LbrCodes		Text	These references do not impact the labor conversion factors or unit rates during import. They’re only used later by the Labor and Equipment Calculator. Separate multiple entries with commas. For example, Clab, ClabF.
LbrQuantities		Text	Separate multiple entries with commas to match corresponding LbrCodes. For example, 3, 1.
EqpCodes		Text	These references do not affect equipment conversion factors or unit rates during import. They’re only used later by the Labor and Equipment Calculator. Separate multiple entries with commas. For example, Truck, Backhoe
EqpQuantities		Text	Separate multiple entries with commas to match corresponding EqpCodes. For example, 1, 1.
Classifications Fields
Classification system type and Division, Major, Minor, Subminor		Text	The column header must be the classification system type followed by one of the following values: Division Major Minor Subminor For example: If the classification system type is CSI 95, use the following column headers: CSI 95Division, CSI 95Major, CSI 95Minor, and CSI 95Subminor. If the classification system type is CSI 2004, use the following column headers: CSI 2004Division, CSI 2004Major, CSI 2004Minor, CSI 2004Subminor. You can reference multiple classification structures in the spreadsheet.