Export Estimate Worksheet Data

STACK provides different options for exporting your Estimate Worksheet data so you can choose the format that best suits your workflow and how you want to use the data.

• Export to CSV - This option will export data as it is displayed in the Estimate Worksheet at the time of export.* This allows you to export the fields you want, in the order you want, with data Rolled Up/Rolled Out as you need it. However, this option does not export data groupings created using the estimate's Group By function. Only line-items on the main estimate worksheet grid will be exported. The exported estimate data will be downloaded as a CSV file so you can do additional work, upload it to another program, print it, or create a PDF from it. Due to the nature of a CSV file, cells on the downloaded spreadsheet will be numeric or text with no unit formatting.
  
  *I.e., What you see is what you get. Hidden columns or filtered data that are not visible on the estimate in STACK will not be exported to the CSV file. However, the total extended costs and base total will still include everything.
  
  
• Export to XLS - This option will export data as it is displayed in the Estimate Worksheet at the time of export.* This allows you to export the fields you want, in the order you want, with data Rolled Up/Rolled Out as you need it. This option does export data groupings created using the estimate's Group By function so you can also group data the way you want. The exported estimate data will be downloaded as a standard Excel spreadsheet so you can do additional work in Excel, upload it to another program, print it, or create a PDF from it. Cells on the downloaded spreadsheet will be formatted with units. If you had line-items in the Other Costs section of the Estimate Worksheet, they will be included on a separate tab of the downloaded spreadsheet.
   
  *I.e., What you see is what you get. Hidden columns or filtered data that are not visible on the estimate in STACK will not be exported to Excel. However, the total extended costs and base total will still include everything.
  
  
• Export to XLS Proposal - This option allows you to create a professional document directly in STACK that you can send to your customers as part of your proposal or bid. You can choose what estimate data to include and can customize the document by including your logo, scope of work, and terms and conditions. The exported estimate data will be downloaded as an Excel file, formatted as a proposal-type document. This gives you the ability to further customize, format, or edit the data in Excel as needed, or print straight to PDF and send to your customer.
   

NOTE: Information in this document only applies to Estimate Worksheets. If you are using a Material and Labor Estimate or Unit Cost Estimate, refer to Customize and Download a Proposal.
 
See below for instructions to:
Export to CSV  
Export to XLS 
Export to XLS Proposal
Customize an Estimate Worksheet Proposal

Export to CSV

Export to CSV lets you export Estimate Worksheet data as a CSV file to do additional work, upload to another program, print, or create a PDF.

When you Export to CSV, your current estimate view is exported as is - I.e., what you see is what you get. Hidden columns or filtered data that is not visible on the estimate in STACK will not be exported to the CSV file. However, the total extended costs and base total will still include everything.

Before exporting, make sure all of the columns you want to export are visible and in the order you want; expand all the column groupings (Material, Labor, Equipment, Subcontract, Totals, etc.) so the individual columns are visible; Roll Up/Roll Out data as needed; and make sure nothing is checked in the Group By dropdown.

TIP: Include the Measured Unit and Purchase Unit columns on your Estimate Worksheet so the number fields aren't formatted with custom units and you have separate columns for the units on the CSV file.

TIP: Once your estimate is set up the way you want for export, you can save the view for use on future exports.

1. Open the Estimate Worksheet you want to export and click the Worksheet button at the top of the estimate.
2. Click the three dots on the right side of the estimate toolbar at the top of the worksheet.
3. Hover over Export on the menu that appears and select CSV.
   A CSV file will be saved in the Downloads folder on your device.

Export to XLS

Export to XLS lets you easily export Estimate Worksheet data to Excel to do additional work, upload to another program, print, or create a PDF.

When you Export to XLS, your current estimate view is exported as is - I.e., what you see is what you get. Hidden columns or filtered data that is not visible on the estimate in STACK will not be exported to Excel. However, the total extended costs and base total will still include everything.

Before exporting, make sure all of the columns you want to export are visible and in the order you want; expand all the column groupings (Material, Labor, Equipment, Subcontract, Totals, etc.) so the individual columns are visible;  Roll Up/Roll Out and group (Group By) data data as needed.

TIP: Once your estimate is set up the way you want it to export, we recommend saving the view for use on future exports.

1. Open the Estimate Worksheet you want to export and click the Worksheet button at the top of the estimate.
2. Click the three dots on the right side of the estimate toolbar at the top of the worksheet.
3. Hover over Export on the menu that appears and select XLS.
   An Excel file will be saved in the Downloads folder on your device.

Export to XLS Proposal

With Export to XLS Proposal, you can create a professional document directly in STACK that presents estimate data in a format you can send to your customers as part of your proposal or bid.

You have data layout options and can customize the document by including your logo, scope of work, and terms and conditions. (See Customize an Estimate Worksheet Proposal below for descriptions of the different information that can be included/customized.)

Data is exported as an Excel file so you can make further adjustments to the data or format if needed. You can also just print straight to PDF since it is formatted as a proposal-style document.

NOTE: You may notice very small differences (usually less than 0.02%) between the totals on the Estimate Worksheet and the totals shown on the exported proposal.

This is because Unit Prices and Purchase Quantities are calculated using values up to 8-decimal places in the estimate but are rounded (and truncated) to 2 decimal places in the proposal. (Click for more info on how STACK rounds data.)

Also, in the estimate, Unit Prices are a result of a calculation (Sell Price / Purchase Quantity = Unit Price); but in the proposal, Unit Prices are the basis for calculating totals (Unit Price x Quantity = Total).

For Example:

Export to XLS Proposal Instructions

1. Open the Estimate Worksheet you want to export and click the Worksheet button at the top of the estimate.
2. Click the three dots on the right side of the estimate toolbar at the top of the worksheet. 
3. Hover over Export on the menu that appears and select XLS Proposal.
   
4. If you want to show a more detailed breakdown of costs than just the lump sum total, select the Summary group(s) you want to show from the Summary Level 1-2 dropdown(s).
   The Level order you select is the order in which the subtotal groupings will appear on the exported file.
5. To include a Line Item Details page, select your desired Line Item Details groupings from the Line Item Details Level 1-4 dropdowns.
   The Level order you select is the order in which the details will be listed.
6. (Optional) Check the Include Takeoff Descriptions as Attachment box if you want to include a separate page that only lists all Takeoffs and Takeoff Descriptions.
   NOTE: Checking this box will supersede and deselect any Takeoff Description selection you made in step 5/Line Item Details.
7. Select the desired Trade Name*(Prepared By) and Customer (Prepared For) from the respective dropdowns.
   Information in the Customer dropdown is pulled from your account’s Customer List.*
8. Type in the information you want for the Scope of Work and/or Terms and Conditions sections.
    OR
   If your account has created templates*, select a template from the appropriate Select Template dropdown to auto populate those sections.

8. Include signature line box must be checked to include a signature line on the proposal.
9. Click the green Download button at the bottom of the selection box.
   An Excel file will be saved to the Downloads folder on your device. Open the file in Excel to do additional work or print to PDF.  

*Trade Names, Customer List, Scope of Work Templates and Terms and Conditions Templates are created at the account level in Account Settings/Company Settings. Click to learn more. 

TIP: If a PROTECTED VIEW banner appears at the top of the screen when you open the file in Excel, click the Enable Editing button.
And when you go to print, choose Print to PDF for the Printer, and select Print Entire Workbook from the Settings dropdown.

Customize an Estimate Worksheet Proposal

During the Export to XLS Proposal process, you have options to customize the Proposal to be as simple or detailed as you’d like.

Below are descriptions of the different information that can be included/customized.

The Proposal will include three standard pieces of information:

• Project Name
• Date
• Proposal Total (Estimate Total)

From there, you can choose the Data Layout:

• Summary
• Line Item Details
• Include Takeoff Descriptions as an Attachment

You can further customize by including Additional Information: 

• Logo/Prepared By (Trade Name)
• Prepared For (Customer)
• Scope of Work
• Terms and Conditions
• Signature Line

Project Name

The name of the project is automatically populated.

Date

The date is automatically populated.

Proposal Total (Estimate Total)

A lump sum total from your Estimate is automatically populated.*

*You can choose to show more detailed costs in the Group Subtotals and Line Item Detail sections.

Summary

If you want to show the breakdown of costs in a little more detail than just the lump sum, you can include a summary section, subtotaled by up to two groupings.

You can choose to group by Plan Name, Takeoff, Cost Type, or any Labels or Takeoff Tags* you have created.

You can also determine the order in which the groupings are displayed.

*Creating Labels and Takeoff Tags allows you to group data by any criteria you choose. For example, you could create labels or tags to group by CSI Code, Phase, Building, Floor, Room, etc.

Line Item Details

To provide even more detailed information, you can include a Line Item Detail page. This will display a list of all items used in the estimate which can be grouped up to four levels - Plan Name, Takeoff, Takeoff Description, Cost Type, and any Labels or Takeoff Tags* you have created.

You can also determine the order in which the groupings are displayed.

*Creating Labels and Takeoff Tags allows you to group data by any criteria you choose. For example, you could create labels or tags to group by CSI Code, Phase, Building, Floor, Room, etc. 

Include Takeoff Descriptions as an Attachment

You have the option to include a separate page that only lists all Takeoffs and Takeoff Descriptions.

NOTE: Selecting this option supersedes the selection of Takeoff Description in the Line Items Details dropdowns. If you want the Takeoff Descriptions to be included with other Line Item Details you choose to group by on the Line Item Detail page, DO NOT select this option, just select Takeoff and Takeoff Description in the Line Item Details dropdowns.

Logo / Prepared By (Trade Name)

You have the option to include your company logo, address, and other contact information in the Prepared By section of the document by adding any of your account’s pre-created Trade Names*.

*Trade Names are created under Account Settings/Company Profile/Trade Name (click to learn more). Multiple Trade Names can be created for each account to accommodate for different logos or business information that may apply to different projects. 

Prepared For (Customer)

You can add customer contact information - company name, contact, address, email, phone number - to the Prepared For section of the document by selecting an existing customer from your Customer List* during the PDF export process.

*A Customer List is created so customer information doesn’t have to be manually entered for each Proposal. Customer List is created and maintained in Account Settings/Customer List. Click to learn more.

Scope of Work

If you want to include scope of work, you can select any template that’s been created for your account or manually enter information during the export process.

TIP: We suggest creating a template(s)* that you can re-use so this information doesn’t have to be manually entered for each Proposal.

*Scope of Work Templates are created at the account level. Templates are created in Account Settings/Company Settings. Click to learn more.

Terms and Conditions

If you want to include terms and conditions, you can select any template that’s been created for your account or manually enter information during the export process.

TIP: We suggest creating a template(s)* that you can re-use so this information doesn’t have to be manually entered for each Proposal.

*Terms and Conditions Templates are created at the account level. Templates are created in Account Settings/Company Settings. Click to learn more.

Signature Line

You have the option to include a signature line on the Proposal.

Related Articles

Estimate Worksheet Overview
Account Settings
Unit Cost Estimate / Material and Labor Estimate Overview
Customize and Download a Proposal

If you need additional assistance, please Contact Us.