We demonstrate this procedure based on the assumption that you want to save these material file modifications to your Library Specification Groups and not your Project Specification Groups. The changes done in your Library Specification Groups will be available in all future projects taken from that specification group, whereas those done from the Project Specification Groups would require that you copy the material as a project level material and edit it from there. In the latter case, it also limits your modifications to only the current project instead of all future projects taken from that specification group template.

1. Open Toolbox and click Toolbox Setup > Library Specification Groups.
   
2. Click the specification group you intend to modify or copy an existing group to create a new group. In Figure 1, I have created a copy named ‘HPDL_ProjectCosting’ and selected it. Make sure the intended group displays a green checkmark next to the name.
   
3. Click the ‘Open Material File’ button at the top of the screen. (It is the button that looks like a block of wood showing the end grain.)
   

Fig. 1 - Library Specification Group Screen Showing Specification Group to Modify and the Open Material File Button

Sheet Stock Material Costing Data

1. Click on the Sheet Stock tab and expand the sheet stock material tree to select the material you intend to modify. Alternatively, enter a search string for the name of the intended material in the search bar.
   
2. If you are modifying one material at a time, right-click that material and click ‘Edit Selected Material,’ or simply double-click on the material. If you are changing multiple materials simultaneously, skip down to Step 7.
   
3. Double-click the desired sheet size in the list in the lower area of the interface and enter the price you pay for a single sheet of material of that size and material.
   
4. Enter a value in the boxes for Markup and Waste Factor to represent a percentage to add to the basic price you pay for that item. For example, let’s say you want to add a 5% markup to the price per sheet, enter 0.05 in this box. Likewise, enter 0.1 in the Waster Factor box to add a value representing an average waste of 10% per sheet.
   

There is no need to enter a Labor Value on this material file screen as labor is taken from the Activity Stations in this version of costing.

Fig. 2 - Edit Material and Enter Sheet Estimate Price

5. Repeat this process for all materials that you want to generate project costing data.
   
6. Click ‘OK’ and close the specification group screen.
   
7. It is also possible to edit multiple materials simultaneously, as stated in Step 2. After expanding the tree view for the intended material category, select various materials and right-click on that selection. Click the command ‘Edit Multiple Materials’ and check the box for ‘Material Estimate Cost.’ Enter a value and click the ‘Apply’ button. That value will be added to each material selected without having to modify them individually.
   
8. Click ‘OK’ and close the specification group screen.
   

Hardware Material Costing Data

1. Click on the Hardware tab and expand the sheet stock material tree to select the material you need to modify. Alternatively, enter a search string for the name of the intended material in the search bar.
   
2. If you are modifying one material at a time, right-click that material and click ‘Edit Selected Material,’ or simply double-click on the material. If you are changing multiple materials simultaneously, skip down to Step 8.
   
3. Click in the Estimate Price box and enter the price you pay for this hardware item.
   
4. Click to drop down the Unit Type box and select one of the unit types from the list that best represents how you purchase that item.
   
5. Enter a value in the boxes for Markup and Waste Factor to represent a percentage to add to the basic price you pay for that item. For example, let’s say you want to add a 5% markup to the price per hardware item, enter 0.05 in the Markup box. Typically, Waste Factor is not needed for hardware, but it is generally used in the edgebanding library. If needed, add a value representing the average waste amount in a decimal form representing the percentage of waste in the Waste Factor box.
   

There is no need to enter a Labor Value on this material file screen as labor is taken from the Activity Stations in this version of costing.

Fig. 3 - Edit Material and Enter Estimate Price and Unit Type

6. Repeat this process for all materials that you want to generate project costing data.
   
7. Click ‘OK’ and close the specification group screen.
   
8. It is also possible to edit multiple materials simultaneously, as stated in Step 2. After expanding the tree view for the intended material category, select various materials and right-click on that selection. Click the command ‘Edit Multiple Materials’ and check the box for ‘Material Estimate Cost.’ Enter a value and click the ‘Apply’ button. That value will be added to each material selected without having to modify them individually.
   
9. Click ‘OK’ and close the specification group screen.
   

Once you have completed the steps above for all the materials included in a project, you are ready to configure your Activity Stations. When that is complete, create a project and work order and then view the MV Cost Based Estimating Report.