Variable names that you should not use when crafting quantity formulas in Estimator
This article serves to provide a list of names that should not be used for variables in quantity formulas in Estimator. We also provide a short list of names that should not be given to custom WBS Properties.
For technical reasons, the use of any of the following variable names - be that in an assembly or otherwise - can cause conflicts that will result in errors with your estimate.
Generally, these forbidden variables include variable names are that are already in use as part of the core functionality of the application.
Forbidden Variables List
| Assembly |
| Description |
| Distributed Fee Amount |
| Equipment Duration |
| Equipment Escalation |
| Equipment Resource Duration |
| Equipment Resource Group |
| Formula |
| Grand Total Cost |
| Grand Total Cost Per Unit |
| Image |
| Item Number |
| Labor Duration |
| Labor Escalation |
| Labor Resource Duration |
| Labor Resource Group |
| Material Duration |
| Material Escalation |
| Material Resource Duration |
| Material Resource Group |
| Notes |
| Other Duration |
| Other Escalation |
| Other Resource Duration |
| Other Resource Group |
| Quantity |
| Sub Duration |
| Sub Escalation |
| Sub Resource Duration |
| Sub Resource Group |
| Takeoff Number |
| Total Equipment Cost |
| Total Labor Cost |
| Total Material Cost |
| Total Other Cost |
| Total Sub Cost |
| Unit of Measure |
| Unit Reference |
| Origin |
| Unique ID |
Forbidden WBS Property Names
IMPORTANT: Forbidden WBS Property names include all of the above forbidden variables. in addition to below...
| All Forbidden Variables Above |
| Area |
| Hole Perimeter |
| Perimeter |
| Perimeter with Holes |
| Volume |
| Thickness |
| Height |
| Area |
| Length |
| Count |
Special Characters
Please note that special characters (eg. !@#$%&*,') should also be avoided in formula variables or WBS Property names, as these can be misinterpreted by the application as syntax.