A suggested method of dealing with alternates in Estimator prior to the native Alternates update release
NOTE: This article was published prior to the release of native Alternates support in Estimator, and serves as a suggestion for how to handle alternates without
We recommend using two WBS Properties named: Alternate Name and Alternate Status.
Set ALL base bid Line Items in the Alternate Name field as Base Bid
It simply adds alternates with no deducts enter a value for the Alternate Name, for example, Alternate # 1 – Add Porte-cochère
As Line Items are added to the Estimate as an Alternate, users select the Line Item, or group of line items and use the Modify command to update the Alternate Name, for example, Alternate # 2 – Install High-End CW (in lieu of Std. Note: You have two methods to handle any deductions:
1. Use the Alternate Name field to contain all of the deducts (if any), naming the Alternate Name field as Deducts
a. Consider naming each Deduct to align with the Alternate that way you can control their visibility in tandem.
or
2. Copy the Line Item(s) and edit either the quantity or Unit Cost to a negative to deduct Line Items [from the Base Bid] and tag them with the same Alternate Name. This second option is more tedious but provides a visual deduction in a cost report.
Finally set up a Filter by Alternate Name, System (if applicable), and then your preferred Classification System e.g. Uniformat, CSI, etc.
You may then select the Alternate(s) and Base Bid to display totals in the Estimate View. You can then Save the Estimate View to excel view from the Home | From Estimate View ribbon command.
A Dashboard can be set up to collect and display the WBS values as you so desire if you wish to maintain a live link to an excel spreadsheet.
Alternate Status simply complements the Alternate Name WBS and assists in tracking what the project team needs to review, what they accepted, what they rejected, etc.