Here is a quick video on how to check out and check in an estimate.
Very Important: You will need the fully installed package of SQL, Data Manager, and Estimator to use the "Check Out Estimate" workflow. If the SQL or "local" database is missing, the button will be grayed out. The full setup can be found here.
The estimate on the Central server is the master estimate file, if you check out the estimate and delete line items because you are not going to work on those, then those line items will be deleted when you check your estimate in.
The workflow is to check out the estimate, organize the filter tree by Estimator, work on your section and when you check the estimate back in, it will merge with the master and any other checked-out estimate from other users.
Check-In/Out workflow questions
Checking out the estimate means nobody else will be able to work on the server version estimate?
No, they can still work on the estimate because that is the master file
If someone else deleted a line item I made edits to and clicked save before I did, does my line item come back with the edits I made?
If a line item is deleted on the server by someone else, once I check in my estimate, then that line item will be added back to the estimate with the changes from the checked-out estimate.
If someone else edits line item "A" on the server, save it, and I have the estimate checked out and also edit line item "A" what happens when I check in my estimate?
The last "save" win, meaning the person that has the estimate checked out, will overwrite the changes for line item "A" when the estimate is checked in.