Added custom columns and Revu moved my data!

  • Added custom columns and Revu moved my data!

    Posted by David Cutler on November 22, 2024 at 7:44 am

    My workflow includes assembling a .XLS file with columns in a specific sequence for upload into our estimating software. Part of my process includes inserting 4 additional columns so that I push the “Phase” value into the correct position. Not a big deal, but it’s a step in the process none the less.

    I’ve had it on my list to add these 4 placeholder columns to my markups list so that they would be there from the start. I finally decided to do make the time to do this this week – only takes a minute, right? So I added the 4 columns where I needed them and then shrunk them down so they don’t take up too much screen space and saved the configuration to my profile.

    Fast forward to today and I’ve started a new takeoff. It appears that when I use my tools from my tool chest the values that were previously in my “Phase” column are now showing in my newly added “Unit Price” column.

    While I know I can re-order the columns to get the “Phase” value in the right place by modifying my Power Query (and probably could just insert the 4 placeholder column in PQ also) the question begs to be answered why my custom column “Phase” data didn’t stay in the “Phase” column.

    Any thoughts?

    Doug McLean replied 3 weeks, 4 days ago 4 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • David Cutler

    Member
    November 22, 2024 at 7:56 am
    Points: 26,754
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

    As a follow up I use a “Cover Sheet” on my takeoff files that brings in “Standard” items that we include in every estimate. I copy this cover sheet into my takeoff set when I get started. This sheet also includes my standard layers.

    So, what’s interesting is that the markups on the cover sheet are fine – the new columns are right where they need to be and the “Phase” data stayed in the “Phase” column. The newly applied markup has the “Phase” value in the “Unit Price” column… 😜

    • David Cutler

      Member
      November 22, 2024 at 8:08 am
      Points: 26,754
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

      I probably should have explored this further before posting rather than this play-by-play approach…

      If I start with a new blank PDF everything seems to be in the right places – so it appears that my tools are not corrupted… 🙂

  • Vince

    Member
    November 22, 2024 at 11:30 am
    Points: 13,692
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III

    Hi @DavidCutler !

    I’ve has something similar to this when adding new columns in a profile, opening up the drawing in the wrong profile, etc..

    Here’s a suggestion but I can’t guarantee it we will but it may be worth a try.

    Export the columns from a new drawing where everything works and save these on your computer somewhere.

    Then go to the drawing that you are having issues with and simply import the new custom column set.

    Hopefully, this will correct everything………

    • David Cutler

      Member
      November 25, 2024 at 4:10 pm
      Points: 26,754
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

      This seems to have worked @Vince ! Thank you for the suggestion.

      What’s interesting is that my “standard” markups that I bring over with my coversheet are now out of whack – especially since that is the file that I exported the custom column format from… 🤣

      Never a dull moment in the Revu world!

  • Troy DeGroot

    Organizer
    November 25, 2024 at 3:42 pm
    Points: 23,744
    Rank: UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III

    Custom columns are always a challenge when you first start using them because the columns that live in the PDF override the Profile custom columns. It’s interesting that your tools perform differently, I haven’t see that one. Typically the information is either there or not depending on if the column is there or not. @Vince has a great test idea. I hope the issue just goes away as you use your standard tools and now standard custom columns going forward.

    • David Cutler

      Member
      November 25, 2024 at 4:12 pm
      Points: 26,754
      Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

      Definitely interesting to see how this shakes out. Appears that I need to go back and import the custom columns into my cover sheet file to get them updated too…

      I’ve gotten so comfortable using my existing tools that this is a bit frustrating.

      • Troy DeGroot

        Organizer
        November 25, 2024 at 5:45 pm
        Points: 23,744
        Rank: UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III UC2 Brainery Brown Belt III

        Yes, you would need to import the new custom column file into the template. Or create a script to import the layers and custom column file.

        • David Cutler

          Member
          November 26, 2024 at 6:32 am
          Points: 26,754
          Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Brown Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Advanced Brown Belt Rank

          Just imported the custom columns into my standard items template. I then copied the new standard items page into my takeoff file and deleted the previous sheet. That did the trick! Now everything is in the correct columns!

          What’s interesting in this exercise is that I’m pretty sure the standard items template file is the one that I exported the custom columns from in the first place… 🤣

          Thank you for helping work through this one @troy-degroot and @Vince

      • Vince

        Member
        November 26, 2024 at 1:56 am
        Points: 13,692
        Rank: UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III UC2 Brainery Blue Belt III

        New or updated profiles do often cause me a few headaches but once they are finished, they are really worth that bit of extra effort required to get them to work!

        • Doug McLean

          Member
          November 27, 2024 at 9:10 am
          Points: 15,212
          Rank: UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt UC2 Brainery Advanced Blue Belt Rank

          like when you have update your Power Query to accommodate the new columns?

          That’s always fun

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