To define an estimate

Create a project in the Projects (tppdm6100m000) session. You can use an activity or element structure.

Create an estimate version using the Estimate Version session. Using various estimate versions, you can create different estimates. For example, to compare alternative estimates, create contract extensions, or handle any additional scope of the estimate. Each estimate version is unique and is not related to or derived-from another version.

You can link structures to the estimate version. However, you can also create an estimate without using a structure. To create a structure code, in the Estimate Version session, on the Specific menu, select Estimate Structures ( Note: A new structure code requires structural elements). On the Specific menu, select Generate Structural Elements.

In the Generate Structural Elements (tpest1220m000) session, you can copy the structural elements from the project-specific activities, elements, extension lists, or cost components. You can view the new elements in the Estimate Structure session. You can link up to eight structures to one estimate version. Having multiple structures in an estimate enables you to classify your estimate as required.

For example, a customer sends a request for a quotation for ten ships. The estimate project is activity based. In the version, you use an activity structure with activities such as System Engineering and Component Production. In case, you do not want the customer to view this level of detail, on the bid, you also link a less detailed element structure to the estimate lines. When you prepare the bid, you only use the linked elements such as Hold, Deck House, and Navigation. Consequently, the bid will only display what you want the customer to view.

The Estimate Lines (tpest2100m000) session is crucial to the estimating functionality. In the Estimate Version session, on the Specific menu, select Estimate Lines. Specify the lines for the estimate version. An estimate line contains actual cost or sales price. You can also use a combination of sales and actual unit cost.

You can define a sales estimate from a cost estimate or use the various estimate versions. The estimate lines can be either top down or bottom up (or a combination of both estimate types). Bottom-up estimate lines are summed up to provide the overall estimate. Top-down estimate lines are always related to a primary structure. Using estimate lines, the total estimate value is distributed over the estimate version structure.

Note: Using the estimate sessions, you can calculate the estimate for a project. However, you can also use Microsoft Excel integration to calculate the estimate.

You can export the start date and end date of the activity to the related estimate lines. Click Modify Utilities on the Specific menu, and select the Update Estimate Line Dates from Activities (tpest2204m000) session, the date of the incurred cost and expected sales is updated.

Use the Launch Estimate to Budget (tpest2200m000) session to launch your estimate to the Budgeting module. For example, if the bid is accepted by the customer or (part of) the work must start.

For the estimate process, the structures can be blank. If you launch your estimate to a project budget, you must specify a default element, activity, extension, or cost component to which you can copy the lines. You can set the version and/or estimate lines status to Final to ensure the estimates are launched on time.

When the bid is successful, these options are available:

• You can launch the estimate as a project.
• You can start a new project by copying the estimate project in the Copy Project (tppdm7840m000) session. Consequently, the Project Status in Estimating module is set to Blocked. Using this process, you can separate estimate projects from projects, for a customer contract. In the new project, you can launch the copied estimate to a budget. You can close an estimate project version by changing the status from Free to Closed.