To import a cost book select Import Existing Quick Estimator Cost Book from the Import / Export menu at the tool bar at the top of the screen. This will open the Import Cost Book screen shown below.
Click the
button to locate the cost book file you want to import. These files will have a .cbf file extension. This will open a screen like the one shown below.
Locate the file and click the Open button.
You can choose to import the suppliers by checking the Include Suppliers check box. This is checked by default. You can also choose to import the item codes by checking the Include Item Codes check box. This is checked by default. These settings will only apply to new items imported and not to updated items.
Click the Import button to import the cost book.
If some of the information you are importing already exists in your cost book a message will appear. This may happen if you are re-importing a cost book file you have previously imported, you sent your cost book to someone else to be updated and are now importing the updated file or you are importing an update to the cost book that came with the program. You will need to click OK on the message box, check the update settings and then click the Import button again. Each check box represents a field. Check the box if you want the information in that field updated with the information being imported. These settings have no effect on new items being imported. All settings are saved when you close the screen.
In order for a cost book item that is being imported to be considered a match for an existing item in your cost book, it must have originally come from the same cost book. Just having the same Item Name is not considered a match. The same applies to Assemblies and variations. However Cost Book Groups and Suppliers are treated a little differently. First they are checked to see if they are an exact match (they came from the same cost book). If they are, the Cost Book Group Update Settings and the Supplier Update Settings will control what information is updated. If they are not, the Group Name and Supplier Name are checked for a match. If they are then the item is not imported and no information is updated. This prevents duplicate Cost Book Groups and Suppliers in your data file.