The PlanSwift 10.2 release includes some powerful, new capabilities, including the ability to link to and update Excel WorkBooks in real-time, initiate and add to PlanSwift takeoffs from PlanSwift Integration to Excel, navigate easily from Excel takeoff values to PlanSwift takeoff values, assign multiple properties to a single takeoff, export Excel templates from Excel back into PlanSwift, and unlink a job. This functionality is provided via a new PlanSwift Ribbon-bar Tab and also via an updated Right-click Menu. Both of these provide essentially the same functions. This Quick Start Guide for Integration to Excel covers the following:
The new PlanSwift Ribbon-bar Tab (Figure 1) is visible once PlanSwift 10.2 is installed and Excel is started.
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Connecting to Excel links PlanSwift and PlanSwift Excel Integration into a live-link so that the powerful features in Microsoft Excel and PlanSwift can be utilized.
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PlanSwift takeoffs may now be initiated from within Excel by following the procedure below. Note that PlanSwift must be open and a job and a floorplan selected before beginning a takeoff.
To initiate an area takeoff, click on a cell in the spreadsheet where you want the new area value to be stored (see Figure 1).
Figure 1
PlanSwift is now ready for you to perform an area takeoff. Perform the takeoff, and the takeoff value will appear in the cell you selected. That value and the name of the takeoff will also appear in PlanSwift. The Linear, Segment, and Count takeoffs all work similarly to the Area takeoff you just performed. If you make any changes to the takeoffs in PlanSwift, those changes are automatically updated through the PlanSwift Excel Integration, as long as Excel remains connected to PlanSwift.
The Digitizer group Continue With and New Section icons, which work identically in Excel, are used to digitize (or add) a new section to a takeoff. Follow the procedure below to add a new section to an existing takeoff. Note that PlanSwift must be open and a job and a floorplan selected before you can add a new section to a takeoff.
The Go to Page option (Figure 1) in the Utilities group of the PlanSwift Ribbon-bar Tab allows you to select a takeoff value from your linked spreadsheet and click on Go to Page in order to jump to the page and location of the takeoff value in PlanSwift. After the jump, the PlanSwift page where the takeoff value is located is automatically highlighted in reverse video.
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The Select Existing Item option allows you to assign multiple properties to a single takeoff (or item). Follow the procedure below. Note that PlanSwift must be open and a job and a floorplan selected before you can assign a different property to a takeoff.
Figure 1 shows the Right-click Menu. As with the PlanSwift Ribbon-bar Tab, the Right-click Menu is only fully functional when PlanSwift is connected to Excel. When it is not connected, then only the Connect button is functional (Figure 2).
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The Unlink option on the Planswift Ribbon-bar Tab (Figure 1) is generally used only when two WorkBooks are accidentally linked to one PlanSwift job. This allows for unlinking a spreadsheet from the PlanSwift job. You are asked to confirm twice. Once you confirm, all cells are unlinked, although their values remain in the Excel spreadsheet.
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Figure 1 shows a simple Excel template. Figure 2 shows a more complex new sample template released with PlanSwift 10.2. Template filename extensions are normally .xltx . If older .xlt templates are used, they are converted automatically to .xltx formats. Templates may be saved and exported to different jobs in PlanSwift, saving considerable time when jobs are similar or the same. The Export to PlanSwift button is on the PlanSwift Ribbon-bar Tab (Figure 3). Click here for the procedure for exporting an Excel Template to PlanSwift.
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