Preparing Estimate Items for Purchase Orders

Before you can generate a purchase order in CostMiner, you must first assign products to the relevant estimate items. Products provide the link between your estimate and your purchasing process, allowing you to order exact materials by supplier and track delivery status later on.

While it is possible to drag any estimate item into a purchase order, only those with assigned products are fully tracked and integrated into supplier cost management. Items without products can be included as ad hoc purchases but won’t benefit from product-level tracking.

Adding Products to Estimate Items

There are two primary ways to assign products to estimate items:

1. Quick-Add via the Description Cell

You can assign a product directly from the Description cell:

1. Click into the Description cell of the estimate item.
2. In the drop-down search box, click the Products tab.
3. Search for and select the product you wish to assign.
4. The product will be applied to that line item.
   
   

This method is fast and useful during the initial build of your estimate.

2. Assign via the Product Column

If the Product and Units/Product columns are not visible, enable them:

1. Click the Cols button at the top of the estimate.
2. Enable Product and Units/Product to show those fields in the table.
   
   
   
3. Click in the Product cell to search and assign a product.
   
   
   
4. Enter the number of units per product in the Units/Product column.
   

This method is great for reviewing and editing assignments in bulk.

Reviewing Assigned Products

Once products are assigned:

• Click the Products tab at the top of the job estimate.
• Products are automatically grouped by Supplier.
• You can view:
  • Remaining Qty (not yet ordered)
  • Draft PO Qty (in draft orders)
  • Sent PO Qty
  • Delivered PO Qty
  • Total Quantity
• Totals are displayed at the bottom of the screen for cost tracking.

Only estimate items that have a product assigned can be tracked fully across draft, sent, and delivered purchase order statuses. Items without products can still be added as ad hoc entries but won’t be linked to a supplier or tracked by product.