Creating Hierarchies when Importing from Excel

When using Import from Excel from a Job or Price List you can now create a hierarchy with Trades and Headings. 

You have always been able to select Heading or Trade Description as a Source column from the Import Excel window, but you could only set a single Trade Heading and not multiple headings. 

Using Ref Codes, and assigning Heading Ref Codes as a Source column, you can create as many levels of Headings as you like.

To use Heading Ref Codes, your Microsoft Excel file needs to have Reference Codes assigned to the Items and Headings. Reference Codes are often just called Ref Codes and they are unique codes assigned to every item in your Estimate. 

If you are creating a new Job or Price List, you can create your own Ref Codes, but they cannot be longer than 100 characters. By default, Cubit will create Ref Codes for you; for the Item sheet they will be prefixed by CB and followed by a number for example CB1 or CB16.

Fig 1. Excel file sample with Hieararchy Ref Code

---

1. Open a Job or Price List in Cubit Estimating.

2. From the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Excel.
   The Import Excel window will open.

3. Click the … button next to File.

4. Browse your computer, select the Excel file you want to import, then click Open.

5. In the Excel preview, assign Source Columns to match your Excel fields:

   • Ref Codes: Unique codes assigned to each item in your estimate (e.g. CB12, CB378).

   • Heading Ref Codes: Used to define the hierarchy of Trades and Headings.
     

     Fig 2. Import Excel field mapping with Heading Ref Code

6. Optionally, check the boxes to:

   • Skip rows with no description

   • Skip empty rows

7. Click Insert to insert the data as a new Job or Price List, or click Update to update an existing one.

Related Help Centre articles:

Import Excel/CSV data Into Cubit Estimating Pricelist

Import Excel/CSV Data Into Cubit Estimating Job