Using a Master Project
TO SET UP A MASTER PROJECT
When creating a Master Project, the only thing to remember is to give the project the name: XX MASTER PROJECT, where the XX is the pay item database abbreviation. For example, to create a Master Project for Tennessee DOT projects, name the Master Project: TN MASTER PROJECT. All of the other settings are no different than setting up a new estimate. USING THE MASTER PROJECT
The Master Project can be used in two places: (1) when Loading Pay Items (Batch Loading from a DOT Disk or from a Letting Disk), or (2) when copying tasks. If the system detects that you have set up a Master Project on your system, after you have loaded or imported pay item you will see the following prompt:
“There is a Master Project for the current Pay Item Database. Do you want to import tasks for all matching pay items in the Master Project into the current project?”
If you answer YES to this prompt, the system will search the Master Project for any/all matching pay items and load the tasks from those pay items into the current project. The second way to use the Master Project is on the “COPY TASK” screen. From the Main Estimate Screen selecting the “COPY TASK” button will display the screen shown in Figure 4.53(previous section). The options on this screen are explained in the previous section. You can use this screen to perform two different functions related to the Master Project:
Using a Master Project allows you to set up pay items and tasks for frequently used pay items. You can then load or copy those tasks into an estimate that uses the same pay item numbers. The system allows you to set up multiple Master Projects for each Pay Item Database and there is no limit to the number of pay items allowed in a Master Project.
COPY FROM THE MASTER PROJECT
This option will search the Master Project for the currently selected pay item and, if found, load all of the tasks. This option is only available if you have set up a Master Project for the current pay item database.
COPY TO THE MASTER PROJECT
This option will save the tasks in the currently displayed pay item into the Master Project. If the current pay item is not found in the Master Project, it will be added. If you create a list of tasks for a pay item that you will probably use again in another estimate, use this option to save the tasks and build the Master Project database “on the fly.” This option is only available if you have set up a Master Project for the current pay item database.
See also