Mastering Custom Formulas

Adding a custom formula to items in an assembly gives you greater control over what is displayed in the final line items on your Reports and in Estimates. 

Below are some of the most commonly used formula conversions and add-ons.


Common Variable Conversions

You may need to convert a takeoff variable into another. Below are examples of common custom variables you can create to convert the data.

Starting From Count

From [MeasuredCount], add custom variables to represent the other dimensions of the building condition.

Starting from Count

Add Custom Variable (example)

To Linear Feet

[WallLengthFeet]

To Square Feet

[WallLengthFeet] and [WallHeightFeet]

To Cubic Yards

[WallLengthFeet] and [WallHeightFeet] and [WallThicknessInches]

[MeasuredCount]*[WallLengthFeet]


 

[MeasuredCount]*[WallLengthFeet]*[WallHeightFeet]


 

[MeasuredCount]*[WallLengthFeet]*[WallHeightFeet]*([WallThicknessInches]/12)/27

Starting from Linear

From [MeasuredLinear], add custom variables to represent the other dimensions of the building condition.

Starting from Linear

Add Custom Variable (example)

To Square Feet

[WallHeightFeet]

To Cubic Yards

[WallHeightFeet] and [WallThicknessInches]

[MeasuredLinear]*[WallHeightFeet]


 

[MeasuredLinear]*[WallHeightFeet]*([WallThicknessInches]/12)/27

Starting from Square Feet

From [MeasuredArea] or [MeasuredSurfaceArea], add custom variables to represent the other dimensions of the building condition.

Starting from Square Feet

Add Custom Variable (example)

To Cubic Yards

[WallThicknessInches]

[MeasuredArea]*([WallThicknessInches]/12)


 

[MeasuredSurfaceArea]*([WallThicknessInches]/12)/27


Common Unit Conversion

You may need to convert a takeoff or custom variable from one unit to another. Below are examples of common units and their conversion factors.

Inches and Feet

From

To

Factor

Inches

Feet

12

[WallThicknessInches]/12


 

[MeasuredLinear]*12

Square Feet and Yards

From

To

Factor

Square Feet

Square Yards

9

[MeasuredArea]/9


 

[CarpetRollYards]*9

Cubic Inches, Feet, and Yards

From

To

Factor

Cubic Inches

Cubic Yards

46656

Cubic Feet

Cubic Yards

27

([MeasuredArea]/12)*([SlabThicknessInches]/12)/46656


 

[MeasuredArea]*[SlabThicknessFeet]/27


Common Formula Functions

Adding a Waste Percentage

You can add a waste percentage to your formula to control the final quantities. Some examples:

[MeasuredLinear]*1.10


 

[MeasuredArea]*(1+([WastePercentage0to100]/100))

Evenly-spaced Items

To calculate an item that occurs on set intervals, add a custom variables to represent the distance of the spacing, and then:

[MeasuredLinear]/[ItemSpacingInFeet]


 

[MeasuredLinear]*12/16


 

[MeasuredLinear]*12/[ItemSpacingInInches]

Area-coverage Items

When an item is set to a known dimension, that information can be used to convert area takeoffs into item counts. For example:

4'x8' sheet of plywood: [MeasuredArea]/32


 

4'x10' sheet of drywall: [MeasuredSurfaceArea]/40

Area of a Circle

To calculate the area of a circle, add a custom variable to represent the radius or diameter of the circle, and then:

3.14*[RadiusOfCircle]*[RadiusOfCircle] or


 

pi()*power([RadiusOfCircle],2)



 

3.14*([DiameterOfCircle]/2)*([DiameterOfCircle]/2) or


 

pi()*power([DiameterOfCircle]/2,2)

Circumference of a Circle

To calculate the circumference of a circle, add a custom variable to represent the radius or diameter of the circle, and then:

2*3.14*[RadiusOfCircle] or


 

2*pi()*[RadiusOfCircle]



 

3.14*[DiameterOfCircle] or


 

pi()*[DiameterOfCircle]


Related Articles

What is an Item
Bulk Import Custom Items to STACK
What is an Assembly
Create, Edit or Delete Custom Assemblies
Working with Item Formulas in Assemblies
Excel Functions in Formulas


See how others use this feature in the STACK Community.

If you need additional assistance, please Contact Us.

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