iTWO Costx Viewer and Quote Guide

7.
VIEWER AND QUOTE

GUIDE
Copyright © 2009-2021 RIB Technologies Pty Ltd
All rights reserved.
This document may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written authority
of RIB Technologies Pty Ltd.
VIEWER AND QUOTE GUIDE
Contents
1 The iTWO costX® viewer 4
2 How to Use the iTWO costX® viewer 5

2.1 Opening
............................................................................................................................................
Files 5
2.2 Viewing
............................................................................................................................................
Workbooks 5
2.3 Viewing
............................................................................................................................................
Drawings (2D) 7
2.4 Viewing
............................................................................................................................................
Drawings (3D) 9
2.5 iTWO
............................................................................................................................................
costX® viewer Options 12
2.6 iTWO
............................................................................................................................................
costX® viewer Help 12
3 Quoting Support in iTWO costX® viewer 13

3.1 Entering
............................................................................................................................................
Quotes using iTWO costX® Viewer 13
3.2 Saving
............................................................................................................................................
Quotes 15
4 Free Training Videos 16
3 www.i twocos tx.com Copyri ght © 2009-2021 RIB Technol ogi es Pty Ltd (NOT TO BE REPRODUCED)
VIEWER AND QUOTE GUIDE The iTWO costX® viewer
1 The iTWO costX® viewer
iTWO costX® is world-leading on-screen measurement and estimating software developed by award
winning software designers and construction industry professionals. It allows non-CAD users to measure
from 2D and 3D PDF or CAD files without running CAD software, or automatically import quantities and
other data from 3D BIM models. Dependent upon the version of iTWO costX® being used, they can create
detailed workbook documents such as estimates, cost plans, bills of quantities or tenders – all within a fully
integrated, paperless, electronic environment.
The iTWO costX® viewer is a free, read-only version of iTWO costX®. The viewer makes it easy to freely
share iTWO costX® projects with anyone, all they have to do is download the free Viewer from the RIB
International website.
Project files prepared in iTWO costX® are exported in an EXF (iTWO costX Exchange File) format, either as
unlocked files that can be imported to the full version of iTWO costX® or as read-only files for use with the
iTWO costX® viewer. Depending on the export settings applied, these exported files contain the drawing
files, quantity measurements and workbooks complete with detailed cost breakdowns and building
revisions. EXF files opened in the iTWO costX® viewer are read-only. The files can be freely navigated and
all live-links between drawings, measurements and workbooks items are active, but the file cannot be
edited or marked up in any way although workbook content can be copied and pasted using right-click
menu options into Excel®, Word® or an active iTWO costX® workbook.
The iTWO costX viewer® Quoting feature is different. This feature enables an iTWO costX® user to export a
workbook (eg. a tender document) or subcontractor package workbook as a Tender EXF file. This can not
only be opened in the iTWO costX® viewer, but rates, prices and notes can be entered into the workbook in
the Viewer to create a Quote EXQ file. The priced Quote EXQ file can then be returned electronically to the
issuer and easily imported back into iTWO costX®.
Obtaining the iTWO costX® viewer
The free iTWO costX® viewer can be downloaded from the following page:
https://www.itwocostx.com/costx/products/costx-viewer/
It will install a shortcut icon on your desktop and will also load some additional files into your Program
Files, including two sample EXF files.
VIEWER AND QUOTE GUIDE How to Use the iTWO costX® viewer
2 How to Use the iTWO costX® viewer

2.1 Opening Files
To open an EXF file in the iTWO costX® viewer, click File > Open > Browse, and then in the Open iTWO costX
Export File dialog, select the required EXF building file and click Open.
Alternatively, double-clicking an EXF file will open it in the iTWO costX® viewer.
2.2 Viewing Workbooks

Open the sample EXF file “SAMPLE-Riverside-Apartments.exf” included in your iTWO costX® viewer install
(the default path is C:\Program Files\Exactal\CostXView) to see the workbooks described below.
1. Click on the Workbook View tab to see a list of available workbooks.
2. Click on a Workbook title to open it.
3. Click on the Workbooks ribbon tab to see available menu options.
4. In the main spreadsheet, black text denotes the entry of normal text or formulae into the cell. With the
cell selected, use the Cell= Field to view the cell contents.
5. Blue text in the C:Quantity, E:Rate or F:Subtotal columns denotes the existence of built-up information
behind the figure. Double-click on a cell with blue text to open the build-up.
6. Double-clicking cell C13 in the worksheet opens the detailed build-up to the C:Quantity figure for Floor
Finishes (shown below).
7. A summary of each sub-level is shown above the sheet content.
8. Click on the button at any time to return to the layer above.
9. Green text denotes a live-link to source. Click the Show Source button to open the source of a cell
containing green text. In this example, Show Source opens the drawing & highlights the measure for
UCA (Unenclosed Covered Area) - see Viewing Drawings (2D).
2.3 Viewing Drawings (2D)

Open the sample EXF file “SAMPLE-Riverside-Apartments.exf” to see the drawings described below. The
sample file can be found under the iTWO costX® viewer installation directory (the default path is C:
\Program Files\Exactal\CostXView).
1. Click the Dimension View tab to see a list of available drawings. Click a title to open it.
2. With the mouse over the drawing, roll the mouse wheel forwards or backwards to zoom in and out of
the drawing.
3. Use the scroll bars, or hold down the mouse wheel and move the cursor, to pan around the drawing.
4. Use the Display buttons to show or hide text, hatching, line styles and line weights, and to set the
drawing’s background to black or white. You can also turn a multi-colored 2D drawing to black and white
using the Monochrome option.
5. Click Reset View at any time to return the drawing to the default setti ng.
6. Click the button to expand folders containing Dimension Groups. Click a Dimension Group to select
it. All measured items in that Dimension Group will highlight on the drawing as shown above.
7. Click the Dimensions tab to display a list of each individual measure taken in the Dimension Group.
8. Click the Layers tab to view a list of available layers.
9. Point the cursor at a line/object on the drawing which will highlight in orange when selected. Click
the mouse to hide the selected layer.
10. Click Invert to switch between selected and unselected layers.
11. Click Show All at any time to return to displaying all layers. Click the Drawings tab to stop working
with layers.
2.4 Viewing Drawings (3D)

Open the sample EXF file “SAMPLE-3D-BIM.exf” to see the drawings described below. The sample file can
be found under the iTWO costX® viewer installation directory (the default path is C:\Program
Files\Exactal\CostXView).
1. Use the View Cube or hold down the left mouse button and move the cursor to rotate the model.
2. Use the Display buttons to show the model’s wire frame and shading, and to set the model to
transparent. This is useful when highlighted objects lie within the building and can’t be seen.
3. Click the Layers tab to view & work with layers as for 2D drawings.
4. Hold the ‘E’key on the keyboard & move the cursor up the screen to move through the building.
5. Click Reset View at any time to return the model to the default view setting.
6. Point the mouse at an object and when it is highlighted, click the right mouse button for a further menu
of options.
a. Use the Show Only Objects In option as shown above to view only the objects related to the
object at which the cursor was pointing. It is also possible to Show Only Objects in an Area.
b. Select the Object Properties option to view parametric information held for that specific object.
c. Click the Hide Objects In option to hide the current object or a set of objects from view.
d. The Show All Objects option returns the model to displaying all of its objects.
7. Click on a Dimension Group or a single object on the Dimensions tab to select it and highlight the
item(s) measured.
8. Right click and select Isolate Dimension or Isolate Dimension Group to display solely those objects. If
the Ghost View button is enabled on the Ribbon, a faint outline of the ‘hidden’objects is displayed to
provide better context of the displayed objects in the model.
9. Click the Model tab and use the & buttons to view a tree of all objects contained in the model.
10. Select a group of objects or an individual object at any level in the tree to filter the model to show
only your selection. Multiple nodes in the tree may be selected using the CTRL key.
11. Use the Schedule button on the Dimensions ribbon menu to show or hide a list of all properties
available for all of the objects shown on screen.
12. Either selecting Drawing at the top of the model tree or clicking on the Show All Objects button
returns the model to displaying all of its features.
2.5 iTWO costX® viewer Options

There are a number of options that may be selected when using iTWO costX® viewer. To access these,
complete the following steps:
1. Select File > Options.
2. In the iTWO costX viewer Options dialog , click a category in the left pane to see a list of the
available options shown on the right pane.
2.6 iTWO costX® viewer Help

Click the button at any time will open the comprehensive set of help files.
VIEWER AND QUOTE GUIDE Quoting Support in iTWO costX® viewer
3 Quoting Support in iTWO costX® viewer
The Quoting feature enables an iTWO costX® user to export a workbook which can be either a complete
tender document for a whole or part of a building, or a subcontractor trade package document for an
individual or multiple trades, as a Tender EXF file. This is a special EXF file which contains a flag to indicate
that it can only be opened in the free iTWO costX® viewer, to be issued to companies that will be
submitting tenders or quotes.
The receiver of the Tender EXF can open it in the iTWO costX® viewer. They then use iTWO costX® viewer to
enter their prices against the items that make up the tender package, and then save the priced items to an
EXQ (Quote) file. The priced Quote EXQ file can then be returned electronically to the issuer and easily
imported back into iTWO costX® so that they can evaluate the tender/quote.
When the tender issuer receives the EXQ file, they can import it back into iTWO costX® to either produce a
workbook containing the quote pricing, or to automatically insert the quote pricing into their Subcontractor
Comparison spreadsheet..
3.1 Entering Quotes using iTWO costX® Viewer

Ribbon Layout
When opening a Tender EXF, iTWO costX® viewer displays a different ribbon to normal EXF files. The
Drawings and Dimensions tabs are the same as for normal EXFs but instead of Workbooks, Revisions and
Home tabs, a customized tab called Quote is displayed.
Opening the Tender EXF
The Tender EXF files can be opened with the iTWO costX® viewer. Previously saved Quotes can also be
opened (see below) and be re-edited, eg. to provide an updated Quote.
§ When the workbook is opened, all protected cells are highlighted in pale blue. These cells cannot be
edited.
§ Factor and Total columns are hidden.
§ Blue text signifies drill-down to the underlying Cost subsheet. Double click on the blue text to view the
subsheet.
Editing (entering quote information in a Tender EXF in iTWO costX® viewer)
§ If there is Quantity value in the Qty column on a row, you can edit the rate and subtotal unless there is a
Cost subsheet under the subtotal (shown in blue text) in which case you cannot edit anything on that
row and you need to drill down.
§ If there is no Quantity, you can only edit the subtotal.
§ You can enter a rate, in which case the subtotal column will be automatically calculated, or you can
enter a subtotal in which case the rate will be automatically calculated.
§ The copy and paste buttons on the ribbon or on the right-click menu can be used.
§ A Note can be entered against a selected cell in the Subtotal column from the right-click menu.
§ The cell will be tagged with a red marked to indicate the Note. The Note can be viewed by clicking the
View Notes button on the ribbon which will display all notes at the bottom of the screen. Click the
View Notes button again to close the Notes window.
§ No other editing is permitted in the workbook within iTWO costX® viewer.
3.2 Saving Quotes

Quote figures entered into a Tender EXF workbook in iTWO costX® viewer can be saved to an EXQ file.
§ Click on the Save Quote button. A Tender Quote Information box will open.
§ If an existing EXQ file is loaded, when saving, the Company Name and Quote Reference will be
prefilled with the values from the loaded EXQ file.
§ Enter the details and click OK. Then select a location for the EXQ file and click Save.
§ The EXQ file can now be emailed back to the tender issuer.
VIEWER AND QUOTE GUIDE Free Training Videos
4 Free Training Videos
The iTWO costX website www.itwocostx.com contains a series of training and demonstration videos, as
well as other useful resources.
Demonstration videos
Training videos

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7.

VIEWER AND QUOTE

All rights reserved.

2 How to Use the iTWO costX® viewer 5

3 Quoting Support in iTWO costX® viewer 13

4 Free Training Videos 16

1 The iTWO costX® viewer

Obtaining the iTWO costX® viewer

2 How to Use the iTWO costX® viewer

2.2 Viewing Workbooks

1. Click on the Workbook View tab to see a list of available workbooks.

2. Click on a Workbook title to open it.

3. Click on the Workbooks ribbon tab to see available menu options.

7. A summary of each sub-level is shown above the sheet content.

8. Click on the button at any time to return to the layer above.

2.3 Viewing Drawings (2D)

8. Click the Layers tab to view a list of available layers.

10. Click Invert to switch between selected and unselected layers.

2.4 Viewing Drawings (3D)

2.5 iTWO costX® viewer Options

1. Select File > Options.

2.6 iTWO costX® viewer Help

3 Quoting Support in iTWO costX® viewer

3.1 Entering Quotes using iTWO costX® Viewer

Opening the Tender EXF

§ Factor and Total columns are hidden.

Editing (entering quote information in a Tender EXF in iTWO costX® viewer)

§ If there is no Quantity, you can only edit the subtotal.

§ No other editing is permitted in the workbook within iTWO costX® viewer.

3.2 Saving Quotes

4 Free Training Videos

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