Fabrication Reporting Part 2 – Item Report Builder

December 8, 2021 Heather Volk

Issues:

The Item Report Builder is another valuable Fabrication tool that allows the creation and customization of existing reports.

Steps:

To use the Item Report Builder there are two options:

Option 1

A. In CAMduct and ESTmep: Select File > Print Layout > Item Reports.

B. In CADmep: Type the following in the command line “Reports” and hit enter.

Option 2

In CADmep: Shift + Right click > CADmep > CAM/ Print > Report Layout > Item Reports.

The report builder menu that pops up is organized into four main areas. The top bar or ribbon is used to select/ change the report that is currently being worked on. There are also the following buttons:

  1. New: Creates a new report. This includes the ability to copy an existing report and use it as a template to create the new report.
  2. Save: Saves the report or creates a new report and name.
  3. Edit: Edits the header layout of the selected report. For more information regarding Headers, please see this Article.
  4. Resize: Automatically resize the report columns to fit the page.
  5. Font: Specifies the report font options.
  6. Options: This button houses many of different options. See below: 
    1. Use Custom Printer: Allows you to specify different printers or print settings per report. Each report can be assigned to a printer or to different print settings. 
    2. Separate Columns with Lines: Separates each column within a table with lines.
    3. Highlight Table Titles and Totals: Creates different colored headers from the information fields for organization. Select the color boxes to display a color pallet for selection.
    4. Highlight Collected Titles: Creates different colored headers for collected titles. Select the color boxes to display a color pallet for selection.
    5. Start Each Collected Table on a New Page: Creates placement of tables on a separate page.
    6. Paper Orientation: Specifies the report orientation to Portrait (default) mode or Landscape.
    7. Include Fixed Cost Items: Allows the fixed costs to be displayed in the report.
    8. Include Skin: This is for double walled items; it gives you the option to display the item’s skin details in the report.
    9. Expand Sub: Gives you the option to include the sub assembly name if it is sent to Never. Using the Never expand method totals/ combines all the properties for the entire assembly. Sub-assemblies can list out individual items that are part of the sub-assembly, with each one being a row of data. Leaving the option set to Auto allows the Item Properties option to specify whether it is used or not.
  7. Print Preview: Shows a preview of the selected Report.
  8. Delete: This deletes the report currently selected in the view.

Contents Tab:

This tab specifies various options for each of the print objects selected and depend on the print object in use.

Description: Specifies the title for the column.

Decimal Places: Specifies desired unit of measurement and the degree of accuracy to be displayed.

Rounding: Specifies the method of rounding to be implemented. The available settings are Nearest, Round Down and Round Up.

Justify: Specifies text positioning.

Column Tab:

Allows information from each column to be configured in accordance with the options shown below. 

Width: Specifies the column width as a percentage of the report size/ page width. Setting it to zero hides the column which is useful if the column is only being used for a calculation or being collected for a sub table.

Show Zero Values: Gives you the option to show values that would normally appear as zero on the report.

Calculate Total: Allows a calculation to be displayed at the bottom of a column as a total.

Summarize Totals for Collected Tables: The totals for tables marked as “Collected” in the Order tab will be printed in a separate summary section at the bottom of the Collected Table.

Use Rounded Values for Totals: The totals generated at the bottom of each column will be calculated from the rounded totals on the report. IF this option is not checked, the total at the bottom will be more accurate but may not be consistent to the sum of the figures due to the displayed figures being rounded.

Only Show Same Consecutive Data Once: Data that is repeated consecutively is only displayed once. This allows the report to avoid showing/ including repeated data.

Separate Change in Consecutive Data: With this option selected the value of the data changes between the two consecutive rows. Then a horizontal separator line is inserted between them.

Order Tab:

This tab allows additional configurations of each column.

Normal: This displays all separate data on a new line and in order if given a short priority. Example: Item Connector Pipe End #1 with a priority set to 1 will display all the pipe sizes from smallest to largest.

Merge Rows Together: If this column is selected the rows of data are combined into a single row. Data that is not the same is combined or totaled.

Collect Rows Into Tables: This option collates the data into a separate table based on the column.

Sort Priority: This specifies the order the items are displayed on the report. 1 is the highest priority. This feature can be used to sort by size, weight, material and so on. If the “In Reverse Order” is selected it makes 1 the lowest priority.

Calc Tab:

The calculations tab calculates mathematical equations. The calcs can be constructed from the categories drop-downs above in the blank dialog box. The options that are available are based off the selections of print objects that were selected previously.

The -, *, /, and + options provide the mathematical calculations.

Filter Tab:

The filter tab will prevent specific unwanted data from showing up on the report pdf. Click the filter field (blank box in center of screen) and use options from the drop-down list.

Exclude all fields if not met: means it will exclude the whole row of data if the condition is not met.

Exclude all blank data: means it will exclude the whole row of data if this data is empty or zero.

Exclude this field’s data if not met: this specifies the field’s data to empty/ blank or zero if the condition is not met.

Tips:

  1. When editing or changing any report in Fabrication ALWAYS create a copy before making changes so the “out of the box” reports are still intact and unchanged.
  2. Set or verify the default printer BEFORE you start sending reports. Right click and select CADmep > Printer Setup. Or type in “PRINTSETUP.”
  3. There is a difference between “Item Reports” and “Add Reports”, be sure to learn the differences.

About the Author

Heather Volk

Sr. Technical Support Specialist, Building Solutions<br><br>Heather is responsible for responding to customer requests and helping them address technical challenges in a timely manner. She is an experienced Computer Aided Design Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. She has strong arts and design professional skills in AutoCAD, plumbing, computer aided design (CAD), project estimation, and facility management, and a history of providing training and technical support.

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