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PDFs and takeoffs

PDF material lists and takeoffs, read line by line

PDFs are where most retyping happens. Goodshed reads the list, the takeoff table or the scanned page, adds up the columns, and matches every item to your catalog.

A PDF can't be pasted into the ERP.

Material lists come as PDFs exported from estimating software, scanned printouts, and takeoffs with quantities split across floors or phases. Someone has to read each row, add the columns and look up every item. When a printed total is wrong, that someone has to notice.

What arrives

  • Material lists exported from estimating software
  • Takeoffs with quantities per floor, area or phase
  • Scanned and photographed pages
  • A competitor's quote the contractor wants beaten
  • Multi-page packages with a cover letter

How Goodshed reads a PDF

  1. 01

    Read every page

    Goodshed reads the PDF's text and tables, scanned pages included, and lists every item with its quantity.

  2. 02

    Add up split quantities

    When a table gives quantities per floor with a printed total, Goodshed adds the columns itself and flags any printed total that doesn't match.

  3. 03

    Match and check

    Every line is matched to your catalog and checked for conflicting sizes, ratings and units.

  4. 04

    Draft

    Each draft line shows what the customer wrote next to the item chosen, so your rep can check it against the page.

What it looks like on a draft

Customer wroteGoodshed readOn the draftStatus
B1 · 4" sq box 2-1/8" deep · 48 + 52 + 52 · printed total 1424-in square box, 2-1/8 in deep · qty 152Quoted 152; the printed total is flaggedReview
P1 · Wall plate 1G duplex, stainless · 2801-gang duplex plate, stainless1G duplex plate, 302 stainlessResolved
G1 · Panelboard 225A 42-circuit · 3Panelboard, 225A, 42 circuitsNot in the catalog: left for the repUnresolved
Rows from a takeoff split by floor. Illustrative data.

What stays with your team

Your rep confirms the flagged totals and the items you don't stock, prices the draft and approves it. Goodshed doesn't substitute a different product just to fill a line.

Questions

Can Goodshed read scanned PDFs?
Yes. Scanned and photographed pages are read along with text PDFs. When a scan is hard to read, the line says what was uncertain.
What happens when a takeoff's printed total is wrong?
Goodshed adds the per-floor or per-area columns itself. When its sum differs from the printed total, it uses the sum and flags the line so your rep can confirm.
Does it count devices from drawings?
No. Goodshed reads material lists, takeoffs and schedules that list items and quantities. Counting devices off drawings is still the estimator's takeoff.
What about items we don't stock?
They stay Unresolved with a note, so your rep can source them or tell the customer. Goodshed doesn't quote a different product just to fill the line.

The last quote your team retypes by hand.

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