Prepared By: Kaushalya Senarathne

Checked By: Indika Mudannayaka

Oracle Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Cost-X Tutorial

Table of Contents
1.Cost-x ............................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1

Product Range ........................................................................................................................ 1

2.Configuration ................................................................................................................. 2

Cost-X Operating System. ..................................................................................................... 2

System administration............................................................................................................ 2

3.Getting Start ................................................................................................................... 3

Setting up a Project ................................................................................................................ 3

Setting up a Building ............................................................................................................. 3

Using Templates or Previous Projects ................................................................................... 4

Cost-x Display ....................................................................................................................... 4

4.2D drawing Files ............................................................................................................ 7

Adding Drawings ................................................................................................................... 7

Project Scaling ....................................................................................................................... 8

Layers..................................................................................................................................... 9

Other Control Buttons .......................................................................................................... 10

5.2D Measurements ........................................................................................................ 13

Measurements ...................................................................................................................... 13

Measurements Tools ............................................................................................................ 17

Dimension Groups ............................................................................................................... 17

CSV File .............................................................................................................................. 20

6.Workbooks (Not available in take-off product range) ................................................. 21

Costing View Tab ................................................................................................................ 21

Dimensions Insert to the Costing View ............................................................................... 21

Work book Importing and Exporting ................................................................................... 23

File Merging ........................................................................................................................ 24

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List of Table
Table 1: Cost-X Product Range .............................................................................................................. 1

List of Figure
Figure 2: Cost-x Login ............................................................................................................................ 2
Figure 3: Building Dialogue Box ............................................................................................................ 3
Figure 4: Building Properties .................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 5: " Based on " Property Box....................................................................................................... 4
Figure 6: Cost-X Display Ribbon ........................................................................................................... 4
Figure 7: Tip Hint of Selected Button ..................................................................................................... 5
Figure 8: Dimension View ...................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 9: Costing View ........................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 10: Dimension name and Folder .................................................................................................. 7
Figure 11: Drawing Name ...................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 12: Drawing Property Box ........................................................................................................... 8
Figure 13: Project Scaling by Property Box ........................................................................................... 8
Figure 14: Project Calibrating ................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 15: Layers Hiding ...................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 16: Compared Drawings ............................................................................................................ 11
Figure 17: Comparison features ............................................................................................................ 12
Figure 18: Working Area ...................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 19: “Line Tool” Method and “Point Tool” Method................................................................... 13
Figure 20: Property Features ................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 21: Measuring Wall Area - Length method ............................................................................... 14
Figure 22: Measuring Wall Area – Area method .................................................................................. 14
Figure 23: 3D View .............................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 24: Height Missing Dimensions ................................................................................................ 15
Figure 25: Measurement Modes ........................................................................................................... 16
Figure 26: Overlap Mode ...................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 27: Labels .................................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 28: Dimension Property Box ..................................................................................................... 18
Figure 29: Dimension Groups ............................................................................................................... 18
Figure 30: Dimension Properties .......................................................................................................... 19
Figure 31: Checking the Measured Area from a Dimension group ...................................................... 19
Figure 32: CSV File (Excel Sheet) ....................................................................................................... 20
Figure 33: Importing CSV File ............................................................................................................. 20
Figure 34: Adding Workbook ............................................................................................................... 21
Figure 35: Dimension Group Add to the Workbook ............................................................................ 22
Figure 36: Checking the Measured Area From a Workbook ................................................................ 22
Figure 37: Checking the Measured Area From a Workbook ................................................................ 23
Figure 38: Importing a Cost-X File....................................................................................................... 23
Figure 39: Exporting a Cost-X File....................................................................................................... 24
Figure 41: Export Trades to Excel ........................................................................................................ 24
Figure 42: Export Workbook to Excel .................................................................................................. 25
Figure 40: Cost-X File Merging............................................................................................................ 25

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Oracle Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Cost-X Tutorial

1. Cost-x
Introduction
Cost-x is a conducive software designed by Exactal for users who are taking off measurements from
PDF and CAD drawings without running CAD software. The users will be able to create; detailed
workbook documents such as estimates, cost plans, bills of quantities or tenders, depend upon the
version of Cost-X being used.

Cost-X is consisting in two integrated modules.

 The Dimension View: User can take off measurements easily and quickly from CAD files
without opening the CAD software. Using simple mouse clicks, Cost-X tools make use of the
embedded CAD data to capture dimensions and building geometry.

 The Costing View: A spreadsheet based workbook (not available in “Cost-X Takeoff” range)
within which the cost plans, estimates and bills of quantities etc. are developed. You can switch
back and forth between the modules at any time, and you can always see what’s been measured
where, with all measured items clearly highlighted in the drawing.

Product Range

Few Cost-X products ranges have released by the Exactal. This manual introduces the key features of
Cost-X and following table shows the comparative overview of product range.

Feature COST-X VERSION

Cost-X (3D) Cost-x Cost-X (2D) Cost-x
Takeoff (3D) Takeoff (2D)
2D drawings including PDF
√ √ √ √
drawings
BIM model/ 3D drawings √ √
Workbook (BoQ/cost
estimating, tender estimating, √ √
etc…)

Table 1: Cost-x Product Range

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 Oracle Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Cost-X Tutorial

2. Configuration
Cost-X Operating System.

1. Network mode: Network mode allows for several users and they can share Cost-X on a
common server. It gives the access to all cost-x files; users who are working on the same
project. And also users able to measure the same drawing simultaneously.

2. Standalone mode: Although this mode allows for individual operators, Cost-X file can still
be shared and merged via exporting and importing. And also portable license holders can be
swapped between computers which have used the Cost-X software via a dongle. (USB key)

However; network and standalone modes both look the same and progressively save work
automatically.

System administration
To open Cost-X, double click on the Cost-X Desktop icon and enter the username and password and
select the product range according to project requirement.

1 2

1 1

Figure 2: Cost-x Login

 1 - Here enter the user name and password which you have created previously.
 2 - Here select the product range according to project requirement.

Building property box will be opened and users can select new building or previously measured building
as required.

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Figure 3: Building Dialogue Box

3. Getting Start
Setting up a Project
Before any work can be done in Cost-X a Project file has to be set up. This is the highest level file and
is done at System Administration level. All work relating to the Project will be carried out and stored
within the Project file.

Setting up a Building
Once the Project has been set up, all Cost-X activities relating to that Project take place within Building
files. There can be any number of Building files residing within a Project. Click on the Main Menu icon
and then click on “New Building”. A dialogue box will open to enter the building details.

Figure 4: Building Properties

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Using Templates or Previous Projects

 Dimension groups and workbook descriptions can be created for a new project without any
changes by using a previous project or template. In this method; users no need to create the
dimension groups or workbook separately.

 “Based On” is used for this purpose. After entering the new Building details, move to the
“Based On” section (See figure no: 5) and select the required template or previous project and
building from the drop down menus, and check the data selection boxes. Usually users would
only check the “Use Dimension Groups” and “Use Workbook” boxes to provide a basis for a
new estimate. Using the dimensions and bill of quantity or cost plan would provide a full copy
of the previous project.

Figure 5: " Based on " Property Box

Cost-x Display
The “Cost-X Display” takes from a ribbon. It’s consisting of basically; Drawings, Dimensions and
Workbooks. The ribbon is a way to organize related commands and those are organized in logical
groups, which are collected together under aforementioned tabs.

Figure 6: Cost-X Display Ribbon

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There is also a Home tab, which conveniently collects together the most commonly used control
buttons from each of the other tabs. When the cursor is held over a control button, a tip hint box
displays which describes the button name and function.

Figure 7: Tip Hint of Selected Button

Cost-X Display

The display can be viewed both “Dimension View (drawings)” and the “Costing View (workbooks –
not available in Cost-X Takeoff)”

Dimension view: The dimension view consisting with drawing viewer screen, list of drawings and
dimension groups. List of drawing shows at the top left corner of the view and dimension groups shows
at the bottom left.

Costing view: The costing view also looks same as the dimension view. BoQ shows at the top left
corner of the view and dimension groups shows at the bottom left. Dimension groups take common
interface in both modes.

Drawing List

Dimension Groups

Figure 8: Dimension View

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BoQ

Dimension Group

Figure 9: Costing View

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Oracle Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Cost-X Tutorial

4. 2D drawing Files
Adding Drawings
 User can add drawings in two ways. i.e. By using the “Add Drawing” menu button is in the
Drawings Tab or in the Drawings section of the Home Tab or using the “Add” button for adding
to 2D drawings.

 Go to the “Home” tab or “Drawings” tab and click the “Add” button. Then browser will give
the access for electronic drawing file on user’s computer or network. Double click the file which
is required to be imported. User can import image files (JPEG or scan documents) and Auto
CAD also.
 The drawings can be re-named for ease of identification and drawings can be sort out under
folders. (See figure No. 10)

Figure 10: Dimension name and Folder

Figure 11: Drawing Name

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Drawings within multi-sheet sets (PDF) can be selected individually, grouped or as a complete
set. Name prefix is not compulsory.

Figure 12: Drawing Property Box

Project Scaling
 The default CAD scale is 1:1 but be aware that users are likely to receive drawing files in
a variety of formats and scales.

 The Drawing Properties dialogue box provides the means to adjust drawing scales.
Regardless of the scale used, it is always good practice after the drawing has been inserted
to verify that the drawing has been correctly scaled by use of the “Measure Distance” button
on the “Drawings” tab or by the “m” key function which measures any given length.

 Users can amend the drawing properties (Drawing name, folder, scale and etc.) as required
by clicking the “properties” button or by double clicking over the drawing. Then dialogue
box will be opened. When user amend the scale; measured dimension will be automatically
updated.

Figure 13: Project Scaling by Property Box

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Oracle Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Cost-X Tutorial

 If the drawing has not been scaled (most of the time in PDF drawings or image); the calibration
tool can be used to determine the scale.
 User can calibrate the drawing along the “X axis” or “Y axis”. If the drawing scale which is
previously set by the users is wrong, it can be calibrated. Simply click the “Reset calibration”
and calibrate the drawing again along the “X” or “Y” axis.

Figure 14: Project Calibrating

Layers
 CAD files such as DWG files contain drawing information in layers. Click the “Layers” tab in
the relevant drawing. The layers will be listed and can be switched on or off by checking or un-
checking the boxes. And also, layers can be temporary hide by clicking the relevant unwanted
layer. (e.g.- If user want to hide the grid layers; click the layer tab and select the one of grid
line. It will be highlighted in orange color (Seen figure No.15). Then click the right mouse
button. This method allows for only CAD files and note that layers are not being removed, they
are simply hidden.

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Unwanted layers

Figure 15: Layers Hiding

 The Layers section of the Drawings ribbon contains several control buttons:

- “Show all” reinstates all the drawing layers;

- “Hide all” hides all the drawing layers;

- “Invert” inverts the layer selection. This is a quick way to select a particular layer to
measure from, rather than laboriously switching off all the unwanted layers. Simply click
on the desired layer which will switch it off (hide) then click the invert layers’ button – all
the remaining layers will now be switched off and the selected (hidden) layers will be
reinstated.

Other Control Buttons

- Drawings comparing

 The Drawings Ribbon contains several function buttons, each with a selection of control
buttons.

 Users can compare a drawing against another by selecting compare function button. Overlay
technique will be used for this comparison and in here, old drawing will be highlighted in red
color and new drawing will be highlighted in green color (See figure No. 16). This function
allows only for drawings which have been added to the project.

 This method is very useful for typical drawings which are not mentioned (allows for only same
finishes). By comparing the user can identify if there are typical drawings. so, once
measurement can be multiplied by the number of typical drawings without need of measuring
them all separately.

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Figure 16: Compared Drawings

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 Users can move the top drawing (green colour) as required. Turn the mouse wheel to zoom in
and out and hold the left mouse click and move the mouse to drag the top (green) image for
positioning and colour intensity can be adjusted using the sliders.

 Click “Close” to exit Comparison mode.

Figure 17: Comparison features

- Working area
 The Working Area function allows areas of the drawing to be isolated for ease of measurement,
or perhaps to separate details shown to a different scale on the same drawing. With large or
complex drawing files, limiting the working area can increase the speed of the software.

Figure 18: Working Area

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5. 2D Measurements
Measurements
Using Cost-X, on-screen measurement is fast, easy and accurate. Measurement can be taken in two
ways.
 Line tool- A “sticky cursor” attaches to the lines in the drawing. Measurements can be taken
by just selecting the point and “click”. Most of the time line tool can be used only for
drawings which are drawn in layers.
 Point tool- click on a corner of the area to be measured, then drag the mouse to move the
cursor. A line will appear. Place the cursor on the next corner and click. Point tool can be
used for all type of drawings. Ex: Images and scan documents etc.

When taking off the measurements using the point tool, user can take the help of “geometry
(snap)” tool as their wish. Geometry snap provide a dot which attaches “snap” to nearby points
or intersection on the drawing.

Figure 19: “Line Tool” Method and “Point Tool” Method

Users always allow to see what and where the measurement is being taken and measurements are clearly
highlighted. Further, every dimension is individually listed, tagged and particular drawing will be
highlighted. Various colors can be used for separation purposes.

Select the “Properties” tool and user can change the colors for positive dimension and negative
dimension as required. Those colors are displayed in a Legend.

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The values can be optionally displayed in a text box when the cursor is held over a dimension

Figure 20: Property Features

 Area measurements also return a perimeter value with optional height functions for automatic
calculation of wall areas. There are two ways to measure the wall finishes and walls (masonry,
concrete and partitions)
1. Measure as a length and after that adjust the height as user required. (See figure No. 21)
2. Prepare the dimension group as wall area (See figure No. 22)

Figure 21: Measuring Wall Area - Length method

Figure 22: Measuring Wall Area – Area method

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The View in 3D button allows dimensions taken on a 2D drawing to be displayed as a 3D projection.

By use this 3D view; user can make out the wall lengths those have not been assigned the heights. If
you have not entered the height for some lengths, that particular length will be highlighted as a line.
(See figure no. 24)

Figure 23: 3D View

Figure 24: Height Missing Dimensions

- Positive and Negative Modes

 In positive mode, dimensions created with positive values. No negative dimensions are displayed
in positive mode.
 In negative mode, dimensions created with negative values (deductions), no positive dimensions
are displayed in negative mode. If user is creating a negative value, firstly you have to select
the negative mode.

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 “Both mode” shows both positive and negative dimensions. Any new dimensions that are created
whilst both is selected will have positive value.

Figure 25: Measurement Modes

Overlap mode- This mode is use for avoid to measurements being duplex. If your quantity is being
doubled, that quantity will be highlighted in yellow color. The dimension currently shown on screen
are used when checking overlaps. That means, you can check overlap with multiple dimension groups

Figure 26: Overlap Mode

 Labels - to show annotation of individual dimensions, which references the item numbers
within the “Dimensions” tab.

Figure 27: Labels

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Measurements Tools
Several simple measurement tools allow user to optimize drawing file intelligence for increased
measurement speed and accuracy.
Areas
 Standard (Line tool) – click on perimeter of area to define its borders, click once at every
change of direction and press enter or right click to complete area.
 Standard (Point tool) - click on a corner of the area to be measured. Then drag the mouse to
move the cursor. A line will appear. Place the cursor on the next corner and click. Continue to
drag the mouse, clicking the cursor at each corner to define the borders. Enclose the area and
at the last corner before returning to the start point, press enter or right click to complete the
area.
 Quick point – press and hold Shift key to measure a rectangular area.
 Quick point combining areas (for irregular-shaped area) – press and hold Shift key to measure
the first area, press and hold Control key (do not release Shift key) and click to measure adjacent
area(s) – the areas will be combined.
 Polyline – press and hold “L” key whilst place the cursor over the perimeter of an area. If a
polyline is available, the area will be highlighted in blue. Click once to capture the complete
area.
Lengths
 Standard (Line tool) – click on lines to measure the length of the item.
 Standard (Point tool) – click on an end of the length to be measured. Then hold the Control
key and drag the mouse to move the cursor. A line will appear.
 Combining lengths - press and hold Control key to measure the length of the item, click once
at every change of direction.
 Polyline – press and hold “L" key whilst hovering cursor over a line. If a polyline is available,
the full perimeter of an area will be captured with a single click.

Counts
 Standard – click on the item to register a count.
 Blocks – Press and hold Shift key to highlight the item as a drawing block (object) – usually
but not always doors, sanitary fixtures, etc.
 Multiple counts – Press and hold Shift and Control keys to highlight all like Blocks, then count
them all with a single click.

Dimension Groups
The measured dimensions are collected into Dimension Groups as they are measured from the drawings.
Users have to create the Dimension Groups before the user can measure the dimensions, which can only
be done whilst in the Dimension View.

Once measured, dimensions can be dragged and dropped into a Costing View or exported from the
Dimension Group into Excel. (not available in Cost-X Takeoff) (See figure No. 35)

 Dimension groups are arranged into Dimension Group folders. Examples – Ceiling Finishes,
dimension group – suspended ceiling.

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 User can prepare the dimension groups anytime even the project has been created by “based
project”.
 Click “Add” icon. A dimension group properties box will open and enter the details and then
click update.

Figure 28: Dimension Property Box

 Use the back slash “(\)” to divided the folders.

 The Dimension Groups are located in the bottom left corner of the screen. The viewing window
can be enlarged vertically or horizontally. Clicking on the Dimensions tab will display each
individual dimension within the Dimension Group.

Figure 29: Dimension Groups

 The data shown in the Dimensions tab can be user-defined from an options list.
 For vertical elements there is an option to insert a height in the Dimension group properties.
For example, walls may be measured by length on plan, and the height is nominated later.

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Click here show/ hide/

move column

Figure 30: Dimension Properties

 Drawings will be highlighted automatically when user select a Dimension Group. Therefore,
users can easily find out all measured drawings which are related to that particular Dimension
Group. If user want to check the measurement from Costing View, right click and selected the
“show dimension group”. (See figure No. 31). And also users can see the measurement by
selecting “show source” from workbook tab. (See figure No. 36)

Figure 31: Checking the Measured Area from a Dimension group

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CSV File
User can import the Dimension Groups instead manually Adding Dimension Groups. The user requires
to prepare an excel sheet by entering the important data as in the below figure no. 32. This excel sheet
needs to be saved as a “CSV (Comma Delimited)” file. Then that file can be imported to Cost-X by
using “Import Dimension Groups from CSV file” button in dimension tab. Dimension Groups will be
automatically updated.

 A- Area L-Length C-Count

I. 1st Columns- Folder
II. 2nd Columns- Dimension group
III. 3rd Columns- Measurement Type

Figure 32: CSV File (Excel Sheet)

Figure 33: Importing CSV File

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6. Workbooks (Not available in take-off product range)

Costing View Tab

 The “Add Workbook” button is in the Workbook ribbon tab or in the Workbooks section of the
Home ribbon tab. You can have several Workbooks in a single Building.

Workbook structure is spreadsheet based, similar to Excel. Columns A to H

are fixed; columns I onwards are user definable. This structure is very flexible
and easy to use.

Figure 34: Adding Workbook

Inserting Dimensions to the Costing View

 Dimensions are transferred from the Dimension Groups to the Workbook by dragging and
dropping. It is worthwhile to live link as much information as possible to get the best out of
Cost-X.

 Click on the required Dimension Group to highlight it. Hold down left mouse button on
Dimension Group, then drag and drop (click) dimension into the required column of the
Workbook.

 When clicking to drop the dimension, a dialogue box will open. This enables selection of
various dimension properties, e.g. perimeter of area, or use of a height if it has been inserted
into the Dimension Group properties.

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Figure 35: Dimension Group Add to the Workbook

 The quantity will now be inserted into the workbook. When the dimensions are changed, the
workbook quantity will automatically get updated. A simple right click command “Show
Dimension group” on the quantity or the “Show Source” button on the ribbon will open the
drawing view and display the measurement where the quantity has come from.

Figure 36: Checking the Measured Area From a Workbook

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Figure 37: Checking the Measured Area From a Workbook

 If the Dimension tab is opened, individual or multiple dimensions (select multiple dimensions
with the Ctrl or Shift keys) may be dragged and dropped into the workbook.

Importing and Exporting the Work book

If user want to continue the measurement in a cost-x file which have not been completed (previously
measured elsewhere) or check the measurement of previously measured project, they can import the
cost Cost-X file. This importing file should be a “EXF file”.

Click the home button and select the import and then select the “Import Cost-x Data”.

Figure 38: Importing a Cost-X File

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Users can send the Cost-X file (complete or incomplete) to another user by exporting. Select main menu
and go to the “Export” and select the “Export Building to EXF”.

Figure 39: Exporting a Cost-X File

Users can export Cost-X workbook files to excel sheet in few ways. However, follow mentioned types
are the basic exporting ways.

 Export Trades to Excel

 Export workbook to Excel.

Export Trades to Excel- In this method, users can select the required trades from the workbook and
those trades are divide in to separated worksheets in excel document.

Figure 40: Export Trades to Excel

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Export Workbook to Excel- In this method, number of levels can be specified and workbook
hierarchy is displayed on a single excel worksheet. (No of levels- No of sheets)

Figure 41: Export Workbook to Excel

File Merging
If user sets up a Building and then decides later bring a data from another project, building or templates,
the “Merge” command can be used.

 With the new Building open dimension or costing view, open the main menu and place the
cursor over “Merge Building”, select either from “data base” which means current project and
building already set up in Cost-X or “from EXF file” which means a Cost-X file exported or
sent to you by another user.
 When merging, Dimension groups get combined but workbook do not- the incoming file will
create new workbooks. Like named Dimension Groups are combined unless there is a
mismatch.

Figure 42: Cost-X File Merging

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