Using Catalog Items in Estimates
Add selection catalog items to project estimates and selections.
Adding to Selections
When creating project selections:
- Open the estimate
- Go to a selection entry
- Open the Catalog Panel
- Browse or search items
- Click to add to selection
What Gets Copied
When adding from catalog:
- Product details (name, model, color, etc.)
- Images
- Documents
- Links
Changes to the catalog item don't affect already-added selections.
Catalog Panel
Browsing
- View items by category
- See thumbnails and details
- Quick preview on hover
Searching
Search within the panel by:
- Name
- Model number
- Manufacturer
- Style/Color
Filtering
Filter panel items by:
- Category (matches estimate cost code)
- Manufacturer
- Status (only Enabled items appear)
Selection Workflow
Standard Process
- Create estimate with selection entries
- Open selection entry
- Browse catalog for matching items
- Add item to selection
- Adjust quantity/pricing if needed
- Repeat for other selections
Multiple Options
Provide customer choices:
- Add multiple catalog items to one selection
- Mark one as "Standard" option
- Others become upgrades
- Customer selects during review
Client View
When customers view selections in the portal:
- See product images
- View descriptions
- Access linked documents
- Compare options
- Make selections
Best Practices
Catalog Organization
- Organize by how estimators search
- Use clear category names
- Keep items up to date
Selection Setup
- Match categories to cost codes
- Include complete information
- Add quality images for customers
Maintenance
- Update catalog before starting estimates
- Remove discontinued items
- Add new products as they become available
Troubleshooting
Item Not Appearing in Catalog Panel
Check that:
- Item status is Enabled
- Category matches the selection entry
- Item was saved in catalog
Images Not Showing
Verify:
- Images were uploaded to catalog item
- Image files are accessible
- Browser cache is cleared