Tags or custom fields are defined in the proposal set-up tab and automatically inherited down to the WBS, and then in turn to the estimating labor, bill of material, consolidated material, travel and other direct cost estimates. Any values assigned to a tag in the proposal are likewise inherited down, and any tags assigned a value in the WBS are inherited down to the estimates.

Typically tag fields are set up in the proposal and values are assigned to the WBS, as explained below. Typically, these WBS-specific tag values are modified on an exceptional basis in the individual estimating records. For example if a tag represents the "rate center" used for selecting factors the vast majority of estimates would use the rate-center defined in the WBS with the odd material, labor or other direct cost using a different rate center to the one in the WBS.

To assign tag values to the WBS set-up your tags first in the proposal and then click on the column menu in the proposal WBS tab to make sure the tag columns are visible.

1. Select the tag columns from the column menu to make them visible. All tag columns appear with the prefix "Tag" in the column chooser menu so you can easily find them
2. Once you can see your tag column expand the WBS hierarchy to see your WBS and then click in the cell which corresponds to the WBS and tag combination. As with any table cell you can see a blue border to indicate that cell is ready for your input
3. Select the tag value from the list. In case the list is long you can type in four or more letter of the value description to search for it. If the tag was set up to allow new values to be added on the fly, then you may type in free text and it will be added to the list of values if it is not already present there.

Tag values assigned to the WBS may appear blank in your estimate, but the WBS values get automatically inherited into the cost model if you don't set them in the estimating records. This allows you to modify the tag values in a WBS and have the cost model reflect the new WBS tag value without manually updating hundreds or thousands of estimating records. You have the option of setting tag values in your estimating labor, material, travel and other direct costing records.

To assign tags to your labor estimate open the LABOR tab of your BOE-WBS and make sure the tag columns are visible. Click on the cell corresponding to the resource you want to edit and the tag in question, and select a value from the list.  Tag values set in your WBS will automatically default to new labor records, but have to be set manually if different to the WBS.

To assign tags to your materials you can assign tags to the proposal-specific bill of material components, or to the consolidated costed material records, or to both. To assign a tag to the proposal bill of material expand the BOM until you can see the node or part you want to tag and make sure the tag column in question is visible. Click in the cell for that tag and BOM component and select a value from the list.

Tags assigned to the BOM will be copied into the consolidated material list when you click on "Update & Cost Consolidated BOM"

To view the tags in your consolidated BOM, search for the part you tagged into the BOM and check the column which corresponds to the tag field. Note that:

1. You can filter the consolidated material list to quickly find your tagged BOM component part code using the part code filter
2. The tag values will appear automatically once the tag column is visible, however you cannot edit the tag values in this view like you can in the proposal BOM view (above)
3. If the box to "retain unit cost" was checked then not only the unit cost, but the source document references and any previously assigned tag values, may also be "retained". Uncheck this box to reset both the unit cost and to copy tag values from the proposal BOM

Tag values in the consolidated material list are inherited in priority order from a previous consolidated material proposal (if retain unit cost is checked), then from the proposal BOM, and finally from the WBS or proposal set-up tab.

If you double-click on a row or click on the pencil to open the proposed part popup, you can edit the tag values in the consolidated BOM view from the ADDITIONAL DATA tab.

1. The tags appear at the bottom of the ADDITIONAL DATA tab for both make and buy part popups. Select a value from the list if you want to overwrite the one proposed by the WBS or bill of material
2. You might need to scroll down vertically to see the tags
3. Check the box to "Retain unit cost and source document" if you want the selected tag value to remain on this part, and not to inherit tag values again from the proposal BOM and/or from the WBS.

Tags are not supported at this time in the TRAVEL tab.

To assign tags to the ODC/Subcontractor tab show the column corresponding to that tag and click in the cell and select a tag from the list, or add a new value on the fly if permitted. Leave tag column values blank if the tag values assigned to the WBS can be adopted.

Tag values assigned to the Labor, BOM, Material and ODC/Subcontract tables are automatically inherited into the cost model and can be used as dimensions in the costing workbench to split up your costs.