Tags or custom fields are defined in the proposal or project set-up tab. These tags and any values assigned are automatically inherited down to the scope or WBS structure, and then in turn to the labor, material, bill of material and travel or other direct cost estimates. Even if values are not assigned to a tag in the proposal or project, the actual tags are still inherited down, for you to maintain values against these tags at WBS, bill of material or individual estimate level.

Tags are not automatically inherited down the work breakdown hierarchy though they do cascade down as you add new WBS elements, or you can cascade them down the structure in the WBS or scope element gear menu. Only maintain or edit tag values in your individual estimate records if you don't want them to be inherited from the WBS.

Typically tags or custom fields are set up in the proposal or project and values re-assigned to the scope structure or WBS, and in turn inherited down to the estimating records assigned to that WBS, as explained below. Occasionally, scope or WBS tag values are modified in individual estimating records. For example, if a tag represents the "rate pool" used for selecting indirect cost such as G&A rates, the vast majority of estimates should use the rate-pool defined in the assigned scope/WBS, with the odd labor, material or other direct cost using a different rate pool to the one in the scope/WBS.

If you do not edit the tag values assigned to individual estimates they will automatically stay in sync with the tag values assigned to the scope/WBS assigned to that estimate, including if you later on edit the tag assigned to the WBS or modify which WBS is assigned to your estimate. Once you edit the tag values assigned to individual estimates they no longer stay in sync with the WBS tag value.

To assign tag values to the scope set-up your tags first in the project and then click on the column menu in the ESTIMATES 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 scope hierarchy to see your row and then click in the cell which corresponds to the scope row and tag column 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 letters 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 scope/WBS get automatically inherited into the cost model, even if you don't set them in the estimating records (they are inherited even if they appear to be blank). You can modify the tag values in the scope WBS or ESTIMATES tab of your proposal or project, with the result that any changes to costs will reflect the new tag value(s) in the cost model, without manually updating potentially hundreds or thousands of estimating records. You also have the option of setting tag values in your estimating labor, material, travel, equipment and other direct or indirect costing records.

To assign tags to your estimates open any tab of your estimate and make sure the tag columns are visible. Click on the cell corresponding to the labor resource record, material, other direct cost or equipment you want to edit and the tag in question, and select a value from the list.  Tag values set in your proposal or project ESTIMATES tab will automatically default to new direct cost records, and only has to be set manually if different to the scope or WBS element's tags.

The screen shots above and below illustrate an example of editing a tag called 'rate center' in both the labor and bill of material cost estimates. The column headings will vary according to how your tags are set-up.

When searching for tag columns to make visible in your estimate, always look for column labels from the menu starting with 'Tags - '.

To view the tags in your consolidated material or equipment estimate, 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 part code using the part number filter
2. The tag values will appear automatically once the tag column is visible, however you may not be able to edit the tag values in this view like you can in the bill of material view (above). If that is the case click on the blue text or pencil to open and edit tag values assigned in the popup
3. Tag values assigned can impact the unit cost for this material, so you may need to check the Re-cost column to re-cost your material after editing tag values assigned

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 scope/WBS or proposal/project set-up tab.

If you double-click on the blue text or click on the pencil to open the proposed part popup, you can edit the tag values in the material or equipment view from the ADDITIONAL DATA tab of the popup:

1. Tags appear at the bottom of the ADDITIONAL DATA tab for both make and buy part popups, as shown below. 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 section of the popup
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. If you do not click on 'retain costs' then the next time you re-cost the consolidated bill of material tag values are re-inherited from the bill of material or WBS.

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

To assign tags to the OTHER DIRECT COST/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/as-is if the tag values assigned to the scope/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, as well as the basis of formula base parameters.