Using Ediphi's Excel Add-in (Last Mile)

Most estimators already work in Excel, so we’ve improved how Ediphi fits into that workflow. The Ediphi Excel Add-in provides a customizable and user-friendly way to access and manage your reporting needs directly within Excel.

In this article, we'll walk through the different tabs of the Excel Add-in and share tips and tricks to help streamline your workflow.

In this article

• Data Tab
  • Adding Data
  • Updating Data
  • Refreshing Data
  • Removing Data
• Insights Tab
• Reports Tab
• Admin Tab
  • Load UPC Table
• Tips & Tricks

Data Tab

Once you log into the Excel Add-in, you'll be greeted by the Data tab, which showcases the list of projects you currently have access to. After selecting a project, the next page will show options for adding Ediphi Data Sources and External Takeoff Sources. Once you select a Data Source, such as an Estimate, your estimate data will load into the Excel Add-in. Here are a few ways to manage your Data tab:

Adding Data

Click the blue +Add button to add Ediphi Data Sources. You will see options for adding Estimate data, GCGR data, Contracting data, and Cost Modeling data (coming soon). You are only able to add one data source at a time.

Each Ediphi Data Source will have a Details dropdown showing relevant data linked to the selected data source.

To add External Takeoff Sources, please reach out to your Ediphi Account team, who will work with our Data team to get this set up for you.

Updating Data

If you choose to replace a current Data Source (Estimate 1 for Estimate 2), click its card under the Data tab to swap it for a different one. Your worksheets stay in place and update to reflect the new data source's values.

Refreshing Data

If you see any discrepancies between the Ediphi platform and the Excel Add-in, refresh the Excel Add-in data by clicking the Refresh icon. To learn more about the different refresh buttons throughout the Excel Add-in, click here.

Removing Data

To remove a Data Source, simply select the X icon. You will be given a confirmation modal stating that your report sheets and data tables are kept but emptied after deletion. You can add your Data Source again at any time. Click Remove.

Insights Tab

If you're looking to visualize your data through charts, the Insights tab in the Excel Add-in is the place to go. It includes four pre-built charts designed to help you better understand and manage your data.

1. Navigate to the Insights tab within the Excel Add-in and click the blue +Add button.

2. Under the "Add Chart" modal, select a chart you wish to generate on your current Excel worksheet. This will automatically populate visual charts, which include your Ediphi project data.

3. After choosing a chart, it will load and populate on the current Excel worksheet you have open. You can then drag and drop the chart anywhere on the sheet and resize it.

Reports Tab

The Reports tab in the Excel Add-in allows users to build automated reports in Excel using live data from the Ediphi platform. This enables quick and easy access to project data for customized reporting directly within your spreadsheet.

1. Navigate to the Reports tab within the Excel Add-in and click the blue +Add button.

2. Under the "Add Reports" modal, select the desired Data Source or choose All, then select each report you wish to run. This will automatically populate a full report with your Ediphi project data.

3. When clicking on a report, an Excel worksheet will automatically populate with the relevant data from that report. The selected report will be listed within the Excel Add-in along with any other reports you generate.

Admin Tab

The final tab in the Excel Add-in is the Admin tab, where you will find Tool Box settings and Admin Tools. Here, you'll see your login information, a toggle to apply Ediphi Colors to charts, a button to Flatten Table Formulas, and an option to create a Join Import. Below those settings are key Admin tools: Clear Workbook Cache, Load UPC, MF, UF, and Users Tables.

Use Ediphi Colors

Enable this toggle to apply Ediphi’s standard color scheme to charts within the Insights tab.

Flatten Table Formulas

This will create a copy of the current worksheet, but flatten all of the formulas linked to the Ediphi data tables. This is often used before sending out an owner bid form.

Create Join Import

Click this button to download your Excel Add-in data as a CSV. The file is formatted for direct import into Join.

Clear Workbook Cache

This will clear your project and estimate IDs, report selections, and any data worksheets (if previously enabled). It's especially useful if your Excel file becomes linked to the wrong project and you want to switch to a different one without logging out and back in.

Load UPC Table

This option loads a new worksheet containing the Unit Price Catalog (UPC) data table for the region associated with your selected project.

Load MasterFormat Table

This option loads a new worksheet containing all levels of your MF sort fields/codes.

Load Uniformat Table

This option loads a new worksheet containing all levels of your UF sort fields/codes.

Load Users Table

This option loads a new worksheet containing all users added to your Ediphi company account.

Tips & Tricks

• To refresh a report in the Excel Add-in, simply click the Refresh icon, and the worksheet will reload with the latest data. See below for more refresh options.

• Click the Report Settings icon in any report to further customize how the report is displayed. After making changes, click the report name again to apply and view the updates.
  • Group Rows: Adds Excel outline levels so rows can be collapsed by group.
  • Subtotals in Header: Moves group subtotals to the header row instead of using a blank spacer row.
  • Split By Building/Use: When grouping by Building or Use Group, this option separates your Buildings/Use Groups (even if they share line items), unlike the default grouping in the Ediphi platform.
  • Show Assembly Items: Displays child items that are part of an assembly.
  • Freeze Group Levels: Locks the current grouping structure in place.
  • Hide Subtotals: Hides all but level-1 subtotals; ideal for simplifying long reports.
  • Allocate Markups:
    • If you have Above the Line markups in Ediphi and you have Allocate Markups selected, the report will allocate those Above the Line markup costs within the cost of work.
    • If you have Above the Line markups in Ediphi, and you have Allocate Markups unselected, the report will treat the Above the Line markups as Below the Line markups.
  • Hide Subheader/Subtotal Codes: Group headers and their subtotal rows show just the description. Example: "03 20 00 - Concrete Reinforcing" becomes "Concrete Reinforcing."
  • Hide Line Item Details (SOV): Drops every line item and assembly child row, leaving just the group header/subtotal rows.
  • Filter by Use Group: Filters to show line items linked to specific Use Groups.

• When viewing the Data Table tabs, use the arrows (carrots) at the top of each column to filter and narrow down the information you're looking for.

• If you have an estimate marked as Primary and a GCGR marked as Active in the Ediphi platform, this will show in the Excel Add-in when selecting a Data Source.

  

• The Data tab's project list in the Excel Add-in matches the Ediphi platform, showing Recently Viewed, Favorites, and All Projects. These groupings (along with Reports and Insights) can be collapsed and expanded by clicking on them.

  

• Takeoff and Charts require an estimate to be selected, and Reports require at least one Data Source to be loaded; without these, each section will appear empty.
• Refreshes in the Excel Add-in cascade from parent to child. Refresh at any level and everything below it updates too.
  • Project refresh: updates every Data Source and every report in the project.
  • Data Source refresh: updates that Data Source, its reports, and its data tables only. If you refresh GCGR, for example, your estimate data stays as-is until you refresh it too.
  • Report refresh: updates that single report; nothing else in the add-in is touched.
• To update the Excel Add-in to the latest version, you have three routes:
  • Select the "i" icon on the top right of the add-in, then click Reload.
  • Right-click anywhere on the add-in, select Reload.
  • Close and reopen the add-in.

• To log out of an External Takeoff Source, click the ellipsis menu (3-dots) next to that source, then Log out.

  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our support team, and we'll be happy to help!