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CLIENT/SERVER: In a multi-user environment, access to the shared databases is controlled via the Client/Server software created by Faircom (eTakeoff's database provider). A central server or hosted platform like Citrix is REQUIRED. Client/Server MUST be installed in a multi-user system. It has two primary functions – It 1) optimizes access to the Standards and Projects databases to improve speed and 2) introduces the record-locking logic that keeps users from colliding in the databases and possibly corrupting them. Once Dimension and the Client/Server setup is complete, multi-user access (sharing) of the Dimension STANDARDS and PROJECTS databases is automatic.
STANDARDS: If anyone changes anything in the Dimension Standards (such as adding a new trace, adding new Layers or WBS codes, etc., those changes are immediately available to every one else. To ensure some control regarding the Dimension Standards, users can set up Standards Security to limit access to the Standards database. Go to the “FILE/ADMINSTRATION/STANDARDS SECURITY SETUP” to enable this feature. You can read more about setting up Standards Security by clicking on the following link.
PROJECTS: To take advantage of the multi-user capabilities when working with takeoff PROJECTS, the following Dimension options should be utilized:
1 – Each Estimator should go to the “FILE/ADMINSTRATION/SET USER ID” option to set up their own unique User-ID. The User-ID is a tag that is automatically assigned to EVERY takeoff measurement performed in that copy of Dimension. If a user’s PC is dedicated and not shared with others, then once that User-ID is set, it no longer needs to be entered when starting Dimension. However, if PCs are shared, then there’s an option in that setup dialog that will make Dimension prompt for the User ID at startup so the individual Estimator can enter their User-ID for that session.
2 – All estimators can now perform takeoff on any project they wish, including multiple estimators on the same project, even the same drawing. All takeoff measurements are applied to the project as they are individually saved. However, what the individual estimator SEES on their screen is controlled by a couple other functions in Dimension.
1 – By design, the takeoff window is not refreshed every second to reflect all estimator takeoff because of the significant overhead that would introduce. Instead, any additional takeoff measurements on that page will be updated when the system needs to recreate the screen, such as when changing drawings/etc. So if an estimator is doing takeoff on a specific drawing, they’ll only see their own takeoff work even though additional measurements are simultaneously being performed on that same drawing by another estimator. If they leave the drawing and come back, the refresh will now display everyone else’s takeoff work on that drawing. Note that the screen refresh can be done manually any time by using the REFRESH button on the View Tab.
2 – Typically, however, in a multi-user environment users will implement the FILTERING control in the Control Panel to limit the display of takeoff to only their own work.
You can read about the FILTERING control in more detail at Filtering Control .
After selecting the Filtering control from the Control Panel dropdown (image 1), the Filtering control (image 2) will open. The header has a dropdown option to SHOW or HIDE takeoff that has been tagged with various WBS codes. However, note the very first entry is labeled “Created by” which allows you to also Hide or Show only those measurements for the selected Estimator (in this case “John”). In this way, all estimators can be simultaneously doing takeoff work on the same drawing and they will only see their own takeoff work, even with screen refreshes. The head estimator, however, can use the filter to see everyone’s takeoff work, or only show or hide individual estimators’ work.
From that point everything’s pretty straightforward as each estimator simply does their takeoff and utilizes the Filtering to control what’s displayed on their own screens.
