By setting up Formula-Based Quantities, it will allow you to quickly calculate the materials needed for a job using those custom measurement formulas. Whether you’re estimating tile flooring with added waste or determining the number of posts required per foot for fencing, this feature makes it easy for technicians to generate accurate material quantities on the spot based on your predefined formulas.

Start by clicking on Company Settings from the menu on the left hand side of your screen and selecting Estimates & Invoices. Navigate to Formula-Based Quantities and select Add Formula.

Enter a name for your formula that your technicians can easily recognize. This name will appear on material lists, estimates, and invoices when item quantities are entered. Click the Add Variables button to include multiple variables in your formula. You can select a default value that will always be populated for your technicians, but this value can be overridden if needed. By checking the box for Different value for each use?, you can enter a different value each time a variable appears in the formula, even if it shares the same name. For example, if you’re measuring a room with sides of different lengths and your formula is Width + Height + Width + Length, you may want the two “Width” entries to have different values instead of using the same number for both.

After adding your variables, drag them to the right and arrange them in whatever order you’d like.

You can add addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and parentheses symbols to your formula. Additionally, you can enter a fixed value that technicians cannot change by clicking the Add Fixed Value button; these fixed values are helpful for things such as: waste factors, standard depths, labor multipliers, and more. After arranging your formula, you can enter test values to ensure it calculates as expected.

Once you save your formula, it will be ready for use when adding items to estimates, invoices, and material lists. Click the arrow icon in the quantity field, and from the dropdown menu, select your desired formula. After taking your measurements, you can enter them here, and FieldPulse will automatically calculate the quantity to insert into the estimate, invoice, or material list. Below is an example of formula-based quantities on an estimate record.

There are situations where a formula might need to be adjusted on the fly. For example, if your formula involves measuring the length of multiple surfaces, you might encounter a different number of surfaces on each job. By clicking the Edit Formula button, the technician can temporarily add a new variable (such as an additional surface) without permanently changing the original formula.

An additional window will pop up where your technician can quickly make the necessary edits.