Costing Library
Costing Library is the rate book. Define a resource once, attach supplier rates, then pick those lines on a quote price build-up. Work items, activities, and assemblies stay behind estimating (coming soon).
Library → Costing Library Resources grid
desktop
When to use this
Use this when you are adding or correcting workspace rates.
Do not use it to send a price to the client. That is Quotes. Do not use Templates for unit rates.
Before you start
- You can write the library (
librarieswrite). - At least one resource group exists (create one with Add group, or import structure under Settings → Library).
- A supplier in Customers & trades is useful if you store partner prices.
Add a resource
Library → Costing Library → Add resource. The dialog is Create resource.
Required: name, Type, Unit, Group. Form types: Material, Labor, Plant, Subcontract / service. The type filter also has Service. The type list still says Plant, not equipment.
Optional: Internal cost split (Base cost, Materials split, Labor split, Extras), Waste %, supplier price, Active.
Create resource. The list subtitle is Double-click any cell to edit. Changes save automatically. Columns include Code, Resource name, Type, Group, Unit, Rate.
Build a work item
Work Items → Add work item. Dialog Create work item. Give it a group and Unit of measure. Pricing strategy is General assembly (from attached resources) or Fixed unit price.
Add resource in Composition to attach library resources with qty. Create work item.
Use it on a job
What the other tabs are for
When estimating is on, Costing Library also has Work Items, Activities, Assemblies, and Health. Launch workspaces open Costing Library straight on the resources grid. Use Tools → Needs Attention to filter resources that need a price, unit, or review.
Search placeholders: Search resources…, Search work items…, Search activities…, Search assemblies…. Filter by type (All types) and group (All groups).
Supplier prices
A resource can have a price from more than one supplier. The Supplier column sets the default used on estimates. Suppliers that already have a rate for that resource appear first in the list.
Group by supplier on Resources lists the same items under each supplier that has a current price, with that supplier’s rate. Resources with no supplier price sit in No supplier. This is a view of the library, not a second catalog.
You can attach many resources to one supplier from:
- Directory → Trades & suppliers → a supplier’s Resources tab → Add resources
- Resources row selection → Assign supplier
- A supplier group header → Add resources
Each selected resource needs its own rate. SiteHut prefills from the resource’s default or general rate when one exists. Resources that already have a current price from that supplier are skipped.
Do not use this to build a customer quote. Quotes still add work items (or resources on a line’s price build-up). The quote import dialog already has a Suppliers tab for picking priced resources onto a line.
What done looks like
- The resource shows a rate on the Resources list.
- A work item expands to its resources.
- Adding a library line on a quote carries that rate onto the job.
Common mistakes
- Creating a work item before any resource group exists.
- Editing a job line for a price that should have changed in the library.
- Expecting Compounds. That is not a Costing Library tab. Use a work item or activity instead.
- Importing on Assemblies. Import is on Resources, Work Items, and Activities. Selected rows can Export.
Import a price list
Import opens Bulk import for that entity. 1. Download blank template (also labeled Start with our CSV template), then 2. Click to upload CSV. Process N items (resources may say Review resource import first). Row 1 is field keys. Re-import can update existing items.
On Resources, SiteHut may ask you to match names to existing resources, groups, or suppliers before it finishes.