Before generating a budget, you need to set up the budget structure and select a template. If you are opening the Budgeting tab for the first time in a project, the App will launch the setup wizard automatically. See Set up your budget.
Before you begin
To ensure accuracy, complete the following steps before generating a budget:
Procedure
In the top navigation ribbon, select the Budgeting tab.
In the setup wizard, select a budget structure: 2-Level (Category → Position) or 3-Level (Category → Account → Position). The 2-Level structure is selected by default.
Note: The structure cannot be changed after the budget is created. If you need a different structure, you will need to delete the budget and start over. See Set up your budget for a full description of the difference between structures.
Click Next →.
Select a budget template. The App shows only templates compatible with the structure you chose. The first available template is selected automatically.
Click Generate.
The App generates a budget table based on the selected template. The structure level is shown as a badge next to the project name (for example, 2-Level or 3-Level).
Budget table structure
The budget opens on the Top Sheet — a list of all categories. The table contains the following columns:
Actions: Tools for expanding, editing, or deleting categories.
Code: A unique identifier for each budget category (for example, 14-00).
Name: The name of the budget category.
Tag Types: Tag types pulled automatically from the script breakdown.
Fringes: The total calculated fringe amount for the category.
Deductions: The total calculated deductions for the category.
Estimate: The total cost estimate, including fringes.
Click Open next to any category to drill into it. In a 2-Level budget, this takes you directly to the positions list. In a 3-Level budget, this takes you to the accounts level first, then to positions. Use the breadcrumb at the top to navigate back.
The positions level contains the following additional columns:
Units: The unit type (for example, day, week, each, allow).
Multiplier: A multiplier applied to the rate.
Rate: The base cost per unit.
Quantity: The number of units.
Assign Fringes & Deductions: Control to assign fringes and deductions to this position.
What to do next
After generating the budget, you can:
Run AI Budget generation to automatically populate cost estimates based on your breakdown and schedule data.
Add or edit categories. See Create and edit Budget Categories.
Apply fringes and deductions. See Edit & apply fringes & deductions.
Export the budget. See Export the budget.