Navigate and use the Estimate Editor

After you create a job, visit the Job Overview page in Mitchell Connect. Select Write Estimate on the Estimate card to access the Mitchell Cloud Estimating estimate editor. You can also continue an estimate or add a supplement from the Estimate card.

Use the estimate editor to access a variety of windows and their components that are important to writing an estimate in Mitchell Cloud Estimating. You can select repair lines, preview the estimate PDF prior to committing, and choose an estimate profile with a variety of pre-configured settings to make estimating easier and faster.

How to

  1. Click Estimate in the navigation menu. The estimate page shows the repair lines you have added along with information about the related parts and operations.

Note: This page shows the ongoing total of the estimate in the upper right corner.

  1. Review the repair lines you have added to the estimate on the Estimate page.
  2. Make any necessary changes to the repair lines (see the section "Add Lines to the Estimate").
  3. When you are finished making changes, click Commit when you are ready to commit the estimate.

Follow the steps below to write an estimate.

  1. To create an estimate, click Write Estimate on the Estimating card to access the estimate editor.
    • You can click the Split View icon if your screen resolution is wider than 1499px to view the Parts page and the Estimate page side by side.

    • If your screen resolution is less than the 1499px, the Split View feature will be unavailable and you will only see the Parts page.

  2. The navigation menu on the left includes the following options for writing an estimate: Parts, Estimate, RMC, Preview, Estimate Profile (and possibly Split View).

In the Parts menu, the i Information tab provides links to additional information about parts. The available information includes several categories, such as:

  • Special Cautions
  • Paint/Clear Coat
  • Information Labels
  • A/C Refrigerant Capacities
  • Underhood Dimensions
  • OEM Service Manual - From this link, you can access General Motors service manuals for supported vehicles. Service manuals appear in a new browser window when you click the name of the manual.
  • Procedure Pages
  • Safety Recall

Click each item in the list to view the related details in the right panel. To exit the information tab and return to the list of components, by click another menu item such as Front.

Note: Visit the Review Estimate, Preview Printout, and Print PDF section for more information.

  1. Click Preview on the estimate editor navigation menu to view the PDF preview of the estimate. The Preview page shows the estimate report and printout the customer will receive. You can view the estimate total next to the Commit button.

  2. Click the + or - icons to the right, to increase or decrease the display size of the PDF on the screen.
  1. Click Download at the top right if you want to download the PDF estimate file to your computer or other device.

    Note: You can also download the estimate report/printout from Mitchell Connect, you can download an estimate from the Estimate Manager. On the Job Overview page, click the Estimate card, not the dollar amount. Click Share PDF at the top right and select Download from the list.

  2. In the notification at the bottom of the screen, click Save and select the folder where you will save the estimate PDF.

To set the print language for the Estimate Report,

  1. Click the Preview tab in Mitchell Cloud Estimating.
  2. Click the PDF Printout Language list to select a language.

  3. Print, email or download the Estimate Report. It will be in the selected language.

  1. Before printing the estimate report/printout, select the Estimate Column Format in the Print Format section to the right of the preview.
  2. In the Estimate Column Format field, select the format for the report/printout from the list:
    • Standard
    • Include CEG Values (Audit) - This is the default print format for all users. This format allows you to include Collision Estimating Guide (CEG) labor units on the report, next to the actual labor units on the estimate.
    • Show Labor $ Amount
  3. Click the Print icon at the top right to print the estimate as a PDF.

  4. Follow the instructions from your internet browser to print the report/printout.
  5. Review the preview and if the estimate is acceptable, click Commit.
  6. Print the PDF Preview using the Print button or share via email/download to your computer using the Share PDF button.

    Note: Both margins and font sizes are standardized and consistent when printing the primary estimate, prior damage estimates, and the supplement delta report. If a file is printed using the Actual Size preference, the font sizes for the estimate match what is shown in the estimate preview.

To set whether or not explanation lines are shown on the estimate description, follow the steps:

  1. Click the Preview tab in Mitchell Cloud Estimating.

  2. In the Explanation Line Setting field, select the desired preference:

    • Include Explanation Lines

    • Do Not Include Explanation Lines

Explanation lines on the Description column of the Estimate either display or do not display depending on the setting selected above.

You can select a classification for the estimate from the preview page in Mitchell Cloud Estimating. The classification is saved in the estimate and will print out with the estimate. The estimate classification helps you and other applications use the information for reporting purposes.

Insurance companies can send classifications with the assignment. If you receive assignments from insurance companies with a classification already set, you can see the classification and update it. The insurance company will receive any additional changes you make to the classification.

  1. Open the estimate editor for an existing job.
  2. Click Preview in the navigation pane to view the PDF preview of the estimate.
  3. Click the Classification list next to the estimate preview, and select the applicable classification. Classifications include: None (default), Audit, Drive In, Field, Inspection Only, and Non Drive-In.

Follow the steps to edit repair line categories and part options from the Estimate Editor.

  1. In Mitchell Cloud Estimating, click the Estimate tab. The Estimate Editor opens.

  2. Select the desired repair line that has two or more categories and/or part option associations (i.e., R&R Quarter Panel Assy with R Blind Spot Detection) that you wish to update. The Labor and Part information expands for the line item and becomes editable.

  3. Select the icon next to the Labor Operation. The Sub-Category and Part Option lists open.

  4. Choose the desired Sub-Category and/or Part Option from the lists.

  5. Click Apply Changes after it becomes active to save the new configurations.

    If Auto-Substitution is active, it starts once Apply Changes is selected as if the part were added from the Parts tab.

Once the estimate is saved, a confirmation message appears at the top of the Estimate Editor informing you the Lines have been updated. The repair line(s) shows the new sub-category and/or part option and, if needed, the estimate total is updated.

Note: If the repair line part has no sub-categories and multiple part options, the drop-down won't be available. It is also unavailable for parts on different sides of the vehicle (i.e., swapping a R Front Door Shell with a L Front Door Shell) which must be deleted and added again from the Parts tab.

Related Topics Link IconSee next