Q. Once we issue our first Certificate for Payment, are we able to still edit the SOV or does it become locked

A. You should be able to Unlock and Edit your SOV at any time.  However, changes made in the SOV will only get synchronized to any new CPs created thereafter or CPs that haven't been completed or certified yet.  Previously completed CPs will not change and will remain as is when certification occurred regardless of SOV changes made thereafter. 

Q. Are there different types of SOVs? 

A. There are 3 types of SOVs that can be selected.
1. Lump Sum
2. Unit Pricing
3. Construction Management Estimate.

To read about the 3 types in details visit this blog post. 

Q. How can I organise or sort my SOV? 

A. The SOV has a built in Click - Hold - Drag - Release feature.  This feature allow you to organise and re-order your SOV by clicking then holding a Line Item or Category and then dragging it to the new location and then releasing the line item or category.

Steps Re-Order SOV

1. Unlock the SOV and click the SORT button.

2. Click and then Drag/Hold to select the Line Item or Category. Hold the SHIFT key down to select MULTIPLE line items.
3. Drag the Item or Category to the location desired and then release to drop it.
4. Lock the SOV

Q: Can the Schedule of Values be locked?

A:  The Prime consultant or the Contractor can create and input the line items into the Schedule of Values (SOV).  To lock the SOV,  click on the word "lock" or "unlock" and it will change to a grey, and the lock symbol on the far left will show locked or unlocked.  The Prime Consultant is the only role that can Lock or Unlock the SOV to prevent any changes being made to the SOV. Please also refer to this short video.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of line items in a Schedule of Values (SOV)?

A: There is no limit to the number of line items that can be added.  Depending on the type and speed of the internet connections a user may experience a bit of lag when adding line items. new line to appear. 

Q: I am having problems inputting line items into my Schedule of Values (SOV). They aren't saving or being uploaded, what could be causing my problems.

A: The most common issue that RForm users experience with inputting information into their SOVs is regarding their selection of SOV Type.  It's important that when you unlock your SOV you double check the Type of SOV you have selected.  Make sure it matches your desired SOV type for input.  3 Types of SOVs can be selected and it's often a source of problems with inputting, Lump Sum, Unit Pricing, and Construction Management Estimate.

3 Types of SOVs - Click Change Type to view or modify.

Q. How can I use an Excel .XLSM extension to upload an SOV? 

A. RForm accepts .XLS files primarily, however it's straightforward to convert a .XLSM file to .XLS file.

To convert an .xlsm (Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook) into an .xls (Excel 97-2003 Workbook), you can use the built-in "Save As" feature in Microsoft Excel. This process changes the file format from a modern XML-based structure to an older binary format.

Steps to Convert in Microsoft Excel

1. Open the .xlsm file in Microsoft Excel.

2. Navigate to the File menu and select Save As.

3. Choose your desired save location.

4. In the Save as type dropdown menu, select Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls).

5. Click Save. You may see a compatibility warning; click Continue to finalize the conversion.

Important Considerations

• Macro Support: Unlike modern .xlsx files, both .xlsm and .xls formats support macros. Your existing VBA code should remain intact in the new .xls file, though some modern functions may not be backward-compatible.

• Row and Column Limits: The .xls format is restricted to a maximum of 65,536 rows and 256 columns. If your .xlsm file exceeds these limits, any data beyond those points will be lost during conversion.

• File Size: Older .xls files often have larger file sizes and slower performance compared to modern XML formats like .xlsm or .xlsx.

Alternative Conversion Methods

If you do not have Microsoft Excel installed, you can use online conversion tools or programming libraries:

• Online Converters: Tools such as CloudConvert, FreeConvert, or Zamzar allow you to upload an .xlsm file and download the converted .xls version.