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Release notes - July 2026

In this article

      Release summary

      This release introduces a collection of usability improvements designed to make estimating quicker, provide greater flexibility when managing products, improve the experience of presenting estimates to clients, and enhance the layout of Takeoff PDF exports.

      The goal of this release is to streamline everyday workflows while giving you more control over how information is managed and presented throughout your estimating process. 

      Why this change matters

      • Greater flexibility when managing products

        You can now edit product quantity units directly within the Rate Build Up, reducing the need to remove and recreate products when changes are required.

      • Faster material creation

        Creating new materials now requires fewer clicks, helping you build your database more efficiently.

      • More professional client presentations

        A new presentation mode allows commercial values to be temporarily hidden when reviewing Rate Build Ups with clients.

      • Cleaner Takeoff PDF exports

        Takeoff exports have been redesigned to make better use of page space and produce clearer, easier-to-read documents.

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      Enhancements

      Edit Product Quantity Units in Rate Build Ups 

      You can now edit a product's quantity unit directly from the Edit Product Details window within an offsite assessment Rate Build Up.

      Previously, changing a product's quantity unit required the product to be removed and added again. This enhancement allows units to be updated directly where appropriate, helping to reduce unnecessary rework.

      To help prevent accidental changes, quantity units cannot be edited if the product already has linked Takeoff measures. Where this applies, the option will be unavailable and a tooltip will explain why.

      When replacing a product, you can now also choose whether to keep the current quantity unit or use the quantity unit from the replacement product.

      Benefit:  Greater flexibility when managing products while reducing the amount of work needed to correct quantity units. 

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      Faster Material Creation 

      We've simplified the process of creating new materials by reducing the amount of information required when adding them to your database.

      The new material window now includes sensible default values for a number of commonly used fields, while the Specifics field is no longer mandatory. Additional quantity unit options have also been added to provide greater flexibility when defining new materials.

      These improvements are available wherever the new material window is used throughout Chalkstring.

      Benefit: Create new materials more quickly with fewer clicks while still having the flexibility to customise details when required.

       

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      Client Presentation Mode in Rate Build Ups

      A new presentation mode has been added to the Rate Build Up, allowing you to temporarily hide the Apply Markup to All Products and Total Measured Costs Margins for Assessment panels.

      This is particularly useful when reviewing Rate Build Ups with clients, allowing you to focus on the estimate without displaying commercially sensitive information.

      The hidden panels can be restored at any time during your session, and no data is removed or changed.

      Benefit: Present estimates more confidently while keeping commercial information hidden from view

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      Improved Takeoff PDF Export

      The Takeoff PDF export has been refreshed to produce cleaner, more professional documents.

      This update includes a redesigned layout that makes better use of page space, improved formatting of measurement tables, and clearer drawing headings. Key project information is now displayed consistently within the footer on every page, replacing the previous cover page.

      You can also now choose whether to include the measurements table as part of your export, giving you greater flexibility over the documents you generate.

      Benefit: Produce clearer, more professional Takeoff exports that are easier to review and share.

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      Questions or Feedback?

      If you have any questions about the changes included in this release, please contact our helpdesk at help@chalkstring.com.

      Thank you, as always, for your feedback — it helps us continue improving Chalkstring for your business needs.

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