Managing material rates efficiently is essential for accurate project planning and cost control. Onetrace simplifies this process with the use of CSV templates, allowing you to bulk upload and manage rates across multiple materials. This guide explains what a CSV template is and how you can use it to streamline your workflow within the Onetrace platform.
Why use a CSV import?
The Rates CSV Templates on Onetrace can be downloaded directly from the desktop application. Once opened in your preferred spreadsheet program, you can:
Populate rates for multiple materials efficiently.
Import the completed file back into Onetrace for use across any project.
You save time by avoiding manual entry.
Imported rates are stored within Rate Sets in the settings area for easy access in future projects.
You can also apply custom rates to projects in bulk using this method.
💡 A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) Template is a simple, structured file format compatible with many applications. It is typically opened using spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Importing global rates
How to import global rates
Choose the Settings tab using the left navigation bar.
Click the Rate Sets button.
Navigate the desired Rate Group, and click the Rate Set you wish to work with.
Click the Import Rates blue button.
You have two options to download a template.
Current rates CSV template - all current materials and their associated rates across your organisation
Empty rates CSV template - all current materials without their associated rates across your organisation
Open the downloaded file on your device.
You'll find the following information on the template
Material Name (e.g. Hiliti Ablative Batt)
Material ID (e.g. 65c3b3afa70ba494d1015143)
For up to column (e.g. the amount of product used up to a particular price point - £8 a meter of sealant up to 20 meters, then its £5 a meter for anything beyond 20 meters)
Flat Amount (e.g. single fixed rate for a particular material or service)
Per Input Type (e.g. Quantity, Square Metre, etc.)
Enter the corresponding information against each of these fields.
Review the information you have entered and save the CSV Template
Click the Select CSV File button to upload the file back into Onetrace
Click the Import CSV button.
Review your changes in the summary box and click the Confirm Changes button when ready
Importing project specific rates
How to import project specific rates:
Click the Project you wish to work with
Click the Project Setup button
Select Materials & Rates from the dropdown menu
Click the Material Manager button
Click the Import Rates button
Select the Rate Group using the dropdown
You have two options to download a template
Current Rates CSV template - includes all the current materials and their associated rates for that specific project
Empty Rates CSV template - includes all the current materials without rates for that specific project
Open the downloaded file on your device
You’ll find the following information on the template:
Material Name (e.g. Hiliti Ablative Batt)
Material ID (e.g. 65c3b3afa70ba494d1015143)
For up to column (e.g. the amount of product used up to a particular price point - £8 a meter of sealant up to 20 meters, then its £5 a meter for anything beyond 20 meters)
Flat Amount (e.g. single fixed rate for a particular material or service)
Per Input Type (e.g. Quantity, Square Metre, etc.)
Enter the corresponding information against each of these fields
Click the Select CSV File button to upload the file back into Onetrace
Click the Import CSV button
Review your changes in the summary box and click the Confirm Changes button when ready
💡 If materials are missing from the project CSV but exist in your organisation’s library, add them manually before uploading. Include the material name, ID, and rates - Onetrace will recognise the ID from your global material library.
Key things to remember when importing rates via a CSV
We have compiled a list of common questions and recommendations from the Onetrace team for filling out CSVs. Alongside these best practices we’ve put the corresponsing error messages you may encounter if the CSV template is filled out incorrectly:
CSV import tips | Why? | More information |
Keep an empty row in between the last tier and the next material | An empty row must be included for the importer to recognise and separate out the materials and their included price tiers |  |
Letters or special characters are allowed only in the material name, numbers have to be used for the rest of the CSV | The importer only recognises numbers for pricing, it will reject a CSV if the pricing table section has letters or special characters |  |
Make sure to not have 0’s in the base (last) tier of your material | If using tiers for your materials, make sure there is always a price for the base (last) row. Otherwise, if a material measurement exceeds that final ‘for up to’ row, the price will be calculated at 0. |  |
Material ID | Do not remove or change the material ID, as it is critical to a successful import |  |
Only add in materials that are already part of Onetrace and have a unique ID number. | A material needs to exist in your organisation’s library or be attached to a specific project so that Onetrace can create a unique material ID. This ID is then added to the downloadable rates template(s) |
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The CSV file contains a material that has been archived | If you would like to use the material, it will need to unarchived via the material library | |
Only one material and ID can be added to a CSV import | A material and its unique ID cannot be added multiple times to a rate set. If you would like to add another rate to this material, you will have to add it to a different rate set e.g. London Rate Set or Northern Rate Set. | |
One of the material IDs is not in the expected format | Double-check that your material ID is in the correct location and is correct before re-uploading the CSV with the correct material ID. If this error is persistent, contact our support team via the chat function |
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‘For up to’ row meaning | For up to means the price that will be charged for that measurement range e.g. for up to 50mm the price will be £5 and for up to 100mm it will be £10 |
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‘For anything above’ row meaning | The ‘For anything above’ row ensures accurate pricing when the material used exceeds the highest ‘For up to’ threshold.For example, if the highest ‘For up to’ tier is 250mm priced at £30, then any usage above 250mm will be charged at the ‘For anything above’ rate - in this case, £45. |
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