# Tidy Docs (full text) Generated 2026-10-16 from https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs. Each page starts with a level-1 heading and its source URL. --- # Introduction to Tidy > What Tidy is, who it is for, and how these docs are laid out. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs Section: Introduction to Tidy Tidy is agent estimating and bid management software for construction subcontractors. It replaces the shared bid spreadsheet with one place where your team takes in bid invites, measures the drawings, prices the work, sends the proposal and follows up until you hear back. An AI agent works alongside you at every step, and you approve what it does. ## Who it is for Specialty and trade contractors who bid work to general contractors, owners and developers. Estimators, chief estimators and owners all use the same company workspace. ## What you can do | Stage | In Tidy | | --- | --- | | Get invites in | Forward invites to your bids address, or paste them for the agent to read. See [Bring in bid invites](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake). | | Decide and assign | Accept or decline, pick the estimator and track every bid on [Opportunities](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities). | | Measure | Take off drawings in a [workspace](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces), by hand or with [AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/ai-takeoff). | | Ask questions | Send numbered [RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis) and record the answers. | | Price | Build a [budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets) from your cost library, request vendor pricing and [level sub quotes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling). | | Propose and submit | Send a branded [proposal](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals) and [submit the bid](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-submission). | | Win it | Approve AI-drafted [follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) until the client answers. | | Stay organized | Your [Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub), [tasks](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tasks-and-notes), [records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/records) and [weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports). | ## How these docs are laid out - **Introduction to Tidy**: start here. [Quickstart](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/quickstart), [key concepts](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/key-concepts), [finding your way around](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/navigating-tidy), [plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits) and [docs for AI agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/docs-for-ai-agents). - **How to use Tidy**: step-by-step guides for common jobs, such as [running a takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff) or [getting the most out of the Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/work-with-the-tidy-agent). - **Features**: what each part of Tidy is, where to find it, and what the agent can do there. Every page has a **Copy page as Markdown** button and **Ask Claude** and **Ask ChatGPT** links, so you can take a page to your own assistant. > [!agent] > These docs are built for agents too. Start with [llms.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms.txt) for the index or [llms-full.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms-full.txt) for everything in one file. Every page is also available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its address. Inside Tidy and over MCP, use `search_tidy_docs` and `read_tidy_doc`. See [Docs for AI agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/docs-for-ai-agents). ## Get help Use **Report a bug** or **Send feedback** in the account menu at the bottom of the sidebar, or [contact us](https://automatedconstruction.io/contact). --- # Quickstart > Sign up, bring in your first invite, and take it from drawings to a submitted bid. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/quickstart Section: Introduction to Tidy This walk-through takes one bid from invite to submitted. Plan on about 30 minutes the first time. ## 1. Create your company 1. Go to [tidy.automatedconstruction.io/signup](https://tidy.automatedconstruction.io/signup). 2. Enter your name, company name, work email and a password, or click **Sign up with Google**. 3. Click the link in the confirmation email. You land on **My Hub** as your company's admin, on the Free plan. No card is needed. > [!tip] > Sign up with your work email. Tidy uses its domain to recognize your teammates and the invites you forward. If someone at your company already uses Tidy, you join their company instead. ## 2. Invite your team Open **Admin > Team Management**, click **Invite User**, and enter each person's name, email and role (**Estimator** or **Admin**). See [Manage your team](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-your-team). ## 3. Bring in an invite Forward a bid invite email to `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io`. In a minute or two it appears on **Opportunities > Undecided**, and you get a confirmation reply. Or click **+ Opportunity**, open **Add With Agent**, paste the email and click **Create with agent**. ## 4. Decide and assign On **Opportunities**, click **Bidding** on the new row. Choose **Assign to me** or pick an estimator. The bid moves to **Accepted**. ## 5. Measure the drawings 1. Open the bid and go to **Files**. Upload the drawings if they did not come with the email. 2. Select the drawings and click **Add to workspace**. 3. In the workspace, set the scale on a sheet and measure with **Area**, **Length** or **Count**. Give each measurement a **Subject**, such as "ACT-1". Or click **Agent** in the workspace and ask it to take off the ceilings. See [Run an AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-an-ai-takeoff). ## 6. Price it Click **Budget** in the workspace, add an assembly from your cost library and link it to a takeoff subject. Set your margins. See [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget). ## 7. Send the proposal Click **Send to proposal** on the budget. Check the lines, terms and the client contact, then click **Send** and **Submit Bid**. The bid moves to **Submitted**. ## 8. Follow up Tidy drafts follow-ups on a schedule. Approve them from **Pending Follow-Ups** on your Hub. When the client answers, set the **Award** to Won or Lost. ## Next steps - [Get the most out of the Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/work-with-the-tidy-agent) - [Connect your own agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent) - [Key concepts](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/key-concepts) --- # Key concepts > The words Tidy uses, from opportunity and client to workspace, subject, assembly and agent token. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/key-concepts Section: Introduction to Tidy ## Company and people | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Company | Your organization in Tidy. Everything you create belongs to it, and no other company can see it. | | Admin | Can manage the team, billing, company settings and plugins | | Estimator | Every other member. Can do all the bid work. | | Seat | A paid place for one person on Pro or Max | ## Bids | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Opportunity (bid) | One project you were invited to bid. Tidy uses both words. | | Client | The company that invited you to bid, such as a general contractor or owner | | Contact | A person at a client | | Lead estimator | The one person who owns a bid | | Team | Everyone else working on a bid | | Acceptance status | Undecided, Accepted, Submitted, Needs Revision or Declined | | Award status | NA (no result yet), Won or Lost | | Bids address | The email address you forward invites to | ## Drawings and takeoff | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Workspace | Where takeoff happens. Holds sheets from a bid's drawings and everything measured on them. | | Sheet | One page of a drawing set, with its number and title | | Scale | The real size of the drawing, set per sheet | | Measurement | An area, length or count drawn on a sheet | | Subject | The name that groups measurements, such as "ACT-1". Other tools call it a condition. | | Proposal (AI takeoff) | A dashed measurement the agent drew. It counts only after you accept it. | | Observation | An issue pinned on a drawing | ## Pricing | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Budget | Your internal cost for a bid. The client never sees it. | | Assembly | One priced item in a budget: Material, Labour, Equipment or Subcontract | | Component | A part inside a material assembly, such as tile or grid | | Cost Library | Your company's saved assemblies and components | | Leveling | Comparing sub quotes for one package, item by item | | Proposal | The branded document the client gets | | Revision | A numbered, locked copy of a proposal that was sent | ## Agent | Term | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Tidy agent | The AI agent built into Tidy | | Approval card | The agent's request to make a change. You can decline, allow once or always allow. | | Permission | Allow, Ask or Block for each agent action | | Plugin | A group of agent abilities an admin can turn on or off | | Skill | Saved instructions the agent loads when they fit | | Memory | Facts and preferences the agent keeps when you ask it to remember | | Agent token | A short code such as `BID-7K3P9QX2` that points any agent at one thing in Tidy | | MCP | The standard that lets Claude, ChatGPT and other assistants connect to Tidy | | Record | A spreadsheet view of your bids with your own columns, which agents can read and write | --- # Find your way around > The sidebar, the Agent and Co-work modes, the account menu and the shortcuts worth knowing. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/navigating-tidy Section: Introduction to Tidy ## Two modes The switch at the top of the sidebar flips between two modes: - **Co-work**: the app itself. Bids, drawings, budgets, proposals and settings. - **Agent**: chat with the Tidy agent, with your sessions, projects, skills and plugins in the sidebar. ## The Co-work sidebar | Group | Pages | | --- | --- | | Home | **My Hub**, **Workspaces**, **Budgets**, **Cost Library** | | Bidding | **Opportunities**, **Published Records**, **Proposals** | | Documents | **RFIs** | | Network | **Clients**, **Vendors** | | System | **Admin** (admins only), **Integrations**, **Settings** | Your company name and logo sit at the top. The bottom shows your plan and your account menu with **Settings**, **Send feedback**, **Report a bug** and **Sign out**. ## The Agent sidebar **New session**, **Search**, your **Projects** and chat sessions, **Skills & Plugins** and **Activity**. See [Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent). ## Moving between them - **Open in Agent** on a bid or a drawing starts a chat about it. - Links in agent answers open in a viewer docked beside the chat. - **Agent** in a workspace's top bar opens the chat beside the drawing. - **Copy agent token** copies a pointer to what you are looking at, for any agent. See [Agent tokens](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens). ## Shortcuts | Keys | Where | Action | | --- | --- | --- | | [[Ctrl]] + [[K]] | Agent | Search your chats | | [[Enter]] / [[Shift]] + [[Enter]] | Agent chat | Send / new line | | [[Ctrl]] + click | Lists | Open a bid in a new tab | | [[Esc]] | Workspace | Back to the Select tool | | [[Ctrl]] + [[F]] | Workspace | Find text on the drawing | See [Takeoff tools](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools) for every drawing shortcut. ## On a phone Tidy Mobile opens on phones and covers the Agent and Workspaces. See [Tidy Mobile](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-mobile). --- # Plans and limits > What Free, Pro, Max and Enterprise include, how seats work, and the daily limits that apply to every plan. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits Section: Introduction to Tidy Tidy charges per seat for volume, not for features. Every plan has every feature. What changes from plan to plan is how many bids your company can create and how much you can use the built-in Tidy agent. Connecting your own AI agent (Claude, ChatGPT, Codex, Grok and others) over MCP is included on every plan, Free too. See [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server). ## The plans | Plan | Price per seat | Bids | Tidy agent | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Free | $0 | 10 in total per company, for the life of the company | A one-time trial shared by the whole company | | Pro | $100 a month, or $1,000 a year | Unlimited | 20M tokens per seat each month, then it stops until the reset | | Max | $300 a month, or $3,000 a year | Unlimited | Up to 250M tokens per seat each month (fair use) | | Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Annual billing saves about 17%. Monthly allowances reset on your billing date, on annual plans too. Tidy shows agent use as a percentage ("37% used"), never as raw token counts. > [!note] > Deleted bids still count toward the 10 Free bids. Every bid you already have keeps working when you reach the limit. Only new bids need Pro. ## Seats A seat is a team member who is allowed to use the Tidy agent on a paid plan. You can add as many people to your team as you like at no charge. Only seats cost money. - Seats fill up on their own, admins first, then your longest-standing members. - An admin can move seats around in **Admin > Team Management** with **Give paid seat** and **Take back paid seat**. - To buy more seats, open **Admin > Billing** and click **Manage billing and seats**. On a paid company that has created more than 10 bids, a member without a paid seat sees a card that says **Your seat isn't on a paid plan**. They stay signed in and nothing they made is lost, but company data is hidden from them and their connected agents pause until an admin gives them a seat. Settings, Integrations and the admin Team Management and Billing pages stay open. A company that is all on Free never hits this card. ## What you see near a limit - From 8 of 10 Free bids, the Opportunities page shows a banner with how many bids are left. - Creating an 11th bid on Free shows **You've used all 10 Free bids**, with **Upgrade to Pro** for admins and **Ask my admin** for everyone else. The limit is enforced in the database, so forwarded invites and sheet imports stop at 10 too. - From 80% of your monthly agent allowance, a notice appears above the agent chat box with the reset date. ## Daily limits on every plan These limits protect the platform from abuse. They count over a rolling 24 hours and refill gradually. | What is counted | Per person | Per company | New company, first 7 days | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Email recipients (sends, follow-ups, vendor price requests, bid submissions, share invites) | 100 | 300 | 25 per person, 50 per company | | AI drafting requests (follow-ups, declines, new bids from email) | 150 | 400 | 40 per person, 100 per company | | Tidy agent tokens | 15M | 40M | 3M per person, 6M per company | One email can go to at most 25 people. When you hit a daily limit, Tidy tells you roughly when you can try again. Emails that tell a teammate about an assignment are not counted. > [!agent] > Over MCP, a daily limit returns `rate_limited`. A plan limit returns `plan_limit`. The read-only tool `get_plan_usage` reports the plan, seat status, bids used, allowance used and which admins to ask. ## Related - [Manage billing and seats](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-billing) - [Billing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/billing) - [Tidy pricing page](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/pricing) --- # Docs for AI agents > How agents read these docs. llms.txt, Markdown pages, the JSON index, and the docs tools inside Tidy and over MCP. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/docs-for-ai-agents Section: Introduction to Tidy These docs are written for people and for AI agents. An agent helping someone use Tidy should read them instead of guessing how a feature works. ## Files for agents | File | What it is | | --- | --- | | [/tidy/docs/llms.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms.txt) | An index of every page with a one-line description, in the llms.txt format | | [/tidy/docs/llms-full.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms-full.txt) | Every page in one Markdown file | | `/tidy/docs/.md` | Any page as Markdown. Add `.md` to the page address. | | `/tidy/docs/search-index.json` | Every page's title, section, headings, description, links and full Markdown body | Each HTML page also links its Markdown copy with ``. ## Inside Tidy and over MCP The Tidy agent and any agent connected over MCP have two docs tools: | Tool | Use it to | | --- | --- | | `search_tidy_docs` | Find the pages that answer a question. Returns titles, links and short matching passages. | | `read_tidy_doc` | Read one page in full by its slug, such as `features/rfis` | Neither tool reads or changes your company's data, so they are always allowed. ## Guidance for agents - Search the docs before explaining how a feature works or giving steps. Quote the button and page names the docs use. - Link the user to the page you used. - When the docs say a feature is not available, say so. Do not invent a workaround inside Tidy. - Use `resolve_agent_token` when the user pastes a token such as `BID-7K3P9QX2`. See [Agent tokens](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens). - Changes need the user's permission. Sending email, sending proposals and submitting bids stay with a person. ## Related - [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server) - [Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent) --- # Bring in bid invites automatically > Set up forwarding so every invite lands on your board on its own, and paste the odd one for the agent to read. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/bring-in-bid-invites Section: How to use Tidy The fastest way to fill your board is to forward invites to your bids address and let Tidy file them. ## Before you start - Your teammates need Tidy accounts with their work email, so Tidy knows the forwards come from your company. - The **New Bid Creation** plugin must be on. Admins can check it in Agent mode under **Skills & Plugins > Plugins**. ## Forward one invite 1. Open a bid invite in your email. 2. Forward it, with its attachments, to `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io`. 3. Wait for the confirmation reply. 4. Open **Opportunities > Undecided**. The new opportunity is there, with the client, due date and files filled in. ## Forward them all automatically Make an email rule so you never forward by hand. **Gmail** 1. In Gmail settings, open **Forwarding and POP/IMAP** and add `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io` as a forwarding address. Confirm it if Gmail asks. 2. Open **Filters and Blocked Addresses** and create a filter for invites, for example from your bid networks' addresses or with "Invitation to Bid" in the subject. 3. Choose **Forward it to** your bids address. **Outlook** 1. Open **Settings > Mail > Rules** and add a new rule. 2. Set the condition, such as the sender or words in the subject. 3. Choose **Forward to** and enter your bids address. > [!tip] > Start with a narrow rule (one bid network, or your top clients). Widen it once you trust what lands on the board. Tidy skips duplicates and emails that are not invites. ## Paste an invite instead 1. On **Opportunities**, click **+ Opportunity** and open **Add With Agent**. 2. Paste the email and add any files. 3. Click **Create with agent**, check the fields and click **Confirm & Create bid**. ## Ask the agent In Agent mode, attach the invite (an `.eml` or `.msg` file, a PDF or a screenshot) and say "Create an opportunity from this." The agent shows you every field to confirm before it saves. ## If something goes wrong | What you see | What to do | | --- | --- | | A "not imported" reply | Tidy did not think it was a bid invite. Add it with **+ Opportunity**. | | No reply at all | Check that you sent from your Tidy account's email or your company domain, and that **New Bid Creation** is on. | | A plan-limit reply | Your company used its 10 Free opportunities. An admin can upgrade in **Admin > Billing**. | | Wrong client | Open the bid and fix the client on **Overview**. Add the client's web domain so the next one matches. | ## Related - [Bring in bid invites (feature)](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake) - [Assign and claim bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/assign-and-claim-bids) --- # Assign and claim bids > Decide which invites to bid, take one for yourself or hand it to an estimator, and add a team. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/assign-and-claim-bids Section: How to use Tidy Every bid has one **lead estimator** who owns it, and a **team** of anyone else helping. There is no separate claim button: to claim a bid, make yourself the lead. ## Claim a new invite 1. Open **Opportunities > Undecided**. 2. Click **Bidding** on the row. 3. In **Assign Estimator**, click **Assign to me**, then **Assign**. The bid moves to **Accepted** with you as lead. ## Hand a bid to someone 1. Click **Bidding**, or click the **Assignee** cell on a bid you already accepted. 2. Pick the estimator and click **Assign**. They get an email with the bid. **Skip** leaves it unassigned. ## Assign several at once Tick the rows, open **Assign** in the bar that appears, and pick the person. Use **Accept** in the same bar to accept them together. ## Change the lead later On the bid page, click **Lead estimator** in the status strip. ## Add a team 1. Open the bid's **Overview**. 2. On the **Team** card, click **Add member** and tick teammates. Team members get an email. Click the X beside a name to remove someone. They do not get an email about that. ## See your own bids Turn on **My Opportunities** on the board, or open **My Hub**. "Mine" means you are the lead or on the team. ## Ask the agent - "Assign the Riverside Clinic bid to Maria and add me to the team." - "Which accepted bids have nobody assigned?" - "Show me everything due in the next two weeks that is still Undecided." ## Related - [Opportunities](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities) - [The bid page](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-detail) --- # Manage tasks and your calendar > Plan your week on the Hub. Add tasks with due dates, pin notes, move bid dates on the calendar, and let the agent keep the list current. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-tasks-and-calendar Section: How to use Tidy ## Plan the week 1. Open **My Hub**. **My Opportunities** opens on the calendar's **Week** view. 2. Use the **Due Date** tab to see what is due. Switch to **Follow-up** to see who to chase. 3. Drag a bid's chip to another day to move its due or follow-up date. ## Add tasks 1. In **My Tasks**, click **Add Task**, type the title and press [[Enter]]. 2. Set a **Due date**. It appears on the calendar too. 3. Open the task menu and choose **Link to Opportunity** to tie it to a bid. 4. Click the chevron to write a note, such as a checklist or call notes. ## Keep a checklist in view Choose **Pin Note** on a task. The note floats over every page, so you can tick items off while you work in a workspace or a budget. You can pin up to 6. ## Let the agent keep the list The agent manages tasks when you ask. Some prompts that work well: - "Make tasks from this email thread, linked to this bid, due before the bid date." - "What tasks do I have overdue? Move the ones about the hospital bid to Friday." - "Write the open RFI questions for this bid into the note on my 'Questions' task." - "Every Monday, list my tasks due this week." (Use a scheduled run in your own connected agent.) > [!note] > Tidy does not add tasks on its own. The only automatic part is the overdue notice, which shows in your Hub notifications with **Complete** and **Dismiss**. ## Related - [Tasks and pinned notes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tasks-and-notes) - [My Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub) --- # Decline a bid > Pass on an invite politely in one click, with or without an email to the client. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/decline-a-bid Section: How to use Tidy Telling a client you are passing keeps you on their list for the next one. Tidy drafts the email for you. ## Steps 1. Find the opportunity on **Opportunities** (usually **Undecided**) and click **Decline**. You can also right-click the row or use the bid page. 2. Check the **To** address. It is filled with the client contact. Add CCs if you need them. 3. Click an AI draft: **No Capacity**, **Scope Too Small** or **Out of Area**. Or write your own. 4. Edit the text. 5. Click **Send Notification**. The bid moves to **Closed** and any unsent follow-up drafts on it are deleted. ## Decline without an email Click **Decline Without Notifying** in the same dialog. ## Decline many at once Tick rows on the board and click **Decline** in the bar. This declines without emails. ## Changed your mind? Open **Closed** and click **Restore**, or tick rows and click **Reopen as Accepted**. ## Ask the agent "Decline the Lakeside Retail bid, we are out of capacity that week." The agent opens the decline dialog filled in. You check it and click send. ## Related - [Follow-ups and declines](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) - [Opportunities](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities) --- # Set up a workspace > Put a bid's drawings in a workspace, check the sheet names, share it with your team and load addenda later. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/set-up-a-workspace Section: How to use Tidy ## Create the workspace 1. Click **New workspace**. It is on the **Workspaces** page, on a bid's **Files** tab, and in a bid's right-click menu. 2. Pick the project. If the bid is not in Tidy yet, choose **Add new opportunity**. 3. Tick the drawing PDFs, or drop a new PDF in the box. 4. Change the **Name** if you like. It starts as the drawing's file name. 5. Click **Create workspace**. You land inside it. Tidy reads each page's sheet number and title from the title blocks. On a big set a "Reading sheet names" notice shows progress. > [!tip] > One workspace per trade or discipline keeps things fast and easy to share, for example "Architectural" and "Reflected ceiling plans". When the Tidy agent sets up a set, it does exactly that. ## Check the sheets 1. Open the drawer on the right and pick the **Sheets** tab. 2. Scan the numbers and titles. Double-click one to fix it. Your fix is never overwritten. 3. Delete sheets you do not need, such as cover sheets for a trade that is not yours. They are only hidden, and **Restore** brings them back. ## Set the scale on many sheets 1. Click **Sheets** at the top left of the drawing to open the grid. 2. Select the sheets that share a scale (or **Select all sheets**). 3. Click **Set scale**, choose the preset and apply. ## Share it 1. Click **Share** in the top bar. 2. On **Internal members**, add teammates as **Can edit** or **View only**. 3. Admins can tick **All company** to give everyone access. ## Load an addendum 1. Upload the new drawings to the bid's **Files** tab. 2. In the workspace, open the **Add** menu beside the Sheets search and choose **Upload revised sheets...**. 3. Pick the new file. Matching sheets move to the new version with their markups. New pages are added. 4. Check the **Review** tab for markups to confirm, and use **Compare** and **Quantity changes** to see what moved. ## Ask the agent "Set up workspaces for the drawings on this bid." The agent groups the set by discipline, names the workspaces and reads the sheets. It asks you before it creates anything. ## Related - [Workspaces](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces) - [Run a takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff) --- # Run a takeoff > Measure areas, lengths and counts by hand, with the fast tools that trace rooms and find symbols for you. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff Section: How to use Tidy ## 1. Set the scale 1. Open a sheet in your workspace. 2. Click **Scale** in the tool bar, or the **No scale** badge. 3. Pick the preset printed on the sheet, or click **Detected on sheet** if Tidy found it. 4. Check it: draw a **Length** along a dimension you know. If it is off, use **Calibrate**. ## 2. Name what you measure Arm a tool. In the **Next area** bar that appears, type a **Subject**, such as "ACT-1". Pick a colour. Click **Set as default** to keep these settings for that tool. Use the same subject names your budget assemblies will use. That is how quantities find their way into pricing. ## 3. Measure | Job | Tool | How | | --- | --- | --- | | A room with clear walls | **Magic Fill** | Click inside the room | | Every tagged room on the sheet | **Detect rooms** | Run it once, then check the result | | An odd shape | **Area** | Click each corner, then [[Enter]] | | A quick rectangle | **Area** | Press and drag on empty space | | A run of wall or pipe | **Length** | Click along it, then [[Enter]] | | Fixtures or devices | **Count** | Click each one | | Many of the same symbol | **Symbol Sweep** | Box one clean example, review the matches, click **Commit** | | A hole in an area | **Cut Out** | Draw it over the area | ## 4. Add height or depth Select a measurement and add **Dimensions**. A wall length with a height gives you wall area. An area with a depth gives you volume. ## 5. Check your totals Open the **Markups List** at the bottom. Totals are grouped by subject. Click a row to jump to the shape and fix it. ## 6. Hand it to the budget Click **Budget** in the top bar. Link each assembly to the right subject. See [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget). ## Tips - Everything saves as you go. If you lose your connection, edits wait and sync when you are back. - [[Ctrl]] + [[2]] splits the screen so you can keep a schedule open beside the plan. - **Download > Takeoff & Markups (Excel)** gives you every measurement by subject. - Open a PDF saved from Bluebeam and its markups come in automatically. ## Related - [Takeoff tools](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools) - [Run an AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-an-ai-takeoff) --- # Run an AI takeoff > Have the agent do the first pass on a drawing, then review and accept what it measured. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-an-ai-takeoff Section: How to use Tidy ## Before you start - You need **Can edit** access to the workspace. - The **Agentic Takeoff** plugin must be on. - Vector PDFs (exported from CAD) give the best results. ## Steps 1. Open the workspace and click **Agent** in the top bar. 2. Optional: open the **Sheets** grid, select the sheets to measure and click **Ask AI**. Mark a finish schedule or legend **Use as reference** so the agent reads it without measuring it. 3. Say exactly what you want. Good requests name the finish, the sheets and anything to leave out: - "Take off every 2x2 ACT area on the RCPs, A-201 to A-204. Use the ceiling legend on A-001. Skip the corridors." - "Count the 2x4 troffers and exit signs on E-101." - "Measure flooring by room from the finish schedule on A-601." 4. Approve the start card. 5. If the agent proposes a scale, check the evidence and approve it, or set it yourself. 6. Watch the dashed shapes appear on the sheet. ## Review 1. Open the **AI Takeoff** tab in the drawer. 2. Go page by page. Click a row to see the shape. 3. **Accept** good ones ([[Enter]]), **Delete** bad ones ([[Delete]]), or accept a whole page with [[Shift]] + [[Enter]]. 4. Fix any accepted shape by hand like any other measurement. Only accepted shapes count in totals, the budget and exports. ## Get better results next time - Ask the agent what it was unsure about. It reports rooms and symbols it chose not to commit, and why. - When a run goes well, accept the offer to save what worked as a skill. Next time, say "use our ceiling takeoff skill". - Split a big job into several requests by sheet or by finish. ## From your phone or your own agent Start a run from Tidy Mobile under **AI Takeoff > Start AI takeoff**, or from Claude or ChatGPT when your admin allows headless takeoff. Results wait in the same review queue. ## Related - [AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/ai-takeoff) - [Run a takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff) --- # Use Tidy on your phone > Install Tidy Mobile, check drawings on site, raise observations with photos and accept AI takeoffs. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/use-tidy-on-your-phone Section: How to use Tidy ## Install it 1. Open [tidy.automatedconstruction.io](https://tidy.automatedconstruction.io) on your phone and sign in. 2. Use your browser's **Add to Home Screen** (Safari share menu, or the Chrome menu). ## On a site walk 1. Open **Workspaces** and pick the project. 2. Open the sheet for the area you are in. 3. Tap **Observations** and create one: a title, a photo from your camera, assignees, a due date and a priority. 4. Place its pin on the sheet. Assignees get an email, and the pin shows on desktop right away. ## Accept AI takeoffs on the go 1. Open the workspace and go to **AI Takeoff**. 2. Review each page. **Accept all** on a page, or accept and discard one at a time. To start a run, tap **Start AI takeoff**, pick the sheets, describe the job and tap **Send to Agent**. You can close the app while it works. ## Ask the agent The **Agent** tab is the full Tidy agent. Pin a bid and ask: "What does the spec say about ceiling grid seismic bracing?" It answers with page citations. ## Hand off to desktop Use **Open on desktop** or **Copy agent token** to pick up the same sheet on your computer or in another agent. ## Limits No measuring tools on the phone, and drawing files over 32 MB need desktop. ## Related - [Tidy Mobile](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-mobile) --- # Build a budget > Turn your takeoff into a priced budget. Create it, add assemblies, link quantities, set margins and send it to the proposal. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget Section: How to use Tidy ## 1. Create the budget Open the bid's **Budget** tab and click **Create budget**. Or go to **Budgets**, click **New budget**, pick the project and the type (usually **Estimate**), and click **Create budget**. ## 2. Pick the takeoff In the budget header, use **Quantities from** to choose the workspaces that feed this budget. ## 3. Add assemblies 1. In **Budget lines**, click **Add assembly**. 2. Choose the type: **Material**, **Labour**, **Equipment** or **Subcontract**. 3. Choose **From the library** to start from a saved assembly, or **Start blank**. 4. Name it and set its **Scope category**. ## 4. Link the quantity In the assembly, set the **Takeoff source**: the file, the subject and which measurement to use (area, length, perimeter, volume or count). The quantity now follows the takeoff. Use **Manual quantity** for anything you did not measure. ## 5. Price the parts - **Material**: add components with unit, pack size, waste and price. **Choose from library** pulls in saved ones. - **Labour**: add roles and price them by rate, hours or crew-days. - **Equipment**: add items with a daily, weekly or monthly rate. - **Subcontract**: list the inclusions and level the quotes. See [Level subcontractor quotes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/level-sub-quotes). ## 6. Set margins and tax In the cost summary, set the margin for each type and the labour burden. Admins can change tax for the bid. Mark an assembly **Alternate** to price it without adding it to the total. ## 7. Keep it in step with the takeoff When someone changes the takeoff, open **Budget actions > Sync takeoff quantities**. ## 8. Send it to the proposal Click **Send to proposal**, pick the proposal (or create one) and confirm. Each assembly becomes one proposal line at its sell price. ## Let the agent help - "Build a budget for the ACT ceilings from the takeoff, using our standard 2x2 assembly and a 4-person crew." - "Fill the component prices from this supplier quote." (Attach the PDF.) - "Which assemblies have no takeoff link?" Lines the agent wrote are flagged. **Budget actions > Review all** walks you through them. ## Related - [Budgets](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets) - [Cost Library](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/cost-library) - [Request vendor pricing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/request-vendor-pricing) --- # Request vendor pricing > Email suppliers a price table from your budget, record their answers and apply the prices to your components. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/request-vendor-pricing Section: How to use Tidy Use this for material prices. Labour, equipment and subcontract assemblies are priced on the budget or on the leveling board. ## Send the request 1. On the budget, open **Budget actions > Request pricing**. You need at least one Material assembly. 2. Tick the components you want priced. Click **Continue to email**. 3. Add vendors. Pick existing ones or create a new one with a contact. 4. Check the email and its price table (item, part number, quantity, unit, your unit price, lead time). 5. Preview each email and send. Tidy files a **Requested** quote for each item and vendor. ## Record the answers Vendors reply to your email, not into Tidy, so enter each answer: 1. On the component's quote, click **Enter price**. 2. Type the unit price, **Lead time (days)** and **Valid until**. The quote becomes **Quoted**. 3. Click **Apply**. The price goes on the component, the budget reprices, and the price is saved to the vendor's price book. Got a price by phone? Use **Add quote manually**. ## Let the agent read the quote Attach the vendor's quote PDF in chat and say "Enter these prices on the budget." The agent matches items to your components and shows you every price to approve before it writes. ## Related - [Vendors](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/vendors) - [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget) --- # Level subcontractor quotes > Compare sub quotes item by item on the leveling board and carry the best covered bid into your budget. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/level-sub-quotes Section: How to use Tidy ## 1. Set up the package 1. On your budget, click **Add assembly**, choose **Subcontract** and **Start blank** (or a saved contract scope from the library). 2. On **Overview**, set the **Package name**, **Scope category** and **Bids due** date. 3. Under **Inclusions**, click **+ Add inclusion** for each item of scope. Add sub-items where you need detail. 4. Add **Exclusions** and any scope narrative. ## 2. Add bidders Click **Add a bidder**, tick vendors from your vendor list and pick each one's contact. This only adds their column. Tidy does not email them, so send your scope to subs the way you do today. ## 3. Enter prices Open the **Bid levelling** tab. For each bidder, type their price against each inclusion they cover. - A blank cell means not included. - A 0 means included at no charge. - You can paste a block of prices from Excel. ## 4. Read the board Each column shows the bidder's total, how many items they cover and their rank. Coverage ranks first, then price. A cheap bid that misses scope ranks below a complete one. ## 5. Carry one Click **Carry this** on the bidder you are going with. Their total becomes the package cost on the budget and flows to the proposal. Until you carry one, the package has no total. ## 6. Share it Use **Export > Levelling board (PDF)** to send the comparison to your team or client. ## Let the agent help Attach a sub's quote and say "Add these prices to the drywall package for Apex Interiors." The agent maps their line items to your inclusions and asks you to approve every price and any carry. ## Related - [Subcontract leveling](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling) - [Budgets](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets) --- # Create and send a proposal > Build a branded proposal from your budget, check it in the live preview, send it, and revise it when the client asks. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/create-and-send-a-proposal Section: How to use Tidy ## Create it From the budget, click **Send to proposal** and confirm. Or go to **Proposals**, click **Create proposal**, pick the project and choose where to start: **Company defaults**, **Blank** or **Copy of an existing proposal**. ## Fill it in order The editor's **Build in this order** strip takes you through the steps: 1. **Project**: check each client and the contact who gets it. 2. **Dates**: set the **Proposal date** and **Valid until**. Pick **Itemized** or **Lump sum** display. 3. **Line items**: check the lines from the budget. Add bullets that describe the scope. Tag extras **Alternate** or **Optional**. 4. Check the totals, tax, terms, inclusions and exclusions. Watch the live preview on the right as you go. ## Send it 1. Click **Send**. Tidy lists anything missing, such as a contact with no email. 2. The **Submit Bid** dialog opens with the PDF attached. Each client gets their own copy. 3. Write the message or click **Generate with AI**, then send. The proposal revision is locked, and the bid moves to **Submitted**. ## Revise it When the client asks for a new number: 1. Set the bid to **Needs Revision** if it is not already. 2. Open the proposal and click **Revise**. Tidy copies the last sent revision forward. 3. Make the changes. **Compare** shows exactly what changed. 4. Send again. ## Related - [Proposals](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals) - [Submit a bid](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/submit-a-bid) --- # Submit a bid > Email your bid to every client from Tidy, or log one you sent another way, so follow-ups start on time. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/submit-a-bid Section: How to use Tidy ## Email it from Tidy 1. Open the bid's **Bid Form** tab, or click **Submit Bid** on the board. 2. Check the **Scope** and bid value. It is filled in from your proposal if you have one. 3. Leave **Broadcast to all linked clients** on to send each client their own copy. Click **Add contact** for any client with no email. 4. Write the message or click **Generate with AI**. 5. Attach your bid form or proposal and any company documents. 6. Click **Submit Bid**, or **Preview N emails** and confirm. ## Log a bid you sent elsewhere Submitted on a bid portal or by hand? Click **Log your bid instead** (or **Log proposal** on the board). Enter the date, value and notes, and attach the file. ## What happens next The bid moves to **Submitted**, the submission is numbered in the history, and the follow-up schedule starts. Drafts show up on your Hub when it is time to chase. When the client answers, set **Award** to **Won** or **Lost**. If they ask for a new price, set the bid to **Needs Revision** and submit a revision. ## Ask the agent "Draft the submission email for the Harbor School bid." The agent opens the dialog filled in. You review it and send. ## Related - [Bid submission](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-submission) - [Follow up on bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/follow-up-on-bids) --- # Send RFIs > Raise questions from the drawings, send them to every client in one go, and log the answers before bid day. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/send-rfis Section: How to use Tidy ## 1. Set the questions deadline On the bid's **RFIs** tab, set the **Questions due** date from the invite. Tidy counts down to it and reminds you to send drafts in time. ## 2. Draft as you price - From a drawing: right-click the markup or measurement you have a question about and choose **Add to RFI**. A snapshot of that spot is attached. - From the RFIs tab: click **New RFI**. Write one question per RFI. Fill in a **Proposed answer**, the assumption you will price if nobody replies. Clients answer faster when they only have to say yes. ## 3. Send them together 1. Tick the drafts and click **Send**. 2. Choose which clients get them. Each client gets one plain-text email listing all the RFIs. 3. Review each email, then click **Send**. The RFIs get numbers (`RFI-001`, `RFI-002`) and become **Open**. ## 4. Log the answers When a client answers (by email, addendum, phone or portal): 1. Open the RFI. 2. Under **Official response**, enter the answer and its **Source**, and attach the addendum if there is one. 3. Save, then **Close RFI**. Tick **Client replied** on the sent email so Tidy stops drafting chasers. ## 5. Let Tidy chase Unanswered RFIs get a polite follow-up draft after 3 business days, or 2 days before questions are due. Approve them with your other [follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups). ## Ask the agent - "Read the RCPs and specs for this bid and draft RFIs for anything that conflicts, each with a proposed answer." - "Record the answer to RFI-004 from Addendum 2: ceiling height is 9 ft." - "Which RFIs on my bids are still open?" The agent can draft and record, but sending is always your click. ## Related - [RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis) --- # Follow up on bids > Approve AI-drafted follow-ups in a few clicks, set the cadence, and close the loop when the client answers. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/follow-up-on-bids Section: How to use Tidy ## Turn it on (admins) 1. Switch to Agent mode and open **Skills & Plugins > Plugins**. 2. Make sure **Bid Follow-ups** is on, with **Background** on for scheduled drafts. 3. Set the **Cadence**, the number of days between follow-ups on a bid. The default is 21. 4. Optional: turn on the **Weekly Follow-Up Opportunities Report** in **Admin > Settings > Reports** so the team gets a Friday email with an **Approve draft emails** button. ## Approve drafts 1. Open **My Hub** and look at **Pending Follow-Ups**, or click **Approve draft emails** in the weekly email. 2. Click a draft. Fix anything you want. Edits save as you type. 3. Click **Approve & send**. With several drafts, **Approve all** sends them in a row. ## Draft one now On the bid's **Messages** tab, click **New Message**, then **Generate follow-up with AI**. Or right-click the bid and choose **Generate follow-up**. ## When the client answers - Won or lost: set **Award** on the bid. Lost bids close, and their unsent drafts are removed. - They want a new number: set the bid to **Needs Revision**, revise the proposal and submit again. ## Tips - Drafts learn from your sent follow-ups that got replies, so a good first few make the rest better. - Want a different tone? Edit the drafts you approve. The drafter picks up your wording over time. ## Related - [Follow-ups and declines](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) - [Set up weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/set-up-weekly-reports) --- # Use records to run your pipeline > Build a shared tracking sheet for every bid, publish it to the team, and use it as a work queue for agents. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/use-records Section: How to use Tidy ## Build your sheet 1. Open **My Hub > Records**. There is a row for every bid in progress. 2. Click **+ Add column** and add what you track, for example: - **Opportunity Data > Due Date** and **Assignee** to see them beside your columns. - A **Dropdown** called "Stage" with To do, Takeoff, Pricing, Review, Ready. - A **Number** called "Hours" with the unit "hrs". - A **Function** called "Labour cost" with `={Hours}*95`. 3. Fill cells like a spreadsheet. Paste from Excel, drag to fill, [[Ctrl]] + [[Z]] to undo. ## Add views Click **+** above the grid and add a **Board** grouped by Stage to drag bids through your process, or a **Calendar** on Due Date. ## Share it with the team Open the view's menu and click **Publish**. Admins publish at once. Members send a request that an admin approves. The record then shows under **Published Records** for everyone, and edits are live for all. ## Use it as an agent work queue A record is the simplest way to give an agent a batch of work and see the results in one place. 1. Add an input column the agent reads (such as "Stage" = To do) and output columns it fills (such as "Spec notes" and "Questions"). 2. Ask the Tidy agent, or your own connected agent: "For each bid in my Pipeline record where Stage is To do, read the specs, write the ceiling system in Spec notes, list unclear items in Questions, then set Stage to Review." 3. Review the board. Turn questions into RFIs and move bids along. Run the same request on a schedule from your own connected agent, and the record stays current without anyone opening Tidy. > [!note] > The agent writes cells in your own columns and can add columns. It cannot create views, publish records or delete columns. Those stay with you. ## Related - [Records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/records) - [Connect your own agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent) --- # Set up weekly reports > Send your team a Monday roadmap, a Wednesday list of loose ends and a Friday follow-up list. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/set-up-weekly-reports Section: How to use Tidy You need to be an admin. 1. Open **Admin > Settings > Reports**. 2. On **Weekly Bid Roadmap Report**, switch **Enabled** on. Keep Monday at 7:00 AM or change it. 3. Under **Recipients**, add your estimators from **Team**, and type any other email (such as an owner's) and press [[Enter]]. 4. Click **Save**, then **Send test report now** to see one in your inbox. 5. Repeat for **Weekly Unresolved Bids Report** (Wednesday) and **Weekly Follow-Up Opportunities Report** (Friday). > [!warning] > Times are Pacific time (America/Vancouver). Convert from your own time zone. ## Which ones to use | If you want to | Turn on | | --- | --- | | Start the week knowing what is due | Weekly Bid Roadmap Report | | Catch invites nobody decided on and alerts nobody handled | Weekly Unresolved Bids Report | | Keep follow-ups moving | Weekly Follow-Up Opportunities Report | ## Related - [Weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports) --- # Get the most out of the Tidy agent > How to give the agent the right context, set it up to work your way, and prompts that work for bids, takeoff, RFIs, budgets, leveling and tasks. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/work-with-the-tidy-agent Section: How to use Tidy The agent does its best work when it knows which bid you mean, has read the files, and knows how your company works. This guide covers all three, then gives prompts for everyday jobs. ## 1. Point it at the right thing - **Pin the bid.** Click **+** in the chat box and **Pin an opportunity**, or click **Open in Agent** on a bid. The agent starts with that bid's details and file list. - **Paste an agent token.** Click **Copy agent token** on any page and paste it in. The agent opens exactly that bid, drawing page, budget or proposal. See [Agent tokens](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens). - **Attach what you have.** Drop in the invite email, a quote PDF or a screenshot. It reads images as well as text. - **Work beside the drawing.** In a workspace, click **Agent** to chat with the sheet open. ## 2. Let it read the documents first On a new bid, start with "Ingest all files on this bid". The agent indexes the drawings and specs so later answers are fast and come with page citations you can click. ## 3. Teach it how you work | Tool | Use it for | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | Memory | Facts and standing preferences | "Remember: we carry 10% waste on ceiling tile and 5% on grid." | | Projects | A folder of chats with standing instructions, a linked bid, knowledge files and memory | A project for a large hospital job with its spec book and your scope notes | | Skills | Step-by-step procedures the agent loads when they fit | "Our ACT takeoff checklist" or "How we write exclusions" | Click **Draft with the agent** under **Skills** and it interviews you, then writes the skill for you to review. Admins can publish skills and memory to the whole company. ## 4. Choose how much it asks Use the mode menu beside **+** in the chat box: - **Manual** while you are getting to know it. - **Accept Edits** for most daily work: it reads freely and asks before changes. - **Auto Mode** when you trust a routine task. Sending email and proposals always waits for you. Fine-tune each action in **Skills & Plugins > Permissions**. See [Agent permissions](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions). ## Prompts that work **Pipeline** - "What is due this week, and who is on each?" - "Which Undecided invites are due in under 10 days? Summarize the scope of each in one line." - "Move the Riverside bid due date to the 24th and add a comment that the client extended it." **Reading the documents** - "Summarize the invite for this bid: scope, due date, site walk, bonding and insurance." - "What ceiling systems does the spec call for? Cite the pages." - "Find the finish schedule and list every room with ACT." **Takeoff** - "Set up workspaces for this drawing set." - "Take off all 2x2 ACT on A-201 to A-204 using the legend on A-001." - "What did you skip in that run, and why?" **RFIs** - "Draft RFIs for anything unclear about ceiling heights, each with a proposed answer." - "Record the answer to RFI-003 from Addendum 1." **Budget and leveling** - "Build a budget from the accepted takeoff using our standard assemblies." - "Enter the prices from this supplier quote on the budget." (Attach the PDF.) - "Add these three sub quotes to the drywall package and tell me who covers the full scope." - "Push the budget to the draft proposal." **Proposals and follow-ups** - "Create a proposal from the budget with our standard terms, addressed to both clients." - "Draft a follow-up for every submitted bid with no reply in 3 weeks." **Tasks and records** - "Turn the action items from this email into tasks linked to this bid." - "Fill the Spec notes column in my Pipeline record for every Accepted bid." **Help with Tidy itself** - "How do I level sub quotes in Tidy?" - "Why can't I see the Add With Agent tab?" The agent looks up these docs to answer how-to questions, and links you to the page it used. ## Keep chats healthy - One chat per job keeps answers focused. Use **Projects** to group them. - When the **Context** meter turns amber, click **Compact** to summarize older turns. - Thumbs up or down under an answer tells the Tidy team what worked. ## Related - [Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent) - [Skills and plugins](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/skills-and-plugins) - [Connect your own agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent) --- # Connect your own agent > Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or another assistant in five minutes, and set it up to work safely. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent Section: How to use Tidy Connecting your own assistant is free on every plan. It signs in as you and can only see and do what you can. ## Connect 1. In Tidy, open **Integrations** (sidebar, under **System**) and copy the server URL: `https://services.automatedconstruction.io/mcp`. 2. In your assistant, add a custom connector (Claude: **Settings > Connectors > Add custom connector**) with that URL. Leave Client ID and Secret empty. 3. Sign in on Tidy's page and click **Allow**. 4. Ask: "Which of my Tidy bids are due this week?" Steps for each assistant are on [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server). ## Set it up well - **Keep per-tool approval on** in your assistant until you trust it. Its approval prompt counts as your OK for Tidy actions set to Ask. - **Block what it should never do.** In Tidy, open Agent mode, **Skills & Plugins > Permissions**, and set those actions to **Block**. Blocks apply to connected agents too. - **Give it context with tokens.** Paste a **Copy agent token** code into the chat and the assistant opens that exact bid or drawing page. - **Point it at these docs.** Your assistant can call `search_tidy_docs` and `read_tidy_doc`, or read [llms.txt](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/llms.txt). ## Ideas for your own agent - **A morning brief**: a scheduled run that lists what is due, overdue tasks and open notifications. - **Inbox to pipeline**: forward an invite to your assistant and have it create the opportunity and tasks. - **Records as a work queue**: have it work through a record's To do rows and fill the results. See [Use records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/use-records). - **Takeoff without a tab**: when your admin turns on headless takeoff in **Admin > Settings > Agent access**, ask for a takeoff and accept the results later in the workspace. ## What stays in Tidy Billing always happens in Tidy, by a person. So do proposal sends, RFI sends, follow-ups and declines. The one exception is the **Run a Tidy automation** action, which can send a bid submission or vendor quote request after your assistant approves it. Set it to **Block** in **Permissions** if you want a person to send every email. ## Related - [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server) - [Agent permissions](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions) --- # Manage your team > Invite estimators, change roles, reset passwords, sign someone out everywhere, and deactivate or delete a user. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-your-team Section: How to use Tidy You need to be an admin. Everything below happens in **Admin > Team Management**. ## Invite someone 1. Click **Invite User**. 2. Enter their **Full Name** and **Email**. Any email domain works. 3. Pick a **Role**: Estimator or Admin. 4. Click **Send invite**. Tidy emails them an invitation. They open the link and choose their own password. If the link expires, they can use **Forgot password?** on the login page with the same email. > [!tip] > Someone who signs up at the Tidy sign-up page with your company's verified email domain joins your company as an Estimator automatically. ## Change a role Open the row menu (**...**) and click **Change to Admin** or **Change to Estimator**. ## Reset a password 1. Open the row menu and click **Reset Password**. 2. Type a temporary password (8 characters or more) or click **Generate**. 3. Click **Reset Password**, then **Copy** the password and send it to the person yourself. Tidy does not email it. They must pick a new password the next time they sign in. ## Sign someone out of every device Open the row menu and click **Sign out all devices**. Use it for a lost laptop, a shared computer or someone leaving. Their devices stop working within the hour. Tidy has no limit on how many devices a person uses. ## Deactivate or delete - **Deactivate** stops the person signing in and signs them out everywhere. Their work stays. **Reactivate** undoes it. - **Delete** is permanent. Their bids become unassigned. Their activity, files and markups stay. Their personal tasks, records columns and agent chats are deleted. You cannot deactivate or delete yourself, and Tidy will not delete the last active admin. ## Related - [Admin console](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/admin-console) - [Manage billing and seats](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-billing) --- # Manage billing and seats > Step by step for admins. Upgrade from Free, buy seats, choose who gets one, and cancel or undo. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-billing Section: How to use Tidy You need to be an admin. If you are not, use **Ask my admin** on any upgrade prompt. It opens an email to your admins asking them to upgrade your seat. ## Upgrade from Free 1. Open **Admin > Billing**. 2. Click **Upgrade**. 3. Pick **Monthly** or **Annual, save about 17%**. 4. Click **Upgrade to Pro** or **Upgrade to Max**. Stripe checkout opens with your company already attached. 5. Set the number of seats and pay. 6. You come back to the Billing page. Your plan updates within a few seconds. > [!warning] > Always upgrade from inside Tidy. A payment started anywhere else is not tied to your company, so your plan will not change. ## Choose who has a paid seat 1. Open **Admin > Team Management**. 2. Look at the **Seat** column: **Paid seat**, **Unpaid** or **Seat ends** with a date. 3. Open the row menu (**...**) for a person and click **Give paid seat** or **Take back paid seat**. If every seat is in use, Tidy says "Every paid seat is in use". Buy more with **Manage billing and seats** on the Billing page. ## Change plan or seat count 1. Open **Admin > Billing**. 2. Click **Switch to Pro/Max** or **Manage billing and seats**. 3. Make the change in the Stripe customer portal. Upgrades apply now. Downgrades apply at your next renewal. ## Cancel, and undo 1. Open **Admin > Billing** and click **Cancel plan** at the bottom of the plan card. 2. Read the summary and click **Cancel plan** again. Click **Keep Pro** to back out. 3. Your plan stays active until the end date. A banner shows the date and an **Undo cancellation** button. 4. Changed your mind? Click **Undo cancellation** any time before the end date. ## Related - [Billing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/billing) - [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits) --- # Opportunities > Your company's bid board. Every invite you are bidding or deciding on, with statuses, assignees, due dates, filters and exports. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities Section: Features **Opportunities** is your company's bid board. It lists every project your company has been invited to bid, with who owns it, when it is due and where it stands. It replaces the shared bid spreadsheet. Everyone in the company sees every opportunity, and the **My Opportunities** switch narrows the list to yours. Tidy uses "opportunity" and "bid" for the same thing. ## Where to find it Sidebar: **Opportunities** (under **Bidding**). ## The board - **+ Opportunity** in the top bar adds one by hand or from a pasted email. See [Bring in bid invites](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake). - **Personal Stats** shows your active opportunities, what is due this week and your win rate. Admins also see company figures across the top. - The search box, labelled **Find**, filters by name. - **Export** downloads exactly what the current tab shows, as a branded PDF or an Excel file. - The strip under the heading shows your company's bids address. Forward invites to it and they land here. ### Tabs | Tab | What is in it | | --- | --- | | Undecided | New invites nobody has decided on yet. This is your intake queue. | | Accepted | Opportunities your company is bidding | | Submitted | Bids you have sent, with follow-up dates and status | | Needs Revision | The client asked for a revised number after you submitted | | Won | Bids you won. They stay on the board as active work. | | Closed | Declined and lost bids. A banner says how long until they are deleted for good. | ### Views Switch between **Table**, **Stages** (a kanban board) and **Calendar**. Tidy remembers your choice in this browser. ### Filters Each column header (Assignee, Name, Location, Client, Created, Due Date, Source) opens a menu to sort and filter that column. Add a **Due date range** and the **My Opportunities** switch on top. **Clear filters** resets them. "My" opportunities are ones where you are the lead estimator or on the bid's team. ## Statuses Each opportunity has three statuses. | Status | Values | What they mean | | --- | --- | --- | | Acceptance | Undecided, Accepted, Submitted, Needs Revision, Declined | Whether you are bidding it and whether it has gone out. Declined closes it. | | Award | NA, Won, Lost | The result. Lost closes it. | | Follow-up | Awaiting Reply, Draft Pending Approval, Outcome Received | Where you are in chasing the client for a result | You cannot mark a bid Submitted without recording the submission. Choosing Submitted opens the log dialog. ## Actions on a row | Tab | Buttons | | --- | --- | | Undecided | **Bidding** (accept) and **Decline** | | Accepted, Needs Revision | **Submit Bid** and **Log proposal** | | Closed | **Restore** | - Click a row to open a quick view on the right, with the status, assignee, due date, scope, files, team, chats and comments. **Open bid** opens the full page. - Click the name, or [[Ctrl]] + click for a new tab, to go straight to the [bid page](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-detail). - Right-click a row for every action: accept, decline, assign, submit, log a proposal, set the award, open in Agent, generate a follow-up, copy a link, **Copy agent token** and archive. - Tick several rows to **Assign**, **Accept**, **Decline** or **Archive** them together. ## Keeping the board clean Admins set these in **Admin > Settings > Main**: - **Auto-Delete Policies**: how many days before undecided, declined, lost and archived opportunities are removed for good. - **Due Date Auto-Adjust**: show every due date a few days early so the team works to an internal deadline. The client's real date is kept on the bid. Past-due Undecided invites are archived automatically. Admins can restore archived bids from **Admin > Archived Opportunities**. ## What the agent can do The agent can search the pipeline, list what is due soon, summarize totals, update a bid (assignee, due date, status, value, follow-up dates, name, location, scope), manage the team, add comments and archive or restore bids. Declining always goes through the decline dialog, so a person sends or skips the email. Over MCP these work with no Tidy tab open. > [!agent] > Useful tools: `search_bids`, `get_bid`, `list_bids_due_soon`, `update_bid`, `add_bid_comment`. Over MCP: `bids_update`, `bids_update_many`, `bids_archive`, `bids_restore`, `bid_comments_add`. Status names such as "Needs Revision" are accepted as plain text. ## Plan limits The Free plan includes 10 opportunities per company in total, ever. Deleted ones still count. Pro and Max are unlimited. See [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits). ## Related - [Assign and claim bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/assign-and-claim-bids) - [Decline a bid](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/decline-a-bid) - [The bid page](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-detail) --- # Bring in bid invites > Three ways invites get into Tidy. Forward them to your bids address, paste them for the agent to read, or type them in. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake Section: Features Every opportunity starts as an invite from a client. Tidy gives you three ways to get it in. New opportunities land on **Opportunities > Undecided**, unassigned, until someone decides to bid. ## 1. Forward the invite Forward the invite email to your bids address: ``` bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io ``` The address also shows on the Opportunities page and in the **+ Opportunity** dialog, with a copy button. Tidy then: 1. Checks that it came from someone at your company. It recognizes your account email and your company's email domains. 2. Checks that it is really a bid invite and not a duplicate. 3. Reads the project name, client, contact, due date and time, site walk, scope, location and source link. 4. Matches the client by the sender's domain, or creates the client and contact. 5. Adds an **Undecided** opportunity and saves the attachments to its Files. 6. Replies to you to confirm. If the email was not a bid, the reply says it was not imported. > [!tip] > Set up a rule in Gmail or Outlook that forwards invites from bid networks and regular clients to your bids address. Then invites file themselves. When a client replies on a bid's email thread, the reply is logged on that bid's **Messages** tab, whoever sent it. ## 2. Paste it for the agent 1. On Opportunities, click **+ Opportunity**. 2. Open the **Add With Agent** tab. 3. Paste the invite email ([[Ctrl]] + [[V]] anywhere on the tab). Add files if you have them. 4. Choose the assignee and status, then click **Create with agent**. 5. Check the review window. Click any field to fix it, and add or change clients and contacts. The first client is the primary one. 6. Click **Confirm & Create bid**. If Tidy finds a likely duplicate, it offers **Open existing opportunity** or **Create anyway**. You can also ask the Tidy agent in chat: "Create an opportunity from this invite" with the email or documents attached. ## 3. Type it in Use the **Manual entry** tab of **+ Opportunity**. Only the project name is required. You can add the due date and time, phase, sealed bid, site walk, location, source link, client, assignee, status, the original email and files. ## Plugin switch Forwarding and **Add With Agent** both use the **New Bid Creation** plugin. If an admin turns it off, forwarded emails are not processed and the **Add With Agent** tab is greyed out. See [Skills and plugins](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/skills-and-plugins). ## Set up by the Tidy team Two more intake options are set up per company on request: - **Email & Bid Syncing** connects your company's own estimating inbox so invites and vendor replies come in on their own. Click **Request access** on its row in **Skills & Plugins > Plugins**. - **Sheet Import** brings opportunities in from a Google Sheet estimating list. ## Limits - The Free plan includes 10 opportunities per company in total. At the limit, forwarded invites are not added and you get a reply saying so. - Reading an invite with AI counts toward the daily AI limit. See [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits). ## Not available yet Tidy does not connect to bid networks such as BuildingConnected, PlanHub or ConstructConnect. Forward their invite emails instead. You can save a client's portal links on the client's page. ## Related - [Bring in bid invites (guide)](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/bring-in-bid-invites) - [Opportunities](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities) - [Clients](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/clients) --- # The bid page > One opportunity's full page. Details, team, files, vendors, RFIs, budget, proposal, bid form and every email, in tabs. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-detail Section: Features Every opportunity has its own page with everything about the job in one place. Open it by clicking an opportunity's name anywhere in Tidy. ## The header - The client (click to open the client card), the location and the invite date. - **Sealed** and phase badges, and a link to the original posting. - The action buttons for the current stage: **Bidding** and **Decline**, **Submit Bid** and **Log proposal**, **Send Follow-up**, or **Restore**. - The archive button (trash icon), which asks to confirm. Under it, a status strip shows the **Bid due** date and time, the **Acceptance** and **Award** statuses, the **Lead estimator** and the **Next follow-up** date. Click any of them to change it. ## Tabs | Tab | What it holds | | --- | --- | | Overview | Project details, clients, the source email, team, agent chats, notifications, follow-up dates and the activity timeline | | Files | The bid's files in folders, plus its workspaces | | Vendors | Suppliers and subs quoting this bid. **Request Quote** emails them. | | RFIs | Questions to the client, with an open count. See [RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis). | | Budget | A summary of the bid's budget and **Open budget** | | Proposal | The bid's proposals and their sent revisions | | Bid Form | Submit or log the bid, and the submission history | | Messages | Every email in and out for this bid. See [Messages and email](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/messages). | ## Overview - **Project details**: click the pencil to edit the name, scope of work, location, due date and time, **Phase**, sealed bid delivery and **Site walk**. - **Clients**: every client on the bid, each with its contact. The primary client comes first. - **Source**: the original invite email and link. - **Team**: the lead and the other people on the bid. **Add member** adds teammates, who get an email. - **Agent chats**: your chats about this bid. **New chat** starts one with the bid pinned. - **Notifications**: open alerts on the bid. **Add** flags something for the team. - **Activity**: a timeline of status changes, assignments, emails and comments. Type in **Add a comment...** to leave a note for the team. Phases: Conceptual / ROM, Budget (SD), Design Development (DD), Design Assist, GMP, Hard Bid, Design-Build, Value Engineering. ## Files - Make folders, upload by drag and drop, move files, download a folder as a ZIP and delete. - **Share all files** sends the files to someone. See [File sharing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/file-sharing). - Click a PDF to view it. Takeoff happens in a workspace, so select drawings and click **Add to workspace**. - The **Workspaces** view lists this bid's workspaces and **New workspace**. ## Lead and team The **lead estimator** owns the bid. Click **Lead estimator** to open **Assign Estimator**. The **team** is everyone else working on it. Both count as "mine" on Opportunities, the Hub and follow-ups. Assigning someone else sends them an email. Assigning yourself does not. ## On a phone or in Agent mode In Agent mode the bid page opens as a tab beside the chat. On a phone, bid pages use the desktop layout. ## What the agent can do Pin the bid in a chat (or click **Open in Agent**) and the agent starts with its details and files. It can answer questions about the drawings and specs with page citations, update the bid, manage its team and comments, and work on its RFIs, budget and proposal. ## Related - [Opportunities](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/opportunities) - [Assign and claim bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/assign-and-claim-bids) --- # My Hub > Your home page. Your own bids as a calendar, board or table, your tasks, notifications, follow-ups to approve, records and statistics. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub Section: Features **My Hub** is your personal home page and where Tidy opens after you sign in. It shows only your work: the bids where you are the lead or on the team, your tasks and the alerts on your bids. ## Where to find it Sidebar: **My Hub** (under **Home**). It has three tabs: **Main**, **Records** and **Statistics**. ## Main - **Summary bar**: total bids, total contract value, active pipeline, won and lost value, win rate and follow-ups due, for the date range you pick. - **Pending Follow-Ups**: AI-drafted chase emails waiting for you. Click one to edit it and **Preview & send**. See [Follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups). - **My Opportunities**: your bids as a **Table**, **Stages** board or **Calendar**. It opens on the calendar's week view. - **My Tasks**, **Notifications** and **Activity** down the right side. ### Stages board Columns for Undecided, Accepted, Submitted and Needs Revision, plus **Won** and **Lost** drop zones. Drag a card to change its status. Dropping on Won or Lost asks for a close date and gives you a few seconds to undo. ### Calendar - Tabs for **Due Date**, **Follow-up** and **Submitted** dates, in **Month** or **Week** layout. - Drag a chip to another day to move the due date or follow-up date. - Site walks and your own dated tasks show on the Due Date tab. ### Notifications Open alerts on your bids, most urgent first: addenda, date changes, scope changes, overdue bids and your overdue tasks. Click one to see the email or details. **Resolve** clears it. **Send to agent** opens a new Agent chat with the alert filled in, ready for you to send. See [Notifications](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/notifications). ### Activity Your recent comments and file uploads. ## Records A spreadsheet of every bid in progress, with your own columns and saved views. See [Records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/records). ## Statistics Stat cards, a status ring and monthly charts for your bids, with **Export PDF**. Admins get a **Company view** switch with company-wide figures and a leaderboard by estimator and client. ## On a phone Opening Tidy on a phone goes to Tidy Mobile, which covers the Agent and Workspaces. Add `?view=desktop` to the address to use the full site. ## Related - [Tasks and pinned notes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tasks-and-notes) - [Manage tasks and your calendar](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-tasks-and-calendar) --- # Tasks and pinned notes > Your private to-do list on the Hub, with due dates, notes, links to bids, floating pinned notes and overdue reminders. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tasks-and-notes Section: Features **My Tasks** is your own to-do list on the [Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub). Tasks are private. No teammate, and no admin, can see them. ## Add a task 1. On the Hub, find **My Tasks**. 2. Click **Add Task**, type a title and press [[Enter]]. 3. Set a **Due date** if it has one. Overdue dates show red and today's show amber. Tasks are sorted by due date, soonest first. Tasks with no date go last. Tick the box to complete one. The **Open** and **Completed** tabs switch between them. ## Notes Click the chevron on a task to open its note. Notes are rich text and save as you type. You can paste screenshots into them. ## Task menu | Action | What it does | | --- | --- | | Edit Title | Rename the task (or double-click the title) | | Pin Note | Turn the note into a floating window | | Link to Opportunity | Tie the task to a bid | | Unlink Bid | Remove that link | | Delete | Remove the task | ## Pinned notes A pinned note floats over every page in Tidy, so your checklist stays in view while you work. You can pin up to 6. Each has a due date picker in its title bar. In Chrome and Edge you can pop one out into its own window. Pinned notes follow your account to other computers. ## Dated tasks on the calendar Tasks with a due date show on the Hub calendar's **Due Date** tab beside your bids. ## Overdue reminders When a task passes its due date, Tidy adds a private **Task** notice to your Hub notifications, with **Complete** and **Dismiss** buttons. It does not send an email. ## What the agent can do The agent can list, create, update, complete and delete your tasks, write and replace notes, and pin or unpin them. Over MCP this works with no Tidy tab open, so a connected assistant can keep your list up to date from a meeting summary. Try: - "Add a task to call the client about the ceiling heights on Friday." - "What tasks do I have due this week?" - "Turn the open questions from this email into tasks linked to this bid." > [!note] > The agent only manages tasks when you ask it to. It does not watch your list and add tasks on its own. Overdue notices are the only automatic part. > [!agent] > Tools: `tasks_list`, `tasks_get`, `tasks_create`, `tasks_update`, `tasks_replace_note`, `tasks_delete`, `tasks_pin`, `tasks_unpin`. Tasks carry `TSK-` tokens for agent use. ## Related - [Manage tasks and your calendar](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-tasks-and-calendar) - [My Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub) --- # Clients > The companies that invite you to bid and the people at them, with bid portals, history, win rate and email. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/clients Section: Features Clients are the companies that invite you to bid: general contractors, owners, developers, architects and property managers. Each client has contacts. Every opportunity links to one or more clients, each with a point of contact. ## Where to find it Sidebar: **Clients** (under **Network**). ## The Clients page - **Add Client** opens a form with **Name**, **Client type**, **Location**, **Web Domain** and contacts. - Search by name, location or contact, filter by type, and sort by recent activity, name, most wins or most opportunities. - **Show blocked** shows clients you have blocked. - Each card shows the number of bids, wins and the win rate. Click a card to open the client: | Column | What it holds | | --- | --- | | Bid Portals and team | Links to where this client posts bids (BuildingConnected, PlanHub, Procore and others), with notes. Never store passwords here. Plus the client's contacts. | | Activity Feed | The client's projects and interactions | | Analytics | Bids and projects over time | **Send Message** emails one or more of the client's contacts. Link it to an opportunity so it is logged on that bid's **Messages** tab. A message sent without a linked opportunity is not logged anywhere. ## The web domain matters Tidy uses the client's web domain to match forwarded invites to the right client. Add it whenever you can. ## Blocked clients Block a client you never bid for. New invites from them stay out of your Undecided list and the weekly unresolved report. Bids you already accepted stay visible. ## Several clients on one bid On a bid's Overview, the **Clients** card adds more clients, picks the primary one and sets each one's contact. Proposals, submissions and broadcast emails go to each client separately. ## Who can do what Anyone can add and edit clients and contacts. Only admins can delete a client. Admins also manage clients in **Admin > Settings > Clients**. ## What the agent can do The agent can search clients, show bid and win stats per client, and create or update clients, contacts and portal links. Over MCP it can also link clients to bids and set the primary client. It cannot delete a client permanently. > [!agent] > Tools: `search_clients`, `client_bid_stats`, `clients_get`, `clients_create`, `clients_update`, `client_contacts_create`, `client_portals_add`, `bid_clients_link`, `bid_clients_set_primary`. ## Related - [Bring in bid invites](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-intake) - [Vendors](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/vendors) --- # Workspaces > A members-only takeoff room for one project. Holds the drawing sheets, every measurement and markup, observations and the AI takeoff queue. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces Section: Features A workspace is where takeoff happens in Tidy. It belongs to one project (bid) and holds a list of sheets from that project's drawing PDFs, plus every measurement and markup drawn on them. Only the people you add can open it, unless an admin opens it to the whole company. Your budget reads its quantities from workspaces, so the numbers you measure here are the numbers you price. ## Where to find it - Sidebar: **Workspaces** (under **Home**). A badge counts drawings teammates added since your last visit. - From a bid: the **Files** tab has a **Workspaces** view, and the bid's right-click menu has **Open workspace**. - Clicking a plain file anywhere else opens a read-only preview with a **Start takeoff in a workspace** card. ## The Workspaces page - Tabs **All**, **Mine** (only you can open it) and **Shared** (more than one person can). - A search box that matches project, client, workspace, file and people names, and a sort by recent activity, bid due date or project name. - One collapsible heading per project. Each card shows the drawing cover with its sheet count, who shared it, members, your access (**Can edit** or **View only**), its files and when it was last updated. ## Inside a workspace The bar across the top holds: - **Co-work** (show the app sidebar) and **Agent** (open the chat beside the drawing). - The workspace name. Click it to rename. - **Drawing**, **Project Details**, **Budget** and **Proposal** buttons, which switch the pane to that page of the bid. - The save state, **AI Takeoffs Pending**, **Download**, **Activity**, the members, **Share** and **Copy agent token**. The drawer on the right has tabs: | Tab | What it holds | | --- | --- | | Sheets | The Sheet List: every sheet with its markups and measurements grouped under it | | Details | Detail, section and elevation callouts printed on the sheet, linked to the sheets they point at | | Observations | Issues raised on the drawings, with assignees, due dates, photos and numbered pins | | Review and Revisions | Shown after you load a revised set: carried markups to check, and each sheet's history | | AI Takeoff | Measurements the agent proposed, waiting for you to accept or delete | ## Sheets A sheet is one page of a drawing PDF. Tidy reads each page's sheet number, title and revision from the title blocks when the drawing is uploaded. If a value is not clear, Tidy leaves it blank instead of guessing. You can always rename a sheet: double-click it in the Sheet List, or open **Sheet info...** and click **Edit**. Your value is never overwritten. - The **Sheets** button opens a grid of every sheet with thumbnails. From there you can select sheets to **Download**, **Set scale** on many at once, or **Ask AI** about them. - **Delete** on a sheet rules it out of the workspace. The page is hidden but its markups are kept, and **Restore** brings it back. - Drag to reorder. Cut and Paste move sheets. - The **Add** menu beside the Sheets search has **Upload revised sheets...**, **Insert sheets from another file...** and **Replace with a newer page...**. ### Revised sheets and addenda Use **Upload revised sheets...** for a reissue or addendum. Matching sheets move to the new version with their markups, scale, RFIs and observations, and new pages are added. **Compare** overlays the old and new sheet (red and blue, side by side or swipe) and **Quantity changes** shows how the takeoff moved. ## Members and access | Access | Can do | | --- | --- | | Can edit | Measure, mark up, manage sheets, change who has access | | View only | Look, search and download. Editing is blocked by the database, not just hidden. | Click **Share** and use the **Internal members** tab to add teammates. Admins also see **All company**, which gives everyone in the company edit access, including people who join later. Only the person who created a workspace, or an admin who is a member, can delete it. ## One workspace per discipline When the Tidy agent sets up a drawing set, it makes one workspace per discipline (Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical and so on) plus a General workspace for cover sheets. You can organize your own workspaces however you like. ## What the agent can do The agent can list, create and open workspaces, add drawings, rename, reorder and rule out sheets, search sheets, manage observations and compare revisions. Over MCP these work with no Tidy tab open. ## Related - [Set up a workspace](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/set-up-a-workspace) - [Takeoff tools](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools) - [AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/ai-takeoff) --- # Takeoff tools > Every measuring and markup tool in the workspace viewer, how scale works, subjects, dimensions, the Markups List and exports. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools Section: Features The takeoff viewer lives inside a [workspace](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces). It runs in your browser, works on large drawing sets, and saves every edit as you go. ## The tool bar The floating tool bar on the left of the drawing has two rows. Hover it to see the labels. **Markups** | Tool | What it does | | --- | --- | | Select | The resting tool. [[Esc]] always comes back here. Choose a **Mouse** or **Crosshair** cursor. | | Select text | Select and copy text printed on the drawing | | Highlight, Freehand, Text, Cloud, Rectangle | Standard markups | | Legend | A live table of quantities placed on the sheet | | Callout | Right-click any markup or measurement and choose **Add callout** | **Takeoff** | Tool | What it does | | --- | --- | | Scale | Set or calibrate the sheet's scale | | Area | Click corners to outline a space. Gives area and perimeter. Press and drag on empty space for a quick rectangle. | | Length | Click points along a run. Finish with [[Enter]] or a double-click. | | Count | Click once per item | | Magic Fill | Click inside a room. Tidy traces the walls around it and saves the area. | | Detect rooms | Traces every room that has a room-number tag on the sheet in one go | | Symbol Sweep | Box one clean example symbol. Tidy finds the matches on the page, including rotated and mirrored ones, and you click **Commit** to count them. | | Cut Out | Subtract an opening from an area | | Dimension | Draw a dimension line. It is a note and adds nothing to totals. | | Find | Search text on the drawing ([[Ctrl]] + [[F]]) | | Observations | Show or hide observation pins | > [!tip] > Magic Fill and Detect rooms work best on vector PDFs (drawings exported from CAD). Detect rooms skips spaces with no room tag, like corridors, so use Magic Fill on those. When a trace would leak or the linework is too dense, Tidy refuses rather than saving a bad shape. ## Scale Scale is set per sheet and shared with everyone in the workspace. 1. Click **Scale**, or the **No scale** badge. 2. Pick a **Preset** (for example 1/8" = 1'-0") or enter a **Custom** scale. If the sheet prints its scale, a **Detected on sheet** button fills it in for you. 3. Or click **Calibrate**, click two points of a known length, and type the real distance. 4. Click **Apply Scale**. If you start measuring with Area, Length, Cut Out, Magic Fill or Dimension on a sheet with no scale, Tidy stops you and asks for the scale first. Count and Symbol Sweep do not need a scale. When the agent sets a scale, an amber **Agent-set scale, check it** notice appears. Open it to see the evidence, then **Confirm scale** or **Set it myself**. ## Subjects Every measurement has a **Subject**, such as "ACT-1" or "GWB ceiling". Other takeoff tools call this a condition. Subjects give shapes their colour and group the totals, and your budget links to them. When you arm a tool, a properties bar shows **Next area** (or length, or count). Set the Subject, colour, unit and dimensions there before you draw. **Set as default** remembers those settings for that tool. ## Height, depth and thickness Add **Dimensions** to a measurement to get more quantities from the same shape. | Shape | With dimensions you also get | | --- | --- | | Area | Volume = area x (height + depth) | | Length | Wall area = length x (height + depth), and volume with a thickness | | Count | Vertical length = count x (height + depth), for example 40 piles x 30 ft = 1,200 ft | Values accept `9`, `9 ft`, `6"`, `9'-6"` or `2.5 m`. ## The Markups List The panel at the bottom lists every measurement and markup with its type, subject, page, area, length, label, author and date. Totals show even when it is collapsed. - Click a row to jump to the shape. Double-click a subject or label to edit it. - A sparkle badge marks a shape the AI drew. A robot badge with **Revert** marks a shape someone drew that the agent later changed. - **Recently deleted** lets you restore shapes. ## Saving and undo Every edit shows at once and saves in the background. The save pill says **Saved**, **Saving**, or **Offline** with a count of unsaved edits that sync when you reconnect. [[Ctrl]] + [[Z]] undoes up to 100 steps, even after a reload. Teammates' changes appear live. ## Bluebeam markups There is no import button. Open a PDF that was saved from Bluebeam Revu and Tidy brings in its markups and measurements automatically, with their subjects, colours and scale. Bluebeam dimension markups are not brought in. ## Exports Click **Download** to choose: | Option | What you get | | --- | --- | | Download With Markups | A PDF whose takeoffs and markups open as editable annotations in Bluebeam Revu and Adobe Acrobat | | Download Without Markups | Clean sheets | | Flatten Markup | Markups burned into the page | | Takeoff & Markups (Excel) | One tab per subject, with page, area, length, label, author and date | You can download all sheets, this sheet, or the sheets you selected. ## Keyboard shortcuts | Keys | Action | | --- | --- | | [[Esc]] | Back to Select, clear the selection | | [[Enter]] | Finish an area or length | | [[Delete]] | Delete the selection | | [[Ctrl]] + [[C]] / [[X]] / [[V]] / [[D]] | Copy, cut, paste, duplicate (works across sheets and workspaces) | | [[Ctrl]] + [[Z]], [[Ctrl]] + [[Shift]] + [[Z]] | Undo, redo | | [[H]] or hold [[Space]] | Pan | | [[+]] / [[-]] | Zoom | | [[Ctrl]] + [[2]] | Split the view into two panes | | [[Ctrl]] + [[F]] | Find text | ## Related - [Run a takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff) - [AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/ai-takeoff) - [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget) --- # AI takeoff > Ask the Tidy agent to measure a sheet. Its results land as dashed proposals that an estimator accepts or deletes. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/ai-takeoff Section: Features With AI takeoff, you tell the Tidy agent what to measure and it does the first pass. It reads the sheet, checks the scale, reads finish schedules and notes, traces rooms and counts symbols. Everything it measures lands on the drawing as a **dashed proposal**. Nothing counts in your totals, legends, budget or exports until a person accepts it. ## What it is good at - Ceilings on reflected ceiling plans (acoustical ceiling tile, gypsum and similar), which is where Tidy goes deepest. - Floor finishes by room from a finish schedule, base and transitions. - Counts of tagged devices and symbols. > [!note] > AI takeoff is a first pass for your estimator, not a final number. It works best on vector PDFs. Scanned drawings are weaker. A floor split across a match line is measured sheet by sheet, and the agent tells you to join the seam yourself. ## Start a run 1. Open the workspace. 2. Click **Agent** in the top bar, or open the **AI Takeoff** tab and click **Start AI takeoff**. 3. Optional: in the Sheets grid, select sheets and click **Ask AI**. Mark a finish schedule sheet **Use as reference** so the agent reads it but does not measure it. 4. Tell the agent what to measure, for example "every 2x2 ACT area and the gypsum ceilings in the toilets". 5. Approve the start card. The approval covers that run on that drawing. 6. If the agent proposes a scale, check it and approve. ## Review the results Proposals appear as dashed shapes and as rows in the **AI Takeoff** tab, grouped by page. Each row shows the subject, the room, the quantity and the agent's confidence. - **Accept** a row to make it real. - **Delete** a row you do not want. - **Accept** on a page header accepts every proposal on that page. - Keyboard: [[Enter]] accepts, [[Delete]] deletes, [[Shift]] + [[Enter]] accepts the page. When the list is empty it says **All caught up**. ## On your phone In Tidy Mobile, open the workspace, go to **AI Takeoff** and tap **Start AI takeoff**. Choose target sheets and reference sheets, describe the job and tap **Send to Agent**. The agent keeps working if you close the app, and results wait for you to accept. ## From Claude or ChatGPT A connected agent can run the same takeoff over MCP with no Tidy tab open, when your admin allows it in **Admin > Settings > Agent access**. Results land as the same dashed proposals. See [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server). ## Permissions and plan - Only workspace members with **Can edit** can start a run. - The **Takeoff measurements** permission controls whether the agent may measure. Set it to Block to keep the agent out of takeoff. - AI takeoff uses your Tidy agent allowance (a one-time trial on Free, 20M tokens per seat each month on Pro, up to 250M on Max). Running it from your own connected agent does not use the Tidy agent allowance for the model itself. ## Related - [Run an AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-an-ai-takeoff) - [Takeoff tools](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools) --- # File sharing and activity > Save invites for outside people on a file or a whole bid, and see who opened or downloaded what. Guest access is coming next. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/file-sharing Section: Features You can record who outside your company (a client, a consultant) should see a drawing, and Tidy keeps an activity log of who opened and downloaded each file. > [!warning] > Guest access is not live yet. Invites are saved today, but outside people cannot open files and do not get an email. The dialog says so: "Invites are saved now. Guest access arrives in the next release." ## Save an invite 1. Open a bid and go to the **Files** tab. 2. Open a file's menu and click **Share...**, or click **Share all files**. 3. Type email addresses and pick a level: **Can view**, **Can mark up** or **Full takeoff**. Turn on **Allow download** if they may download. 4. Add a message if you like and send the invite. In a workspace, use **Share > Outside people**. Invites there are scoped to that workspace. ## Activity log Each file has an **Activity** view, and the Files tab has an **Activity** card. It lists opens (with time and pages viewed), downloads and sharing changes, grouped by day. Filter by person, file or event. ## Related - [Workspaces](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces) --- # Tidy Mobile > The phone app for agent chat and workspaces. View sheets, accept AI takeoffs, drop observation pins and hand work to the agent. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-mobile Section: Features Tidy Mobile is the phone version of Tidy. It covers two things: **Agent** chat and **Workspaces**. It is built for looking and handing off, not for measuring. There are no measuring tools on the phone. ## Open it Open [tidy.automatedconstruction.io](https://tidy.automatedconstruction.io) on your phone and sign in. Phones go to the mobile app automatically. To install it, use your browser's **Add to Home Screen**. It follows your light or dark theme and your company colour. To see the full desktop site on a phone, use your browser's "Request desktop site". ## What you can do **Agent tab** - Chat with the Tidy agent, start new chats, pin an opportunity, and answer approval cards. **Workspaces tab** - Browse projects and their workspaces. - Create a workspace and upload a PDF. - Flip through sheets with their markups. - **AI Takeoff**: start a run, then **Accept all** on a page or accept and discard one at a time. - **Observations**: create one with a photo, assignees, due date and priority, and place its pin on the sheet. - **Copy agent token**, **Copy link** and **Open on desktop**. A takeoff you start on the phone keeps running after you close the app. ## What stays on desktop Measuring and markup tools, the Details tab, sharing, exports, budgets, proposals and revision compare. ## Limits Phones will not load a drawing set over 32 MB in the browser. Open those on desktop. View-only members cannot accept, discard or start takeoffs. --- # Budgets > The internal cost model for a bid. Assemblies priced from your libraries and driven by takeoff quantities, with margins, tax and a push to the proposal. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets Section: Features A budget is your internal cost for a bid. It is a list of priced **assemblies**, such as "ACT ceiling: tile, grid and wall angle", "Install crew", "Scissor lift rental" or "Fire-stopping subcontract". Each assembly takes a quantity from your takeoff (or one you type) and prices itself from its parts. Margins turn cost into sell, and **Send to proposal** carries the sell figures into your proposal. The client never sees the budget. ## Where to find it - Sidebar: **Budgets** (under **Home**). Budgets are grouped by project. - On a bid: the **Budget** tab. - In a workspace: the **Budget** button in the top bar. ## How the money flows 1. Measure in a [workspace](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/workspaces). Each measurement has a subject. 2. Link an assembly on the budget to that subject. Its quantity follows the takeoff. 3. The assembly prices itself from its components, at cost. 4. Per-type margins (and labour burden) turn cost into sell. 5. **Send to proposal** writes one proposal line per assembly. 6. Submit the proposal to the client. ## Assembly types | Type | What it is | Its lines are | | --- | --- | --- | | Material | A priced composition, such as ceiling tile and grid | Components | | Labour | A crew and its hours, priced by rate, hours or crew-day | Roles | | Equipment | A rental item, priced by day, week or month | Items | | Subcontract | A package of scope, bought and leveled | Inclusions and bidders | ### Material Each component has a unit, a pack size and pack type, a waste %, whether to round up to whole packs, and a unit or pack price. A preview shows how many packs and dollars a sample quantity comes to. ### Labour Price each role by rate (units per hour), by hours, or by crew-days (days x crew x hours per day). Burden is applied to the whole labour group as a markup. ### Equipment Rate period, rate and number of periods, plus delivery, pickup, operator, fuel, damage waiver and fees. The duration can follow a labour assembly's crew-days. ### Subcontract A package with inclusions, exclusions and a list of bidders whose prices you compare. See [Subcontract leveling](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling). ## Quantities from the takeoff - **Quantities from** in the budget header picks which workspaces feed the budget. You need edit access to a workspace to choose it. - In an assembly, the **Takeoff source** picks the file, the subject and the measurement (area, length, perimeter, volume or count). Or switch to **Manual quantity**. - Formulas can use `{qty}`, `{area}`, `{length}`, `{count}`, `{perimeter}` and `{volume}`. Type `@` in a formula to pick a takeoff total. - When the takeoff changes, **Budget actions > Sync takeoff quantities** updates the linked assemblies. Typed quantities stay as they are. ## Margins and tax The cost summary reads like math: **Total cost** + **Markup** = **Sell after markups**, then **Tax on sell**. Set margins for each type (Material margin, Labour burden and margin, and so on). Admins set the company defaults in **Admin > Settings > Proposal > Estimating**, and only admins can change tax for a bid. Mark an assembly as an **Alternate** to price it and print it without adding it to the total. ## Several budgets per bid A bid can have as many budgets as you need, each with a type: | Type | Use it for | | --- | --- | | Estimate | Bid-stage pricing for the invitation | | Revised estimate | Re-priced after a scope change or addendum | | Change order | A priced change to awarded work | | Contract | The buyout budget after award | | Future phase | Rolled forward for later work | **Roll over** copies a budget into a new draft on the same project or another one. ## Working together Only one person edits an assembly at a time. If a teammate has it open you see "{name} is editing this" with a **Take over** button. Each assembly has a **History** tab showing who changed what, people and agent alike. Lines the agent wrote are flagged until someone clicks **Mark reviewed**, or **Review all** in Budget actions. ## Export **Budget actions > Export to Excel** downloads a summary sheet and a sheet of every line, grouped by type with margin and sell. ## What the agent can do With the **Budgeting & Libraries** plugin on, the agent can build assemblies, fill cells, add and remove rows, read the levelling board, save templates and push assemblies to a draft proposal. Every change that moves money shows an approval card first. ## Related - [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget) - [Cost Library](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/cost-library) - [Proposals](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals) --- # Cost Library > Your company's reusable assemblies, materials, labour roles, equipment and contract scopes, with price list import. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/cost-library Section: Features The Cost Library holds the building blocks your budgets are priced from. Find it in the sidebar under **Home > Cost Library**. ## Tabs - **Assemblies**: saved assembly templates, ready to drop onto a budget. - **Components**, with four libraries: - **Material** (items with units, packs and prices) - **Labor** (roles and rates) - **Equipment** (rental items and rates) - **Contract Scopes** (subcontract packages with their inclusions) Each library has search, **Show archived**, a table or card layout, **New**, and **Import a price list**. ## Import a price list Any member can upload an `.xlsx`, `.xls` or `.csv` price list (up to 25 MB). Tidy reads it, and an admin reviews and accepts the rows before they join the library. ## Save an assembly as a template On a budget, open an assembly's menu and click **Save as template**. It appears in **Assemblies** for every future budget. ## Starter content An empty library offers **Add starter assemblies**. Tidy also comes with a large catalog of U.S. ceiling grid and panel items. They have no prices until you add yours. ## Who can change it Everyone can read and use the library. Only admins can edit, reorder, archive or delete library rows. Changing a library item never re-prices assemblies already on a budget. ## Related - [Budgets](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets) - [Vendors](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/vendors) --- # Subcontract leveling > Compare subcontractor and vendor quotes for the same scope side by side, see who covers what, and carry one price into the budget. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling Section: Features Bid leveling puts every quote for one package of scope on one board. You split the scope into **inclusions** (rows), add each bidder as a column, type each bidder's price against each inclusion, and Tidy ranks them. When you pick a bidder with **Carry this**, their total becomes the package cost on your budget. ## Where to find it On a budget, open an assembly of type **Subcontract**. It has two tabs: **Overview** and **Bid levelling**. ## How the board works | Rule | What it means | | --- | --- | | A price means covered | Typing a price in a cell means that bidder includes that item. A blank cell means they do not. A price of 0 means "included at no charge". | | Coverage ranks first | Bidders are ranked by how many inclusions they cover, then by lowest total. | | Totals use top-level rows | Sub-items are detail and are not added in. | | Only the carried bid counts | Until you carry a bid, the package shows **No bid carried** and has no total. Tidy does not plug in an allowance. | Example: a $14,225 bid covering 5 of 9 items ranks behind a $19,240 bid covering 9 of 9. The low number is low because it is missing scope. Each column header shows the bidder, their total, "n of m covered" with their rank, and the **Carry this** button. ## Exports From the package menu, **Export > Levelling board (PDF)** or **Package (PDF)**. ## What it does not do yet - Tidy does not send the package to bidders, chase them or collect their replies. Adding a bidder only adds their column, marked Invited. - Prices are typed in (or pasted from Excel), or proposed by the agent from a quote you give it. - There are no per-bidder exclusions, qualifications or alternates on the board. ## What the agent can do The agent can read the board, add bidders from your vendor list and fill in prices from a quote document you point it to. It shows an approval card for every price entry and every carry, every time. ## Related - [Level subcontractor quotes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/level-sub-quotes) - [Vendors](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/vendors) - [Budgets](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/budgets) --- # Vendors and pricing requests > Your directory of suppliers and subs, their contacts, manufacturers and price book, plus pricing request emails from the budget. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/vendors Section: Features Vendors are the suppliers and subcontractors who price your work. Find them in the sidebar under **Network > Vendors**. ## The Vendors page Search by name, location, domain or manufacturer, and sort by name, most bids quoted or recently added. Click **Add Vendor** to add one. Click a card to see: - **Opportunities quoted**: the bids they priced. Use **Add** to link one. - **Contacts**: add, edit or remove people. - **Rep manufacturers**: the brands they carry. Search and pickers match on these. - **Prices**: their price book. Add prices by hand, and prices you apply from quotes land here too. Only admins can archive a vendor. ## On a bid The bid's **Vendors** tab lists the suppliers on that job. **Add Vendor** attaches one, and **Request Quote** opens an email composer. With **Broadcast** on, each vendor gets their own personalized copy. ## Request pricing from a budget 1. On a budget, open **Budget actions > Request pricing**. It needs at least one Material assembly. 2. Tick the components you want priced and click **Continue to email**. 3. Pick vendors, review the email and its price table, and send. 4. Tidy files a **Requested** quote for each item and vendor. 5. When a vendor answers, click **Enter price** and type the unit price, lead time and valid-until date. The quote becomes **Quoted**. 6. Click **Apply** to put the price on the component. It also goes into the vendor's price book. **Add quote manually** records a price you got by phone or email. > [!note] > Vendor replies do not flow into Tidy on their own. Someone types the price in, or asks the agent to read the quote and propose it. ## Related - [Request vendor pricing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/request-vendor-pricing) - [Subcontract leveling](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/subcontract-leveling) --- # Proposals > Build a branded proposal from your budget with line items, alternates, tax, terms and revisions, then send each client their own copy. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals Section: Features The proposal is what your client sees: a branded PDF (also Word and Excel) with line items, alternates, totals with tax, terms, inclusions and exclusions. A project can have several proposals, and each one is a chain of numbered revisions, so you always know exactly what was sent. ## Where to find it - Sidebar: **Proposals** (under **Bidding**). - On a bid: the **Proposal** tab. - From a budget: **Send to proposal**. ## Build in order The editor walks you through **Project**, **Dates**, **Line items**, **Send**. 1. **Project**: location, assignee, bid due date, clients and the contact at each client. 2. **Dates and document settings**: **Proposal date**, **Valid until**, and **Display mode** (Itemized shows each cost bucket, Lump sum shows one price per line). 3. **Budget source**: pick the budget. With **Keep in sync** on, lines follow the budget while the revision is a draft. Lines you add by hand are never touched. 4. **Line items**: drag to reorder. Each line has a scope category (grouped by CSI division, with **Browse CSI MasterFormat** for the full list), quantity, amounts and description bullets. Tag a line **Alternate** or **Optional** to price it outside the base total. 5. **Totals**: subtotal, each tax line and the total. 6. **Terms, inclusions and exclusions**: copied from your company defaults, and editable. 7. **Send**: opens the Submit dialog with the PDF attached. Tidy tells you what is missing first, such as a client contact with no email. A live preview on the right updates as you type and shows a DRAFT watermark until the revision is sent. **Download** gives you PDF, Excel or Word. ## Several clients One proposal serves every client on the project. Each client gets a copy addressed to them. The preview has an **Addressed to** picker. ## Revisions A sent revision is locked. **Revise** copies it forward as the next revision (Rev 1, Rev 2 and so on). **Compare** shows two revisions line by line, and **Restore as Rev N** brings an older one forward. Status is worked out for you: Draft, Sent, Expired (past its valid-until date), Won or Lost. ## Company defaults Admins set defaults in **Admin > Settings > Proposal**: **Categories**, **Units**, **Pricing & tax**, **Estimating**, **Terms**, **Email** templates, PDF **Branding** and company **Documents** (licenses, insurance) to attach. ## What it does not do yet There is no e-signature, online accept link or client portal. Clients get the PDF by email. ## What the agent can do The agent can create and edit proposals, add and change lines, revise, compare and restore revisions, and push budget assemblies to a draft. Sending always opens the final review in your browser for a person to click send. ## Related - [Create and send a proposal](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/create-and-send-a-proposal) - [Bid submission](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-submission) --- # Bid submission > Email your proposal or bid form to the client from Tidy, or log a bid you sent elsewhere. Moves the bid to Submitted and starts follow-ups. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-submission Section: Features Submitting a bid in Tidy sends it and records it in one step. It logs the bid value and a numbered submission, adds a note to the bid's history, sets the bid to **Submitted** and starts the follow-up clock. ## Where to find it - On a bid: the **Bid Form** tab, or **Submit** in the bid's menu. - From a proposal: the **Send** step, which opens the same dialog with the proposal PDF attached. ## Send it by email 1. Open the **Submit Bid** dialog. 2. Check the scope and the bid value. From a proposal, the value is filled in from the proposal total. 3. Choose recipients. **Broadcast to all linked clients** sends each client their own copy. Fix a missing contact with **Add contact** right in the dialog. 4. Write the message, or click **Generate with AI** for a draft. Use **Insert variable** for names and dates. 5. Attach your bid form or proposal and any company documents. 6. Click **Submit Bid**, or **Preview N emails** when there are several, then confirm. ## Log a bid you sent somewhere else Click **Log your bid instead** to record a submission without sending email: who submitted, the date and time, the bid value, notes and the file. ## What happens next - The bid moves to **Submitted** with follow-up status **Awaiting Reply**. - The submission is numbered (Rev 1, Rev 2...) in the bid's history. - The bid joins the follow-up schedule. See [Follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups). > [!plan] > Email sends count toward the daily email limit, and one send can go to at most 25 people. ## Related - [Submit a bid](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/submit-a-bid) - [Proposals](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals) --- # RFIs > Numbered questions to the client while you price. Draft from a drawing, send several at once, chase unanswered ones and record the official answer. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis Section: Features An RFI (request for information) is one written question to the client while you price a bid, such as "Ceiling height at Room 204?". Tidy keeps a numbered list of RFIs for each bid, sends several together as one email per client, drafts polite chasers when they go unanswered, and stores the client's official answer. ## Where to find it - On a bid: the **RFIs** tab. - For the whole company: **RFIs** in the sidebar (under **Documents**). The badge counts open RFIs. - On a drawing: right-click a markup or measurement and choose **Add to RFI**. - On the Hub: the RFIs column in **My Opportunities** shows each bid's open count. ## How RFIs work | Status | Meaning | | --- | --- | | Draft | Written but not sent. No number yet. | | Open | Sent and waiting for an answer | | Answered | You recorded the client's official response | | Closed | Nothing more is needed | | Void | Cancelled, with a reason. A sent RFI can be voided but never deleted. | - **One question per RFI.** Several go out together, but each keeps its own record. - **Numbers** like `RFI-007` are given per bid when you first send, not when you save. - After an RFI is sent, its question and references are locked. - **Questions due** is the client's deadline for questions on this bid. Set it at the top of the RFIs tab. It drives the countdown, the "Send by" reminders and the timing of AI chasers. ## Write and send 1. On the bid's **RFIs** tab, click **New RFI**. Or right-click a markup on a drawing and choose **Add to RFI**, which attaches a snapshot of that spot. 2. Fill in the **Subject**, the **Question** and, ideally, a **Proposed answer** (what you will assume if they do not reply; clients answer faster when you offer one). Add the sheet, spec section and attachments. 3. Click **Save**. 4. Tick the drafts to send and click **Send**. 5. Pick which clients get it and check each client's plain-text email. Click **Review**, then **Send**. ## Record the answer 1. Open the RFI. 2. Under **Official response**, paste or summarize the **Answer**, pick the **Source** (Email, Addendum, Phone, Portal, Meeting, Other) and who answered. Attach the addendum or email if you have it. 3. Save. The RFI becomes **Answered**. Click **Close RFI** when you are done. Client replies land on the bid's **Messages** tab. Tidy does not read the answer out of the email for you, so record it here. Tick **Client replied** on a sent email to stop the chasers for it. ## AI chasers If an RFI has no answer after 3 business days, or the questions-due date is 2 days away, Tidy drafts a polite follow-up. It waits for approval with your other [follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups). Nothing is sent until someone approves it. Admins can turn this off in **Admin > Settings > Main > RFI follow-ups**. ## What the agent can do The agent can read a bid's RFIs, open a pre-filled draft for you, and create, update, answer, close, reopen or void RFIs. Sending is always done by a person in Tidy. Try: "Draft RFIs for anything unclear about the ceiling heights on the A-5 sheets, with a proposed answer for each." > [!agent] > Tools: `list_rfis` (MCP `rfis_list`), `draft_rfi`, `create_rfi`, `update_rfi`, `set_rfi_attachments`, `record_rfi_answer`, `set_rfi_status`, `delete_rfi`, `mark_rfi_send_replied`. RFIs carry `RFI-` tokens. ## Limits - Up to 200 RFIs per send. - RFI emails count toward the daily email limit. - Attachments over 20 MB may not be delivered. ## Not available yet No export of the RFI list, no per-RFI due dates or internal review step, and no post-award RFI workflow. ## Related - [Send RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/send-rfis) - [Follow-ups](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) --- # Follow-ups and declines > AI-drafted chase emails after you submit, approved in one click, plus polite decline emails when you pass on a bid. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups Section: Features After you submit a bid, someone has to keep asking the client for the result. Tidy's follow-up agent drafts those emails for you on a schedule. Each draft waits for approval, and nothing leaves until a person sends it. ## Where drafts show up - **Hub > Main > Pending Follow-Ups**: your drafts. Click one to edit, then **Preview & send**. - **Follow-Up Approvals**: a full page for approving drafts quickly. Open it from the **Approve draft emails** button in the weekly follow-up email, or go to `/follow-ups`. - A bid's **Messages** tab, under **Draft Follow-Ups**. You see drafts on bids where you are the lead or on the team. ## Approve drafts 1. Click a draft to open it beside the list. 2. Change the recipients, subject, body or attachments if you want. Edits save as you type. 3. Click **Approve & send**, or **Preview & send** to see the email first, or **Delete** to throw it away. 4. With two or more drafts, **Approve all** sends them one after another. Sending sets the bid's follow-up status to **Awaiting Reply** and schedules the next follow-up. ## How drafts are made - **On a schedule**: twice a day (6 AM and 6 PM, company time), Tidy drafts for every bid that is Submitted, has no result yet and whose next follow-up date has arrived. - **On demand**: on a bid's **Messages** tab, click **New Message** then **Generate follow-up with AI**, or right-click a bid and choose **Generate follow-up**. - **For everyone at once**: an admin clicks **Run now** on the **Bid Follow-ups** plugin. The drafts learn from your follow-ups that got replies. They ask only for the bid result. RFI chasers use the same queue and carry an "RFI follow-up" tag. See [RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis). ## Settings (admins) In Agent mode, **Skills & Plugins > Plugins > Bid Follow-ups**: - **Master** and **Background** switches. Turn off Background to stop scheduled drafting. - **Cadence**: days between follow-ups on a bid. The default is 21. When a bid is lost, declined or archived, its unsent drafts are deleted. ## Declining a bid When you pass on an opportunity, click **Decline**. The decline dialog lets you: - Write your own note, or click an AI draft: **No Capacity**, **Scope Too Small** or **Out of Area**. - **Send Notification** to email the client and decline. - **Decline Without Notifying** to decline with no email. The bid moves to **Closed**. The AI buttons need the **Bid Declines** plugin. ## What the agent can do The agent can list your pending drafts, run the follow-up agent, and open a pre-filled follow-up or decline for you to send. It never sends these emails itself. > [!agent] > Tools: `list_pending_follow_up_drafts`, `run_follow_up_agent`, `draft_follow_up`, `draft_decline_email`. Over MCP: `n8n_trigger` with slug `run-follow-up-agent`. ## Limits Generating a follow-up counts toward the daily AI limit (**Run now** counts as 10). Sending counts toward the daily email limit. ## Related - [Follow up on bids](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/follow-up-on-bids) - [Decline a bid](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/decline-a-bid) - [Weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports) --- # Messages and email > Every email in and out of a bid, a composer with mail merge and AI drafts, and the company bids address that sends and receives. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/messages Section: Features Each bid's **Messages** tab is its email history: every email in and out for that job. Emails you send from Tidy go out from your company's bids address and are saved here automatically. ## What lands here - The invite you forwarded. - Client replies on the bid's email thread. These also raise a [notification](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/notifications). - Replies a teammate sends from their own email on that thread. - Everything sent from Tidy: messages, quote requests, RFIs, submissions, follow-ups and declines. Click a message to read it. **Reply** keeps the reply in the client's thread. ## Write a message 1. On the bid's **Messages** tab, click **New Message**. 2. Add recipients, or click **Add Client** to add the bid's clients. 3. Turn on **Broadcast** to send each client their own personalized copy. Nobody sees the others. 4. Type a subject and message. Type `{{` to insert a variable such as the client name, first name, project name or your name. 5. Attach files if needed. Click **Generate follow-up with AI** for a draft. 6. Click **Preview**, check each email, then **Send Message**. Your email signature (set in **Settings**) is added to the end. ## The bids address Tidy sends and receives through one company mailbox. On the shared platform it is `bids@tidy.automatedconstruction.io`. There is no per-person Gmail or Outlook connection, so email from Tidy never comes from your own address. ## Limits | Limit | Amount | | --- | --- | | Recipients per send | 25 | | Recipients per person per 24 hours | 100 | | Recipients per company per 24 hours | 300 | | New companies (first 7 days) | 25 per person, 50 per company | Each distinct To, CC and BCC address counts. Over the limit, Tidy tells you when you can send again. Attachments over 20 MB may not be delivered. ## What the agent can do The agent can open a pre-filled follow-up, submission or decline email for you to send, and add team comments. It cannot send email or read a bid's message history. ## Not available yet No search, labels or unread markers in Messages, no shared inbox across all bids, and no open or read tracking. ## Related - [Follow-ups and declines](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) - [Bid submission](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/bid-submission) --- # Notifications > Alerts on your bids such as addenda, date changes and overdue bids, plus the emails Tidy sends when you are assigned. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/notifications Section: Features A notification is an alert on a bid that someone should act on: an addendum came in, the bid date moved, the bid is overdue. It stays open until someone resolves it. ## Types Revised plans, Addendum, Bid date change, Scope change, Site walk, Award notification, Cancellation, Update, Overdue and Task. Each has an urgency: critical, high, medium or low. ## Where they show - A small pill with a bell beside the project name on the board, the Hub and the calendar. Click it to see every open alert for that bid. - The **Notifications** card on the bid's Overview. - The **Notifications** list on your [Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub), most urgent first. - The weekly unresolved bids email, if your admin turned it on. ## Where they come from | Source | Example | | --- | --- | | Client emails | A reply on the bid's thread that looks like an addendum or a date change | | Your team | Click **Add** on the bid's Notifications card to flag something | | Overdue bids | Every hour, Tidy flags any Undecided, Accepted or Needs Revision bid whose due date has passed | | Overdue tasks | Your own task passed its due date. Only you see it. | An overdue notice resolves itself once the bid is submitted, declined, closed or given a new date, and Tidy leaves a comment saying why. ## Resolve or hand off - **Resolve** marks it handled. - **Send to agent** opens a new Agent chat with the alert filled in. Review it and send. ## Emails Tidy sends you - **Assignment**: when someone makes you the lead on a bid or adds you to its team. Assigning yourself sends nothing. - **Weekly reports**, if your admin adds you. See [Weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports). - **Publish requests** to admins, when a member asks to share a record. Overdue bids and tasks are shown in Tidy only. They do not send email. ## Not available yet There are no notification settings to mute types or choose email or push, no reminder before a due date, and no calendar sync with Google or Outlook. ## What the agent can do The agent can list unresolved notifications, add one to a bid and resolve them. > [!agent] > Tools: `list_unresolved_notifications`, `bid_notifications_create`, `bid_notifications_resolve`. Notifications carry `NTF-` tokens for agent use. ## Related - [My Hub](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/hub) - [Tasks and pinned notes](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tasks-and-notes) --- # Records > A spreadsheet of every bid in progress with your own columns, formulas and views. Agents read and write it, which makes it the place to run agent work across your pipeline. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/records Section: Features Records is a spreadsheet with one row for every bid in progress. You add the columns you care about, such as "Quote sent", "Takeoff done" or "Hours", and save views as a table, board, timeline or calendar. Admins can publish a view so the whole company works in one live sheet. Agents can read and write records too. That makes Records the shared checklist where you and your agents track work across many bids at once. ## Where to find it - Your own records: **My Hub > Records**. - Shared records: **Published Records** in the sidebar (under **Bidding**). ## Rows and columns Rows are every opportunity that is Undecided, Accepted, Submitted, Needs Revision or Declined and not yet won or lost. You cannot add your own rows or other tables. Click **+ Add column** at the right of the grid: | Type | Holds | | --- | --- | | Text | Free text | | Number | Numbers, with a unit such as %, $ or sq ft | | Dropdown | One choice from a list, with colours | | Date | A date | | Function | A formula such as `={Hours}*150` | | Opportunity Data | A live, read-only copy of a bid field, such as due date, assignee, client or estimate value | Formulas do arithmetic (`+ - * /` and brackets) on other columns in the same row, written as `{Column Name}`. They do not support functions like SUM or IF. You can have up to 20 columns and 12 views. ## Working in the grid It works like a spreadsheet: click to select, type to edit, drag the corner to fill, [[Ctrl]] + [[C]] and [[Ctrl]] + [[V]] to copy and paste, [[Ctrl]] + [[Z]] to undo. Right-click a column header to rename, change type, sort, filter, set the alignment or show a sum in the footer. ## Views Click **+** above the grid to add a **Table**, **Board**, **Timeline** or **Calendar** view. Each view keeps its own grouping, sort and filters. On a board, drag a card to change a dropdown value or the bid's status. ## Publish to the team Open a view's menu and click **Publish**. Admins publish at once. Members send a request, and admins approve it from **Published Records > Requests**. On a published record everyone can edit cells and sees the same data. Only admins change its columns. Members can sort and filter for themselves without changing it for others. ## Records and agents Records are how you point an agent at many bids at once and see what it did. A simple pattern: 1. Add the columns that describe the work, for example a **Spec check** dropdown (To do, Done, Needs review), a **Ceiling system** text column and a **Questions** text column. 2. Ask your agent: "For every Accepted bid where Spec check is To do, read the specs, write the ceiling tile and grid in Ceiling system, list anything unclear in Questions, and set Spec check to Needs review." 3. The agent reads the record, works through the bids one by one and fills the cells. You review the board, then turn the questions into [RFIs](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/rfis). Because records work over MCP with no Tidy tab open, a connected assistant on a schedule can keep a record you published up to date for the whole team. This is how you build a small "agent factory": the record is the work queue, the columns are the inputs and outputs, and people check the results. What the agent can do: - List and read your records and published ones. - Set cells in your own columns. - Add columns and change a column's name, type or options. Changing a type clears the column, so the agent asks first. It cannot create or delete views, delete columns, publish records or approve requests. On a colleague's published record it can read but not edit. > [!agent] > Tools: `records_list`, `records_read`, `records_set_cells`, `records_create_column`, `records_update_column`. Record views carry `REC-` tokens. Writes reach only the caller's own columns. ## Not available yet No import or export, no custom tables or rows, no linked records between tables, and no automations that run when a cell changes. ## Related - [Use records](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/use-records) - [Get the most out of the Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/work-with-the-tidy-agent) --- # Weekly reports > Three team emails on a schedule you choose. What is due this week, which bids need a follow-up, and what nobody has acted on. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports Section: Features Tidy can email your team three summaries each week. Admins turn them on and choose who gets them. | Report | Default day | What it lists | | --- | --- | --- | | Weekly Bid Roadmap Report | Monday | Active bids due in the next 7 days, with client, due date, days left and assignee. Bids due within 2 days come first. | | Weekly Follow-Up Opportunities Report | Friday | Bids with a follow-up draft waiting, and submitted bids overdue for a follow-up. Includes an **Approve draft emails** button. | | Weekly Unresolved Bids Report | Wednesday | Invites nobody has accepted or declined, and open notifications, most urgent first | Each report goes out at 7:00 AM by default. A report with nothing to say is skipped, except the roadmap, which still tells you nothing is due. ## Turn one on (admins) 1. Open **Admin > Settings > Reports**. 2. On the report's card, switch **Enabled** on. 3. Pick the **Day of week** and **Send time**. 4. Under **Recipients**, pick teammates from **Team** or type any email address and press [[Enter]]. 5. Click **Save**. **Send test report now** sends one copy to you only. The card footer shows when it last sent and to how many people. > [!warning] > Send times are in Pacific time (America/Vancouver). If your team is in another time zone, convert the time when you set it. All three reports start turned off. ## Statistics For numbers rather than lists, use **My Hub > Statistics**. It has charts and **Export PDF**. Admins can switch to the **Company view** for company-wide figures and a leaderboard. The Opportunities board also exports to PDF or Excel. ## What the agent can do A connected agent can trigger a report to send now over MCP. It cannot change report settings. > [!agent] > Over MCP: `n8n_trigger` with slug `run-weekly-report`, `run-follow-up-report` or `run-unresolved-report`. These email real people. ## Not available yet No custom reports, no time zone choice, no per-person filtering, and no Slack or Teams delivery. ## Related - [Set up weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/set-up-weekly-reports) - [Follow-ups and declines](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/follow-ups) --- # Tidy agent > The AI agent built into Tidy. Ask about your pipeline and drawings, and have it measure, price, draft and update, with your approval. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent Section: Features The Tidy agent is a chat assistant that works inside your company's data. It answers questions about your pipeline, reads the drawings and specs on a bid and cites the page it used, and does real work: takeoff, budgets, proposals, RFIs, tasks, records, clients and vendors. When it wants to change something, it asks first with an approval card, unless you have chosen to allow that action. ## Open it Switch the top of the sidebar from **Co-work** to **Agent**, then click **New session**. You can also click **Open in Agent** on a bid or in the file viewer, or **Agent** in a workspace's top bar to chat beside the drawing. ## Chat basics - Type in the box and press [[Enter]] to send ([[Shift]] + [[Enter]] for a new line). The microphone button dictates. - Click **+** to **Attach files** or **Pin an opportunity**. A pinned bid shows a "Working in" chip, and the agent starts with that bid's details and files. - Attach up to 10 files per message, up to 250 MB each: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, images, emails (`.eml`, `.msg`) and text. Paste a screenshot straight in. The agent reads images with a vision model. - When the agent needs a fact only you have, it shows a short questionnaire. - Answers about documents end with page citations. Click one to open the drawing at that page. - File names and bid links in answers open in a viewer docked beside the chat. ## Approval cards When the agent wants to make a change, the chat pauses on a card with three buttons: | Button | What it does | | --- | --- | | Decline | The agent does not do it | | Allow once | Do it this time | | Always allow this action | Do it now and stop asking for this action | Cards for bigger changes show exactly what will change before you approve. See [Agent permissions](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions). ## What it can do | Area | Examples | | --- | --- | | Pipeline | "What is due this week?", update assignee, due date or status, add comments, archive | | Drawings and documents | Read and index a bid's files, answer with citations, find quantities, attach files to a bid | | Takeoff | Create workspaces, set scale, measure and count as dashed proposals, observations, revisions | | Budgets | Build and price assemblies, fill cells from a quote, level bids, push to a draft proposal | | Proposals | Create, edit lines, revise and compare. Sending stays with you. | | RFIs | Draft, create and update RFIs, record the client's answer | | Hub | Your tasks, notes, pinned notes and notifications | | Records | Read your records, set cells, add columns | | Clients and vendors | Search, create and update, contacts and manufacturers | | Email drafts | Follow-ups, submissions and declines as drafts you send | | Help | Look up these docs to explain a feature or walk you through a task | The agent cannot send email for you, change billing, or run free-form database queries. It can only see and change what your own account can. ## Sessions and projects - Sessions are listed in the sidebar. Pin, rename, move to a project or delete them. - **Projects** are folders of chats with standing **Instructions**, a **Linked bid**, **Knowledge** documents and **Memory**. - **Search** ([[Ctrl]] + [[K]]) searches your chat titles and messages. - The **Context** panel shows how full the conversation is. **Compact** summarizes older turns; **Clear** starts the session fresh. ## Skills & Plugins Open **Skills & Plugins** in Agent mode. - **Plugins** switch groups of abilities on or off for the company (admins only). See [Skills and plugins](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/skills-and-plugins). - **Skills** are saved instructions the agent can load, like your takeoff checklist. - **Memory** holds facts and preferences. The agent only saves one when you ask it to remember something. - **Suppliers** lets admins choose which supplier websites the agent may research products on. - **Permissions** sets Allow, Ask or Block for every action. ## Activity **Activity** shows AI drafts, follow-ups sent, emails parsed, time saved and token use over a date range. ## Plans The Tidy agent uses your plan's allowance: a one-time trial on Free, 20M tokens per seat each month on Pro, up to 250M on Max. A notice appears above the chat box from 80% used. Your own agent connected over MCP is free on every plan. See [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits). ## Related - [Get the most out of the Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/work-with-the-tidy-agent) - [Agent permissions](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions) - [Agent tokens](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens) --- # Agent permissions > Choose Allow, Ask or Block for each thing the agent can do, pick a preset mode, and control headless runs for connected agents. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-permissions Section: Features Every action the agent can take has a setting: **Allow** (it just runs), **Ask** (the agent stops and shows an approval card) or **Block** (refused, and the agent is not even offered it). Reading defaults to Allow. Changing, sending and deleting default to Ask. Your choices apply to your account in your company, on every device. They also apply to agents you connect over MCP. ## Pick a mode The menu beside the **+** button in the chat box has three presets: | Mode | Behaviour | | --- | --- | | Manual | Ask before reading information or making changes | | Accept Edits | Read automatically, ask before making changes | | Auto Mode | Read and make changes automatically | Final review screens, such as sending a proposal, still need a person in every mode. Picking a mode replaces your custom settings. ## Set each action Open **Skills & Plugins > Permissions**. Search for an action or category, then set **Ask**, **Allow** or **Block** for a whole category or one action. **Reset to defaults** puts everything back. Categories include bid information, documents and drawings, bid changes, takeoff measurements, takeoff workspaces, budgets, margins and the proposal push, proposals, messages and submissions, clients, vendors, Hub tasks and records, memory and skills. ## Always a person In the Tidy agent, these always need someone to click in Tidy: sending a proposal, sending a bid submission, sending follow-ups and declines, and choosing drawings to export. Billing is never available to an agent. Admins' agents can invite, deactivate and change the role of teammates, with approval. > [!warning] > Over MCP, the **Run a Tidy automation** action can send a bid submission or a vendor quote request after your AI app approves it. Set it to **Block** if you want every outbound email sent by a person in Tidy. ## Takeoff runs Approving the start of an AI takeoff covers the measuring for that run on that drawing. A small set of fine edits (moving a corner, deleting rows, changing a subject on many shapes) always asks. ## Agent access for connected agents (admins) When enabled for your company, **Admin > Settings > Agent access** sets how each takeoff tool runs when an agent connects over MCP: **Off**, **In my browser** (waits for an open Tidy tab) or **Headless** (runs on Tidy's servers with no tab open). Results are still dashed proposals that a person accepts. ## Connected agents and Ask When an agent connected over MCP hits an Ask action, the AI app's own approval prompt counts as your consent. If you do not want a connected agent to do something, set it to **Block** here, or keep your AI app's per-tool approval turned on. ## Related - [Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent) - [Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server) --- # Skills and plugins > The agent's plugins (new bids, follow-ups, submissions, declines, takeoff, budgeting) and how skills and memory teach it your way of working. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/skills-and-plugins Section: Features ## Plugins Plugins are groups of agent abilities that an admin can turn on or off for the company. Find them in Agent mode under **Skills & Plugins > Plugins**. Pipeline questions, bid updates and reading documents are part of the agent itself and are always on. | Plugin | What it does | | --- | --- | | New Bid Creation | Builds an opportunity from a pasted email, invite, screenshot or documents, checks for duplicates and asks you to confirm. Also files invites forwarded to your bids address. | | Bid Follow-ups | Drafts follow-ups on submitted bids and queues them for one-click approval. With **Background** on, it drafts every 12 hours. You choose the cadence (default 21 days). | | Bid Submissions | Drafts the bid submission email (the **Generate with AI** button) | | Bid Declines | Drafts a polite decline (No Capacity, Scope Too Small, Out of Area) | | Sheet Import | Brings opportunities in from a Google Sheet estimating list. Set up by the Tidy team. | | Agentic Takeoff | Measuring drawings from chat, workspaces, sheets, observations and scale | | Budgeting & Libraries | Pricing assemblies, libraries, bid leveling, margins and the push to the proposal | | Email & Bid Syncing | Connects your company's own estimating inbox so invites and vendor replies arrive on their own. Click **Request access** and the Tidy team sets it up. | Nothing a plugin drafts is sent automatically. ## Skills A skill is a saved set of instructions the agent can load when it fits, for example "how we take off ceilings" or "our proposal checklist". Skills are plain text. They never give the agent extra permissions. - **Draft with the agent**: the agent interviews you and drafts the skill for you to review and save. - **New skill**: write one yourself, or import a skill folder. - Skills start private. An admin can publish one to the whole company. After an AI takeoff, the agent may offer to save what worked as a skill. ## Memory **Memory** holds facts and standing preferences ("we always carry 10% waste on tile"). Personal memories are yours. An admin can publish one as **Organization knowledge** for everyone. The agent only saves a memory when you ask it to remember something. ## Suppliers Admins can list supplier websites (for example Home Depot or Lowe's) the agent may research product data sheets and prices on, with a monthly allowance. --- # Use Tidy from Claude, ChatGPT and other agents > Connect Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok and other MCP clients to Tidy. Sign in as yourself and work in Tidy from your own assistant. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/mcp-server Section: Features Tidy runs an MCP server (Model Context Protocol), the open standard AI assistants use to connect to apps. Connect your assistant once and it can read and work in Tidy as you, with your permissions, even when no Tidy tab is open. You sign in on Tidy's own page. Your assistant never sees your password. Connecting your own agent is included on every plan, Free too. ## The server URL ``` https://services.automatedconstruction.io/mcp ``` Name the connection **Tidy**. Leave any Client ID and Client Secret fields empty. Tidy uses OAuth sign-in with dynamic registration, over Streamable HTTP. The **Integrations** page in Tidy (sidebar, under **System**) shows the same URL with a copy button and step-by-step guides. ## Claude (desktop app and claude.ai) 1. Open **Settings > Connectors**. 2. Click **Add custom connector**, name it `Tidy` and paste the server URL. 3. Claude opens Tidy's sign-in page. Sign in and click **Allow**. 4. Tidy shows as connected. Try "Which of my bids are due this week?" ## Claude Code ``` claude mcp add --transport http tidysub https://services.automatedconstruction.io/mcp ``` Then run `/mcp`, pick `tidysub`, choose **Authenticate**, sign in and click **Allow**. ## ChatGPT 1. In **Settings**, turn on **Developer mode** (your plan or workspace admin may control this). 2. Add a new connector named Tidy with the server URL, including `/mcp`. 3. Sign in to Tidy and click **Allow**. 4. In a new chat, turn Tidy on under **Tools**. ## Gemini 1. On gemini.google.com, open **Settings > Connected Apps** and click **Add a custom app**. 2. Paste the URL and click **Next**. 3. Sign in to Tidy and click **Allow**. 4. Type `@` in a chat and pick Tidy. Google offers custom apps to some accounts and regions only. ## Perplexity 1. Open **Connectors** and add a **Custom connector**. 2. Choose **Remote**, name it Tidy, paste the URL, set authentication to **OAuth** and transport to **Streamable HTTP**. 3. Click the Tidy card, sign in and click **Allow**. 4. In a thread, turn Tidy on under **Sources**. ## Grok, Muse and others The Integrations page has guides for Grok Bot and Meta Muse. Any MCP client that supports remote servers with OAuth sign-in should work with the same URL. Cursor and Codex follow the same pattern, but we have not published tested steps for them yet. ## What happens when you sign in Tidy's consent page says "Allow (app name) to use Tidy?" and shows the email you are signed in as. After you click **Allow**, the assistant holds a normal Tidy sign-in tied to you. It can only do what you can do, inside your company. To disconnect, remove the connector in your assistant, or open **Settings > Signed-in devices** in Tidy and click **Disconnect** next to it. ## What your agent can do Roughly the same as the [Tidy agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/tidy-agent): bids, files and drawings, takeoff, budgets, proposals, RFIs, tasks, records, clients, vendors and notifications. Start with these tools: | Tool | Use it to | | --- | --- | | `mcp_whoami` | Check who you are signed in as and get usage hints. Call it first. | | `resolve_agent_token` | Turn a pasted Tidy agent token into the whole page's context | | `search_tidy_docs`, `read_tidy_doc` | Look up these docs to explain a feature or a how-to | | `get_plan_usage` | See the plan, seat and allowance | Most tools run on Tidy's servers. Takeoff tools run headless when your admin allows it, or wait for your open Tidy tab. ## Rules that stay in place - Your permissions apply. A Blocked action is refused and hidden. For Ask actions, your assistant's own approval prompt counts as your consent, so keep it on for actions you care about. - Proposal sends, RFI sends, follow-ups and declines finish in the Tidy app with a person clicking send. The **Run a Tidy automation** action is the exception: it can send a bid submission or vendor quote request, and it asks first. - Billing and seats are never available to an agent. - Limits: about 60 requests a minute, plus the daily limits on every plan. ## Errors you may see | Error | Meaning | | --- | --- | | `permission_required` | The action is set to Ask and needs approval | | `blocked` | The action is set to Block | | `plan_required` | Your company is on a paid plan and your seat is not paid | | `plan_limit` | The Tidy agent allowance is used up | | `rate_limited` | A daily limit was hit. Try again later. | ## Related - [Connect your own agent](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/connect-your-own-agent) - [Agent tokens](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens) - [Docs for AI agents](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/docs-for-ai-agents) --- # Agent tokens > A short code for every bid, file, workspace, budget, proposal and more. Copy one and paste it into any agent to point it at exactly what you are looking at. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/agent-tokens Section: Features Every important thing in Tidy has a short, permanent code called an agent token, like `BID-7K3P9QX2`. Click **Copy agent token** and Tidy copies the code plus what you are looking at, such as the page number and workspace. Paste it into the Tidy agent, Claude or ChatGPT and the agent knows exactly which bid, drawing page or proposal you mean. A token is a pointer, not a password. The agent looks it up under your own permissions, so a token from another company leads nowhere. ## Where the button is - The top right of most pages. - The file viewer toolbar and the workspace top bar. - The menu on workspace, budget and proposal cards. - The right-click menu on a bid in Opportunities and the Hub. - RFI and observation panels. ## What a token looks like A copied token looks like `tidy:FIL-H6N94XRQ?page=12&ws=WSP-7M2PQA1C`: a file, on page 12, in a workspace. A bare code like `BID-7K3P9QX2` works too. | Prefix | Object | Prefix | Object | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | BID | Bid | BGT | Budget | | FIL | File | MAS, LAS, EAS, SAS | Material, labour, equipment and subcontract assemblies | | FLD | Folder | PRP | Proposal | | WSP | Workspace | REC | Record view | | SHT | Sheet | CLI | Client | | OBS | Observation | VEN | Vendor | | RFI | RFI | TSK, NTF | Task, notification (agent use only, no Copy button) | ## How to use one 1. Open the bid, drawing page or proposal you want help with. 2. Click **Copy agent token**. A toast says "Agent token copied". 3. Paste it into your agent's chat with your question. > [!agent] > Call `resolve_agent_token` with the pasted text (with or without `tidy:`, any case). It returns the whole page context in one call: the bid, the file, sheet and workspace, the proposal or budget, plus a link back to the app. Any MCP tool argument that takes an id also accepts a token. --- # Admin console > The company-owner area. Team, company identity and branding, auto-delete rules, weekly reports, proposal defaults, billing and archived bids. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/admin-console Section: Features The Admin console is where admins run the company account. Open it from the sidebar under **System > Admin**. Estimators do not see it. It has five tabs: **Dashboard**, **Team Management**, **Settings**, **Billing** and **Archived Opportunities**. ## Roles Tidy has two roles. | Role | Can do | | --- | --- | | Admin | Everything an estimator can, plus the Admin console: team, billing, company settings, shared libraries and approving Published Records | | Estimator | All the day-to-day work: bids, workspaces, takeoff, budgets, proposals, RFIs, the agent | Everyone in a company sees the company's bids, clients and vendors. Workspaces are the exception: they are shared with their members, and an admin can open one to the whole company. ## Dashboard - **Main**: active opportunities, submitted, won and estimator counts, upcoming deadlines, team workload and a company activity feed. - **Stats**: company-wide pipeline statistics, monthly charts, a leaderboard by estimator and by client, and **Export PDF**. Agent usage is reported in Agent mode under **Activity**, not here. ## Team Management Invite people, change roles, reset passwords, move paid seats, sign people out of every device, deactivate and delete. See [Manage your team](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-your-team) for the steps. ## Settings Settings has these sub-tabs. ### Main - **Company Identity**: logo (up to 2 MB), **Brand colour**, short name, legal name, initials, email, phone, website and address. These show in the sidebar, in outgoing emails and on proposal PDFs. The brand colour changes buttons, links and the active sidebar item right away. - **Auto-Delete Policies**: how many days (1 to 365) before Tidy deletes undecided bids past their due date, declined bids, lost bids and archived bids. Restoring a bid from Archived stops its deletion. - **Due Date Auto-Adjust**: an internal deadline offset of 0 to 30 days. Tidy shows every due date that many days early so your team finishes ahead of the client's date. The real date is kept and shows on hover. - **RFI Follow-ups**: when on, the AI drafts a follow-up for unanswered RFIs (3 business days after sending, or 2 days before the questions-due date). Nothing is sent until a teammate approves it. On by default. - **Webhook overrides**: advanced. Points the inbox refresh at your own automation if Automated Construction set one up for you. ### Clients Manage the company client list. See [Clients](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/clients). ### Reports Turn on the three weekly team emails and choose the day, time and recipients for each. See [Weekly reports](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/reports). ### Proposal Company defaults for every proposal: scope **Categories** (with CSI codes), **Units**, **Pricing & tax**, **Estimating** margins and burden, **Terms**, the **Email** template, PDF **Branding** and company **Documents**. See [Proposals](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/proposals). ## Billing Plan, seats, agent allowance, upgrade and cancel. See [Billing](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/billing). ## Archived Opportunities Every archived bid, with the days left before auto-delete. **Restore** brings a bid back. **Delete** removes it and its files for good. > [!agent] > Agents can list the team (`list_team`) and read the plan (`get_plan_usage`). They cannot invite people, change roles, edit company settings or touch billing. Those stay with a human admin. --- # Your account and settings > Sign in, sign up, reset your password, and the personal Settings page with profile, dark mode, email signature and signed-in devices. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/account-and-settings Section: Features ## Sign in Go to [tidy.automatedconstruction.io/login](https://tidy.automatedconstruction.io/login). Sign in with your email and password, or click **Sign in with Google**. - Google sign-in works for your company's own email domains. If you were invited with another address, sign in with your password. - Forgot your password? Click **Forgot password?**, enter your email and click **Send reset link**. The link opens a page where you set a new one (8 characters or more). ## Sign up a new company 1. Go to [tidy.automatedconstruction.io/signup](https://tidy.automatedconstruction.io/signup). 2. Enter your name, company name, work email and a password, then click **Create account**. Or click **Sign up with Google**. 3. Confirm your email if asked. 4. Tidy creates your company and makes you its admin. If your email domain already belongs to a company on Tidy, you join that company as an Estimator instead. ## The Settings page Open **Settings** from the sidebar (under **System**) or from the account menu at the bottom of the sidebar. | Section | What it does | | --- | --- | | Profile | Your display name, email and role | | Password | Set or change your password. Google sign-in keeps working. | | Appearance | The **Dark mode** switch | | Email Signature | The signature at the bottom of every email you send from Tidy, with a live preview | | Bug Report | Tell us something is wrong. It goes straight to the Tidy team. | | Signed-in devices | Every browser and app signed in to your account in the last 14 days | | Sign Out | Sign out of this device | ### Signed-in devices Each row shows the browser and system, last activity and sign-in date. Click **Sign out** on any device, or **Sign out all other devices**. Your Claude and other AI connections are listed under **Claude connections**, each with a **Disconnect** button. There is no limit on how many devices you use. ## The account menu Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar for **Settings**, **Send feedback**, **Report a bug**, the usage policy, privacy policy, terms of service and **Sign out**. ## Keyboard shortcuts | Keys | What happens | | --- | --- | | [[Ctrl]] or [[Cmd]] + [[\\]] | Collapse or expand the sidebar | | [[Ctrl]] or [[Cmd]] + [[K]] | Search your agent chats (in Agent mode) | --- # Billing > The Billing page in the Admin console. Upgrade, change plans, manage seats, cancel and undo a cancellation. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/billing Section: Features Billing lives in **Admin > Billing**. Only admins can change the plan. Everyone can see the plan chip at the bottom of the sidebar, for example "Free plan, 7 of 10 bids used" or "Pro, ends Nov 12". Payments run through Stripe. Tidy never sees or stores your card number. ## What the Billing page shows - **Plan card**: your plan, the price line (for example "$100 per seat a month, 5 seats"), and the renewal or end date. If a payment failed, it says so and tells you Stripe is retrying your card. - **Bids created**: "7 of 10" with a bar on Free, or "Unlimited on your plan". - **Paid seats**: how many seats you bought and how many are in use, with a link to choose who has one. - **Your Tidy agent allowance**: percent used this month and the reset date. On Free this is the company-wide trial. - **Tidy agent use by seat**: each member's share of the monthly allowance (admins only). - **Cancellation policy**: the full policy, in plain words. ## Upgrade, change and cancel | Action | Where | What happens | | --- | --- | --- | | Upgrade | **Upgrade** on the plan card | Stripe checkout opens. You pick monthly or annual and the number of seats. | | Change plan or seats | **Switch to Pro/Max** or **Manage billing and seats** | The Stripe customer portal opens. Upgrades apply now with proration. Downgrades apply at renewal. | | Cancel | **Cancel plan** at the bottom of the plan card | Your plan stays active until the end date, then the company moves to Free. No further charge. | | Undo a cancellation | **Undo cancellation** in the banner | The plan renews as usual. Works any time before the end date. | Invoices, receipts, tax IDs and the card on file live in the Stripe customer portal. ## Cancellation policy, short version - Cancel any time in two clicks. You keep what you paid for until the end date. - Your work is never deleted when a plan ends. On Free, new bids stop at 10 in total and the Tidy agent pauses after the trial. Your own connected agent keeps working. - No refunds for part of a billing period. - If a payment fails, Stripe retries for 7 days and emails your admins. If it still fails, the company moves to Free. Paying again restores the plan. - We give 30 days notice before a price change. - Admins get an email when a plan is cancelled and again 3 days before it ends. > [!agent] > Payment, plan changes, seats and cancellation are human-only. No agent or MCP tool can change billing. Agents can read the plan with `get_plan_usage`, which also returns the upgrade link to give the user. ## Related - [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits) - [Manage billing and seats](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/manage-billing) --- # Security and privacy > How Tidy keeps each company's data separate, how AI agents act as you, and what stays human-approved. Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/security-and-privacy Section: Features ## Your company's data is walled off Every company on Tidy is its own organization. Every record and file is tagged with your company, and the database itself only returns rows for the company of the person asking. Two companies on Tidy cannot see each other's bids, files, clients or people. Uploaded files are stored in a folder for your company, and storage rules enforce the same wall. Inside a company, your team shares the business data (bids, clients, vendors) on purpose. Admins manage the team, billing and company settings. Workspaces are shared with their members. ## Everything runs as the signed-in person The app, the Tidy agent and any AI agent you connect all act as you, with your permissions. Tidy does not use a master key for everyday work. When you connect Claude or ChatGPT over MCP, you sign in on Tidy's own consent page and the agent gets a token tied to you. You can **Disconnect** it any time in **Settings > Signed-in devices**. ## A person approves what goes out - Agents cannot send email. Follow-ups, bid submissions, declines and RFI chasers are drafts until someone on your team sends them. - Billing, team changes and company settings are human-only. - Each agent action can be set to **Allow**, **Ask** or **Block** in Agent mode under **Skills & Plugins > Settings**. ## Sign-in and sessions - Email and password, or Google for your company's email domains. - Admins can deactivate a person, which ends every session, or sign them out of all devices. - You can see and end your own sessions in Settings. ## Limits that stop abuse Daily limits on email recipients, AI drafting and agent tokens apply on every plan. One email can go to at most 25 people. See [Plans and limits](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/get-started/plans-and-limits#daily-limits-on-every-plan). ## AI providers We use AI providers whose terms do not allow them to train their models on what you send. Error reports are scrubbed of personal data before they leave the app. ## What Tidy does not have yet Single sign-on (SAML), two-factor authentication, an admin audit log and a SOC 2 report are not available today. If you need one of these, [talk to us](https://automatedconstruction.io/contact). ## Legal - [Terms of Service](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidysub/terms) - [Privacy Policy](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidysub/privacy) - [Usage Policy](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidysub/usage-policy)