Materials Only Section on a Custom Quote Template

A guide for printIQ users

This article explains the functionality of a materials only section on a custom quote template, how to set it up and how it works when making a new quote. Please refer to Manage you own Custom Quote Templates resource for details about how to set these up.

What is this feature?

A materials only section on a custom quote template allows you to create an ad hoc material or select existing material only operations. This section is a nonprinted section. It can be used for items like blank stock, ad hoc materials required for a quote or other manufactured items. An inventory purchase order can be created on the job for the item. After the material and operation are created they can be reused.

Why would I use it?

You need to create a one-off ad hoc material and price it into a quote without leaving the quoting screen.
You're quoting a section with material only, no printing.
You want a simple quote form for materials only products instead of a full print production template.

How does it work?

Add a section with Materials only operations ticked, then configure the section as a nonprinted section. Choose the template and start a custom quote, selecting the template, creating or choosing a material for the section, and applying it to the quote.

What do I need to set up?

Material only sections: add a section and turn on Materials only operations.
Select a nonprinted stock and set the processes to unprinted as well
Set the options to their defaults and hide each option because the only option that matters here is Section Operations
Save the Custom Quote Template and try making a new quote using the template

What does the setup look like?

What happens in a new custom quote?

1. A new quote will have an orange icon with a + sign. This allows the user to create a new material item from within the quote.

2. Or if the material only operations already exists, the drops down in Section Operations will only offer Section Operations with Materials only ticked

What about creating a new material for the quote?

The process follows the steps in this resource with an additional step of automatically creating a linked operation.

Open the material window: in the materials only section, next to Section Operations, select the orange plus button (tooltip: "Create new manufactured item").
Set the inventory location: in the Create a manufactured item window, choose an Inventory location, for example Store Items. The Code field is generated automatically.
Describe the material: enter a Description and leave Operation categories set to Artwork and Calc type set to Per Unit.
Set cost and sell price: enter the cost under Order in units of, and the sell price under Charge in units of.
Set the supplier: enter the supplier and suppliers code.
Save the material: leave the remaining defaults as they are and select Create Material. A message confirms the material and its linked operation were created; select Close to return to the quote. The linked inventory item was also created at the same time.

What about applying the material to the section?

Back on the quote, the new operation is loaded into the field. Click Apply and the new operation will be added to the quote.

There is also a quantity required field that you will need to enter.

Settings to know about

Setting	What it does
Cost Price List	The pricelist printIQ uses to work out your cost for the template.
Product Category	The category the product is quoted under, for example Flat.
Sell Price List	The pricelist printIQ uses to work out the sell price shown to your customer.
Materials only operations	Turns off print-specific fields like Stock and Process so the section only handles materials.
Fold	Sets the finished fold shape for the section, for example Flat Product.
Pages	The number of pages in the section, for example 2 for a flat sheet and fold.
Match on fold	Controls whether printIQ matches this section's fold against other sections when combining jobs.
Match on size	Controls whether printIQ matches this section's size against other sections when combining jobs.
Calc type	Sets how printIQ calculates cost and sell price for a manufactured item, for example Per Unit.
Order in units of / Charge in units of	Sets the cost you pay and the price you charge for the material, per unit.
Materials only (operation)	Tells printIQ to price the operation using only the material cost, with no other cost components. Use it only when no other costs apply.
Operation Categories	Groups the operation for reporting and visibility, for example Materials.

Materials only section operation didn't save or apply correctly. What should I check?

Is the section Type set? Type is required on the section panel and must be Single Section before the template can save.

Does every field have a value before you try to hide it?

printIQ won't let you hide a field like Stock or Process Front until you've picked a value for it. Select the value first, then use the eye icon to hide it.

Is the template Name filled in on the Details panel?

This is required, and printIQ highlights it in red if it's missing.

Are you missing a value on a field printIQ has highlighted in red?

After a failed save, scroll back up and check for a red-highlighted field before selecting Create again.

Can't find your new material in the Section Operations dropdown?

Make sure you saw the confirmation message and selected Close after creating the material. If the window was closed early, the material and its operation record won't have been created. You can also navigate to Admin > Configuration > Materials Admin to find the material item.

Operation record showing the wrong Materials only setting?

Open the operation's Details tab and check the Material Set option matches the material.

Still not seeing the expected behavior after checking the above? Reach out to your system administrator or the printIQ support team for a closer look at the configuration.