Use this article when an estimator needs to see exactly which press, finishing machine, and binding machine Estimator chose for a calculated quote — and which alternatives were ruled out. After this you will have read the assigned machines per step, scanned the excluded machines, and know whether the route matches the route the shop would actually run.
Steps
1. Open See price breakdown on the calculated quote
On the calculated quote, click See price breakdown. The Estimation breakdown modal opens with the cost makeup for the selected option laid out per production step.
2. Open the Issue analysis dialog
In the Estimation breakdown modal header, click View estimation path. The Issue analysis dialog opens and loads the route data for the currently selected option.
If you need to compare two options, close the dialog, click the other option in the totals panel, and reopen the dialog — each option carries its own route.
3. Read the assigned machine per step
The dialog lists every production step the calculation ran. Under each step's heading, the engine names the machine that was picked. Read the list straight through and confirm:
The print step shows the press you expected for this spec and quantity.
The cut step (and any fold, bind, laminate, or finishing step) shows the right machine for the job — not a slower fallback, not a substitute.
The order of steps matches the production sequence the shop would run in real life.
A surprise here usually points at a tag mismatch on the substrate or a capability gap on the machine the engine bypassed.
4. Scan the Excluded machines section
Each step that had more than one candidate machine includes an Excluded machines section listing the candidates the engine ruled out and the reason for each exclusion. Typical reasons:
A required tag is missing on the substrate (the press needs an Offset-OK tag, the substrate has none).
The substrate sheet size is larger than the press can take.
The colour count or run length is outside the machine's configured band.
The category does not include the step the machine runs.
Read each exclusion against your shop reality. An exclusion that is correct ("this digital press cannot do 4/4 on 400gsm") confirms the route. An exclusion that is wrong ("XL105 excluded for missing tag, but the substrate should obviously be offset-compatible") points at the setup gap to fix next.
5. Decide whether the route is sendable
Three possible outcomes:
Route matches the shop's reality. Close the dialog and proceed with the quote.
Route is wrong because the spec is wrong. Close the dialog, fix the spec field on the quote (wrong substrate, wrong size, wrong colours), click Recalculate, and re-open the dialog.
Route is wrong because setup is wrong. Open Compare route details to setup and reconcile the assigned and excluded machines against the underlying Estimate Setup records, then Recalculate.
A worked example
Northgate Press' estimator opens a 1,200-run Stitched Book quote on Silk 100gsm SRA1. The route on the totals panel shows HP Indigo for print. The estimator expected XL105 because the shop's offset band covers the run length.
The estimator clicks See price breakdown, then View estimation path. Issue analysis opens:
Print step: HP Indigo.
Excluded machines (Print): XL105 — reason: "no compatible tag on substrate".
Bind step: Stitcher 1.
Cut step: Guillotine 1.
The estimator reads the exclusion and knows the next move: open the SRA1 row in Estimate Setup and check its tags against the Offset-OK tag on XL105. They open Compare route details to setup and reconcile.
Things to know
The route is read-only on the quote. Issue analysis is a diagnostic surface — every fix lives in Estimate Setup. Editing fields here is intentionally not possible.
Each option has its own route. When Estimator returns two priced options, the dialog reloads for the option you have selected. Switch options to compare routes side by side.
An empty Excluded machines section is not a problem. It means only one machine was eligible for the step — common for binding steps where the shop has a single binder configured.
Recalculate after every setup fix. The dialog stays cached against the most recent calculation; a fresh setup change only shows up after you click Recalculate on the quote.