Use this article when the price breakdown on a finished product (a creased and folded brochure, a laminated and trimmed cover) shows two finishing make-ready lines instead of one combined line — and you expected Estimator to apply the included-step calculation. After this you will know which setup row is keeping Estimator on the separate-step path and how to confirm the combined path is now in effect.
Symptom | Check (where to look) | Fix (action) | Verify (what you'll see) |
The fold and crease records use different Name values for the same physical machine. | Open Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines and read the Name on the fold record and the crease record for the creaser/folder. | Edit one of the two records so the Name matches the other exactly — brand and model spelled identically, no trailing spaces. Apply Changes. | Recalculate the quote. The price breakdown shows one combined finishing line; Pending Changes is at zero. |
Included Steps is blank on one or both of the paired records. | Open each step record for the physical machine and read the Included Steps value. | On the fold record, set Included Steps to | Recalculate the quote. The combined make-ready line replaces the two separate lines on the price breakdown. |
Both step records have Included Steps set, but the combined path still does not apply. | Open Issue analysis on the quote and read the Excluded machines section. The reason names a tag mismatch, a sheet-size limit, or a weight range that excluded one of the step records. | Open the excluded step record in Finishing Machines and align the failing limit (Tags, sheet size, weight) with the spec. Apply Changes. | Recalculate the quote. Issue analysis no longer lists the step record in Excluded machines, and the combined line appears on the breakdown. |
The combined record is eligible but Estimator still chooses the separate-step path. | Compare the price breakdown rows for the separate-step calculation to the rate fields on the combined record. The separate path is cheaper. | If the combined path should win on cost, adjust Machine rate per hour, Make-ready time, or Labor rate per hour on the combined record to reflect the real shop cost. Apply Changes. | Recalculate the quote. The combined path now wins on cost and the breakdown shows one combined finishing line. |
You expected print and finishing to merge into one combined operation. | Open the Included Steps value on the finishing record. Included Steps is post-press only — | Remove any non-post-press value. Use a separate print machine record for the print operation; the print line stays on its own row regardless of Included Steps. | Recalculate the quote. The print line returns to a separate row; finishing is consolidated where applicable. |
Make-ready is reduced, but sheet count still differs from the shop's expected total. | Open each step record for the machine and read Running spoilage % and Make-ready sheets per section. Spoilage and per-section make-ready sheets are independent of Included Steps. | Adjust the spoilage and make-ready sheets on the step record(s) so the totals match expected. Apply Changes. | Recalculate the quote. The sheet count on the breakdown matches the shop's reference calculation. |
Example 1 — A Duplo creaser/folder priced as two separate operations
Northgate Press quotes a 5,000-run Folded Leaflets job on Silk 100gsm SRA1 that needs a crease and a fold. The price breakdown shows two finishing lines, each with its own make-ready, where the operator expects one combined line.
Diagnosis: Open Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines. The fold record uses the name Folder 1, but the crease record uses the name Duplo DC-446 — the two records carry different names even though they describe the same physical machine. Included Steps is set on both records, but Estimator cannot pair them.
Fix: Edit the crease record and set Name to Folder 1 to match the fold record. Open the Pending Changes panel in the sidebar and select Apply Changes.
Verify: Pending Changes returns to zero. Recalculate the Folded Leaflets quote. The price breakdown now shows one combined finishing line for crease+fold; the make-ready total drops.
Example 2 — Included Steps is configured but the combined path is excluded by tags
Northgate Press quotes a 2,000-run Stitched Book on Silk 115gsm SRA1 with a creaser/folder used on the cover. Both step records have Included Steps set correctly, but the price breakdown still shows two finishing lines.
Diagnosis: Open Issue analysis on the quote. The Excluded machines section lists the crease record with a tag mismatch — the crease record carries an extra tag that the cover part does not.
Fix: Open the crease record in Finishing Machines and remove the extra tag (or add the tag to the cover part if the routing restriction is intentional). Apply Changes.
Verify: Recalculate the quote. Issue analysis no longer lists the crease record in Excluded machines. The price breakdown shows one combined finishing line; the make-ready total matches the combined-operation expectation.
What if this didn't fix it?
If both step records share the same Name, both have Included Steps set correctly, Issue analysis lists neither record in Excluded machines, and the breakdown still shows two finishing lines, the issue is in the calculation path rather than setup. Open a support request and include: the printhouse name, the estimate ID, the Finishing Machines record names and Included Steps values, and the Issue analysis message on the test quote. Check Configure included steps for a combined finishing machine first to confirm the setup is complete.
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