Use this article when you have already created a price model and need to control which product categories offer that step on a quote, and whether estimators see it by default. After this you will have the step appearing on the right product categories at the right level of visibility, applied through Pending Changes.
Before you begin
The price model is already created and applied. If not, complete Add or edit a price model first.
You know which product categories should offer the step.
You have decided whether the step should appear without effort (
Show By Default = Yes) or only when the estimator expands optional finishing (Show By Default = No).
1. Configure the conditional step assignment
Open Estimate Setup → Products → Conditional Steps, then find the row tied to your price model. Use Search to filter by the same name you used on the price model. Fill in the fields below.
Step identification
Step name — read-only here; matches the name on the price model. If you do not see the step in the conditional steps list after creating the price model, check Pending Changes for an unfinished create — the conditional step does not exist until the price model is applied.
Category assignment
Product categories — the categories that should offer this step on a quote. Add every category that may surface the step. A category not listed here cannot surface the step, regardless of substrate or machine setup.
Category parts — when your tenant uses part-level assignments, pick the specific category parts that should offer the step. Use when the step applies only to a cover or only to a text section, not the whole product.
Visibility
Show By Default —
Yesmakes the step appear in the main finishing options on a quote for assigned categories. Use for common steps such as standard shrink wrap on retail packaging.Nokeeps the step in the optional or expanded finishing list, surfaced when the estimator opens the optional finishing area. Use for specialty steps such as grommets, extra drilling, or uncommon hand work.
Save the change. The Pending Changes count increments by one in the sidebar.
2. Apply the change
Open Pending Changes, review the staged conditional-step row, then choose Apply Changes. The Pending Changes count returns to zero and the assignment is live for new quotes.
3. Test on a linked category
Create a test estimate on a category you assigned in step 1.
With
Show By Default = Yes, confirm the step appears in the main finishing options without an extra click.With
Show By Default = No, confirm the estimator can still find and add the step from the optional finishing list.Confirm the calculated step cost matches what the price model formula produced. Open See price breakdown on the quote and locate the step row — the cost should match before bucket markups apply.
The Final price updates on the quote totals when the step is added or removed.
Things to know
Linking a category does not override tag compatibility. If the price model carries tags, the product part or route still needs a matching tag. A missing tag is the most common reason a step is assigned but does not surface on quotes.
Category-level markups and pricing rules apply on top of the price model's calculated cost. The bucket markup and any pricing rule that matches the customer or quantity adjust the price after the price model has run.
Some specialty steps also need the product part's production-step list to include the step. Check the part's production steps when the conditional-step assignment looks correct but the step still does not appear.