Purpose
The CFS Integration imports fence estimates created in CFS (Computer Fence Systems) directly into TRUE. This integration reads PDF estimates and automatically creates line items with materials, labor hours, and pricing - eliminating manual data entry and reducing errors when converting fence takeoffs into bids, quotes, or jobs.
Requirements: CFS GeoDraw software with PDF export capability. Access to Bids, Quotes, or Jobs modules in TRUE.
How to Import CFS Estimates
Import your CFS fence estimates into Bids, Quotes, or Jobs using the Partner App feature
The CFS integration is accessed through the Partner App menu in the gear icon. The import dialog provides two drop zones - one for the Itemized Estimate and one for the Labor Worksheet. You can upload either or both PDFs to import materials and labor data.
Create bid line items from your CFS fence estimate PDF files.
- Navigate to Bids and select a bid record
- Switch to Estimate mode
- Click the Gear icon and select Partner App
- Click CFS
- Drag your PDF into the Itemized Estimate or Labor Worksheet drop zone
- Click Submit to import the line items
- Review the created items and adjust pricing as needed
Note: You can upload both the Itemized Estimate and Labor Worksheet at the same time. Each drop zone accepts its corresponding PDF file.
The same CFS import feature is available in the Quotes and Jobs modules.
- Navigate to Quotes or Jobs and select a record
- Switch to Items mode
- Click the Gear icon and select Partner App
- Click CFS
- Follow the same drag-and-drop process to import your estimate
Tip: The uploaded PDF file is automatically saved to the record's file repository. You don't need to upload it separately.
Supported CFS Reports
Two types of CFS PDF reports can be imported into TRUE
The Itemized Estimate report contains materials with part numbers, descriptions, quantities, and pricing. All items imported from this report are classified as Material type line items.
What Gets Imported:
| CFS Field | TRUE Field |
|---|---|
| PART # | Matched to existing product ID or used to create new product |
| ITEM | Product / Service description |
| QTY | Quantity |
| AMOUNT | Cost (if product not matched) or Markup Amount calculation |
When importing, TRUE checks if the CFS part number exists in your product catalog:
- If product exists: Line item uses your catalog's unit cost and calculates markup based on the CFS amount
- If product doesn't exist: A new product is automatically created with the part number, description, and calculated unit cost
- New products are added to your primary price book
The Labor Worksheet report contains a mix of labor hours and materials. TRUE automatically classifies each item based on the unit of measure.
How Items Are Classified:
- Labor: Items with unit "hr", "Hr", "hour", or "Hour"
- Material: Items with any other unit (ea, ft, lf, etc.)
| CFS Field | TRUE Field |
|---|---|
| Labor Item | Product / Service |
| Quantity | On-Site Hours |
| Unit Retail | On-Site Rate |
| Total Retail | Labor Cost |
| CFS Field | TRUE Field |
|---|---|
| Labor Item | Product / Service |
| Quantity | Qty |
| Unit | Unit |
| Unit Retail | Unit Cost |
| Total Retail | Material Cost |
Tip: Ensure your CFS settings use "hr" or "hour" for labor items to ensure proper classification in TRUE. Items with null or zero quantity are automatically skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the CFS integration
Import & File Handling
Yes. When you import a CFS PDF, it is automatically saved to the file repository for that Bid, Quote, or Job.
You don't need to upload the PDF separately - the integration handles file storage automatically when you submit the import.
Yes. The import dialog has separate drop zones for each report type. You can drag both PDFs into their respective zones and submit them together.
Each file is processed according to its type - materials from the Itemized Estimate and labor/materials from the Labor Worksheet are all imported as line items.
The CFS integration is available in three modules:
- Bids - Access via Estimate mode
- Quotes - Access via Items mode
- Jobs - Access via Items mode
All three modules use the same Partner App workflow and import the same data fields.
Products & Pricing
TRUE automatically creates a new product record when a CFS part number doesn't match an existing product.
New Product Details:
- ID: Set to the CFS PART # field
- Description: Set to the CFS ITEM field
- Unit Cost: Calculated from AMOUNT divided by QTY
- Price Book: Added to your primary price book
Note: These auto-created products will be available for future estimates. Review them in the Products/Services module to ensure descriptions and pricing meet your standards.
Small differences between CFS totals and TRUE totals can occur due to pricing sources and calculations.
Common Causes:
- Catalog Pricing: When TRUE matches a product, it uses your catalog's unit cost instead of the CFS values
- Rounding: Unit cost calculations are rounded to 2 decimal places
- Tax Rates: TRUE calculates tax based on your configured tax rates, which may differ from CFS assumptions
Tip: Review your line items after import to verify pricing matches your expectations. The Material Cost field may need adjustment if your catalog pricing differs significantly from CFS values.
When a product is matched to your catalog, TRUE calculates markup based on the difference between CFS pricing and your catalog cost.
Calculation:
- Cost: Quantity multiplied by your catalog's unit cost
- Markup Amount: CFS AMOUNT minus TRUE Cost
- Markup Percentage: Automatically calculated from the markup amount
If no product match is found, the CFS AMOUNT is used directly as the cost with no markup calculation.
Labor & Classification
For Labor Worksheet imports, TRUE classifies items based on the Unit field value.
Classification Rules:
- Labor: Items with unit exactly matching "hr", "Hr", "hour", or "Hour"
- Material: Items with any other unit value (ea, ft, lf, etc.)
Tip: Make sure your CFS settings use "hr" or "hour" for labor items. If labor items are being imported as materials, check the Unit field values in your CFS reports.
If labor items are being imported as materials, the issue is typically with the Unit field in your CFS export.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- Open your CFS Labor Worksheet PDF and check the Unit column
- Verify labor items show "hr", "Hr", "hour", or "Hour" (exact match required)
- If units show something different (like "hrs" or "HRS"), update your CFS settings
- Re-export the PDF and import again
Note: The unit comparison is case-sensitive for "hr" vs "Hr" but matches both. However, variations like "hrs", "HRS", or "hours" will not be recognized as labor.
Items are automatically skipped if they have no quantity or a zero quantity value.
This is by design - items without quantities represent summary rows or headers in the CFS report rather than actual line items to import.
If you expected an item to import but it was skipped, check the Quantity field in your CFS PDF to ensure it has a value greater than zero.
Related Integrations
Yes. Many fence contractors use mySalesman for lead qualification and initial pricing, then CFS for detailed fence estimating.
Recommended Workflow:
- Receive leads through mySalesman integration
- Convert qualified leads to Quotes in TRUE
- Create detailed fence estimate in CFS
- Export CFS estimate as PDF
- Import CFS PDF into the Quote using Partner App
This workflow combines mySalesman's lead management with CFS's detailed fence takeoff capabilities.
CFS (Computer Fence Systems) is a third-party fence estimating software, while TRUE Fence is TRUE's built-in fence estimating and drawing tool.
CFS Integration:
- Requires separate CFS GeoDraw software license
- Import estimates via PDF files
- Best for teams already using CFS for fence takeoffs
TRUE Fence:
- Built directly into TRUE
- Create estimates without leaving the application
- Best for teams wanting an integrated solution