Overview
This workflow takes you from an empty catalog to a fence quote you can send to a customer. It focuses on what to do and in what order, not every click.
How workflow articles work in this KB
| Layer | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow (this page) | End-to-end path, choices, and links | Catalog → template → quote |
| Reference / how-to | Step-by-step detail | Smart Import Tool, Fence Templates |
Use this page as your map. Open the linked guides when you need depth on a single task.
Before you start
Dirt Face stores catalog data in a specific structure (fence types, categories, components, vendors, costs, and more). Getting that structure right early makes templates and quotes much faster later.
Why your catalog must be thorough
Your My Components catalog is the parts list for every fence you build in Dirt Face. Think of it like loading a truck for a jobsite: if you leave out posts, rails, hardware, or gate hardware, the crew cannot finish the install — no matter how good the plan is.
The same rule applies in the app:
- Quotes and material lists only include parts that exist in My Components
- Fence templates are a digital version of the fence — every line role (post, panel, rail, gate, screws, concrete, etc.) must map to a real component in your catalog
- If a component is missing from the catalog, you cannot finish building the template for that fence system, and takeoffs will be incomplete on quotes
Plan to include all component types you actually install — not just panels and posts, but gates, caps, brackets, fasteners, concrete, and specialty items for your fence types. Use the richest vendor source you have (see Step 1) so nothing critical is left out.
Step 1: Set up My Components
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Components
Open: My Components
Your catalog is the foundation. Every template and quote pulls parts, costs, and vendors from here. Incomplete catalogs lead to incomplete templates and job packets — the same as showing up to a jobsite without every part on the truck.
Recommended: Smart Import Tool
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Components → Catalog tools → Smart Import Tool
Open: Smart Import Tool · Guide: Smart Import Tool
Upload or paste your own vendor data — quotes, price lists, catalogs, spreadsheets, PDFs, even photos — and Dirt Face extracts structured components for you.
Why we recommend it:
- Accepts many file types and formats (not just CSV)
- Can populate vendors, catalog sections, categories, and collections in one pass — not just bare part rows
- Richer input = richer catalog (part name, part number, cost, weight, description, vendor, box quantity, image URLs, etc.)
- Avoids the mapping errors that often happen with manual spreadsheet imports
Tip: Give Smart Import the most complete source you have — a full vendor quote or catalog beats a minimal SKU list. The tool works harder when the input is detailed.
Alternative: Import from the Dirt Face warehouse
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Components → Catalog tools → Dirt Face Warehouse
Open: My Components (then Catalog tools)
Clone starter parts and templates from the Dirt Face warehouse, then adapt them as your own:
- You will still need to add your costs and your part numbers
- You can update records manually as you quote, or batch-update using catalog tools
- Useful when you want a structural starting point but do not have vendor files ready yet
This path is valid, but plan time to replace sample costs and SKUs with your real data.
Reference: My Components overview
What we do not recommend as your primary path
CSV / spreadsheet import is available but not our recommended starting method. It assumes you already understand Dirt Face’s column structure and category model — mistakes are common and hard to undo at scale.
Use CSV only if you already maintain a clean export in a fixed format you import regularly. Otherwise, start with Smart Import.
Reference (advanced): Import components from CSV
After Step 1
You should have the components your fence types require in My Components — with real costs and (ideally) vendors attached. Cover every role you assign in a template (posts, fabric, rails, gates, hardware, consumables, etc.), not only your most common SKUs.
Step 2: Build a fence template
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Fences
Open: My Fences · Guides: Fence Types, Fence Templates
A fence template defines how components assemble into a quotable fence system (heights, colors, spacing, gates, labor rules, and optional Lead Generator budget pricing). It is the digital version of the fence — each slot in the template must point to a component in My Components.
Once a template is activated, you can use it on fence quotes and in the designer tool.
Overview (this workflow)
- Create a fence type — add the product line, heights, and colors
- Build the template — run the wizard: Fence → Images → Posts → Components → Gates → Time → Budget Pricing (when Lead Generator is active)
- Activate the template when it is ready for production quoting
Reference: My Fences overview
Step 3: Create a fence quote
Where in the app: Sidebar → Estimates
Open: Estimates · Guide: Create an estimate
With an activated template and a customer on file:
- New estimate → select customer and job site
- Choose your fence template
- Lay out the job (designer tool or quantity entry, depending on the job)
- Review Proposal Totals, PDF, and send to the customer
Creating a fence quote is a multi-step flow. See Create an estimate for the full guide.
Reference:
- Create an estimate
- Your first estimate — shorter getting-started path
- Using the fence designer tool — when layout drawing is required
Checklist
- My Components includes all component types needed for your fence systems (posts, panels, gates, hardware, etc.)
- My Components populated (preferably via Smart Import)
- Vendors and costs reflect your shop, not warehouse placeholders
- Fence type with colors and heights defined
- Fence template built and activated
- First fence quote created and reviewed
Next steps
- Win the job → Fence job lifecycle
- Tune pricing defaults → Business Settings → Default Values
Common questions
Can I quote before the catalog is complete?
You can start a quote, but gaps in My Components show up as gaps in templates and material lists — the same as missing parts on a jobsite. Add missing components to the catalog before you rely on the template for customer-facing proposals.
I already have a Excel price list. Should I use CSV import?
Try Smart Import first with the same file. It handles messy real-world vendor formats better than CSV mapping.
Where do I find each template wizard step?
See the Fence Templates hub and its step guides (Fence, Images, Posts, Components, Gates, Time, Budget Pricing).