If you’re running Databuild today, DBx BOQ gives you a modern, fast interface for the estimating data you already have. Same SQL Server, same YOURSYS / YOURJOB databases, same numbers — better tools. And it’s free.
Short version: Databuild keeps doing what it does. DBx BOQ runs alongside it on Windows, reads and writes the same data, but adds a faster grid, formulas, drag-and-drop, communication tracking, and modern reporting.
Who DBx BOQ is for
DBx BOQ is for you if any of these are true:
- You’re an Australian builder running Databuild today and don’t want to change your data model or migrate to the cloud.
- You want a faster, modern UI for BOQ editing, catalogue management, and purchase orders — without waiting for Databuild to ship one.
- You want to stay on-premises for compliance, IT-policy, or “I’d rather own my data” reasons.
- You’d like a single Windows install that connects to your existing SQL Server, with no cloud subscription required.
DBx BOQ vs costed.app — which one?
We make both. They’re not competitors — they solve different problems.
| DBx BOQ | costed.app | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Windows desktop, on-premises | Cloud SaaS, browser |
| Data lives in | Your SQL Server (Databuild databases) | Hosted Postgres (Sydney) |
| Migration needed? | None — uses your existing data | Yes — import or start fresh |
| Cost | Free | Monthly per-user subscription |
| Best for | Existing Databuild users who want a better UI | New builders, multi-site teams, anyone who wants cloud collaboration |
| Mobile / iPad | No | Yes |
Many of our customers run both — DBx BOQ for the office estimator who lives in the data, costed.app for the site team who needs the BOQ on a tablet at the job. Same data flows between them via the cloud sync (in development).
What’s in DBx BOQ
The full feature list lives on the DBx Desktop product page. Here’s the shape of it:
- BOQ editor — fast grid, in-cell editing, formulas (
10*2.5), nested recipes, drag-and-drop reordering, item colour coding, archived items, ad-hoc items - Catalogue management — bulk price changes, supplier price comparison, recipe management, archived items, category trees
- Jobs & Project Manager — job lifecycle, status tracking, document storage, communication timeline
- Suppliers & Contacts — supplier database, RFQs, contact groups, ABN lookup
- Procurement — purchase orders, RFQs to multiple suppliers, work orders, supplier responses
- Claims — progress claims, retention, variations, claim templates
- Reports — BOQ reports, supplier reports, job summaries — multiple templates, PDF or Excel export
- Communications — track every email, phone call, and note against a job, contact, or supplier
- Cloud Templates — share document templates across multiple installations
- Plugin SDK — extend DBx BOQ with custom plugins (SDK reference)
What you’ll need
- Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
- SQL Server 2016 or later — Express edition (free) is fine for most builders
- Existing Databuild databases — the System DB (e.g.
YOURSYS) and Job DB (e.g.YOURJOB) - 4GB RAM minimum, 8GB recommended
Next steps
- Install DBx BOQ — covers SQL Server prep, ODBC drivers, network access, and the DBx BOQ installer itself.
- First-time setup — connect to your Databuild databases, add users, set your price level and currency defaults.
- Open the in-app help — press F1 on any page for context-sensitive help. Every tab has its own help section covering every option.
If you’d rather talk to a real human first, book a 15-minute call or call 1300 818 620 — Mon–Fri, AU business hours. We installed Databuild for many of these customers ourselves; we know the landscape.