Important: This setup applies to Roof Wizard V11.0 and up only.
⚠️ Critical Warning: If you're not using Tiles+, DO NOT use TileLabourMenus.DAT for the regular Tiles database. This can cause serious issues that are difficult to undo.
🧾 What TileLabourMenus.DAT does
This file defines the labour rate structure for tile roofing components. It specifies which labour items are available and their organisation in the pay rates system.
🔧 File structure and content
The TileLabourMenus.DAT file contains labour items in a specific order that must be maintained:
Component | Main Item | Additional Options |
Roof | Main roof name | Standard pricing |
Hip | Main hip name | 2 additional pricing options |
Ridge | Main ridge name | 2 additional pricing options |
Valley | Main valley name | 2 additional pricing options |
Gable | Main gable name | 3 additional pricing options |
Other items | Underlay, Apron, Batten, Counter Batten, Fall Protection, Downpipes | As defined |
⚠️ Important: All items must stay in their relative positions in the list. Moving items can break the labour rate system.
🛠 How the additional pricing works
Additional options for Hip, Ridge, and Valley components are added to the price of their main line item. For example:
Hip main price + Hip additional option 1
Ridge main price + Ridge additional option 2
Valley main price + Valley additional option 1
Gable components work differently - they have 3 additional line items instead of 2.
🔧 Creating and updating labour rates
Once you've set up the TileLabourMenus.DAT file:
Set a name for your labour rate structure
Select [Add] to create a new labour rate, or [Update] to modify existing rates
Configure rates based on your Storey Interval and Pitch Interval settings
If using [Update], you must select [OK] to exit and save the file
🧾 File storage
Once added, labour rate values are automatically saved to TLabour5.csv in your User folder. This CSV file stores:
Your defined labour rates
Item labels as configured for your labour rates
Additional rates based on your Storey and Pitch Interval settings
💡 Tips for success
Always back up your existing files before making changes
Test your labour rate setup with a small project first
Ensure you're using the correct file for your database type (Tiles+ vs regular Tiles)
Keep the item order consistent to avoid system errors