Status: Upcoming change
Data Connector is changing how it returns classification data for Takeoff and Estimate. Classification names and codes move to a new Forma Classifications shared platform service, which references the classification structures shared across Autodesk Forma. Projects on the new model support up to five classifications per item instead of two.
At the same time, Takeoff 2D sheet references move to Autodesk Files. For converted projects, the sheet reference in your extracts changes to a different kind of identifier.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Projects you create from this date use the new model. |
| November 30, 2026 | Existing projects start converting to the new model, one at a time. |
| January 29, 2027 | Support for the deprecated classification fields ends. |
Conversion of existing projects can continue past January 29, 2027. During the transition, your account contains projects on both models, and account-level extracts return both. Dates are subject to change.
Check takeoff.settings.forma_classifications or estimates.settings.forma_classifications. Both columns are Boolean. A value of true means the project uses the new model, whether you created it that way or Autodesk converted it later.
Each project's data uses either the legacy columns or the new columns, never both. For projects on the legacy model, the new classification1_node_id through classification5_node_id columns are empty.
The same value tells you which kind of 2D sheet reference the project uses.
The following columns and tables change in the takeoff and estimates service groups.
| Service group | Table | Legacy column | Replacement | Change |
| takeoff | quantity_definitions | classification1_id | classification1_node_id | Deprecated. Empty after conversion. |
| takeoff | quantity_definitions | classification2_id | classification2_node_id | Deprecated. Empty after conversion. |
| takeoff | quantity_definitions | — | classification3_node_id through classification5_node_id | Added. No legacy equivalent. |
| takeoff | quantities | classification1_id, classification2_id | — | Deprecated. Not updated after conversion. Use quantity_definitions instead. |
| takeoff | classification_systems | All columns | classifications service group | Deprecated. No entries after conversion. |
| takeoff | takeoff_items | content_version | content_version | Changed. Holds an Autodesk Files version URN after conversion. |
| takeoff | settings | — | forma_classifications | Added. Indicates which model the project uses. |
| estimates | estimation_instances | classification1_id | classification1_node_id | Deprecated. Empty after conversion. |
| estimates | estimation_instances | classification2_id | classification2_node_id | Deprecated. Empty after conversion. |
| estimates | estimation_instances | — | classification3_node_id through classification5_node_id | Added. No legacy equivalent. |
| estimates | classification_systems | All columns | classifications service group | Deprecated. No entries after conversion. |
| estimates | settings | — | forma_classifications | Added. Indicates which model the project uses. |
Data Connector fills the numbered columns from left to right with the classifications each row has, and skips structures that aren't assigned. As a result, the same numbered column can hold a different classification system on different rows.
Don't treat classification1_node_id as a drop-in for classification1_id in pivots, groupings, or filters. Resolve each value to its classification structure, then group on the structure name.
Classification names and codes live in the classifications service group, not in takeoff or estimates. If you extract only Takeoff or Estimate data, classification names disappear as your projects convert.
Add the classifications service group to your extract. Then join classification1_node_id through classification5_node_id to the UUID in the classifications service group. Each matching row also returns the structure name, so you can group by structure.
The quantities table doesn't get the new columns. For converted projects, read classification data from quantity_definitions instead. Join quantities.item_id to takeoff_items, then use takeoff_items.type_id to join to quantity_definitions on type_id and quantity_order.
takeoff_items.content_version identifies the sheet version that a takeoff was measured on. For converted projects, the column holds an Autodesk Files version URN instead of a Sheets ID.
The column type doesn't change, so your extract doesn't show an error. However, the URN doesn't match any row in the sheets service group or any other Data Connector service group. To get the sheet and version details, use the Data Management API.
To find out which kind of sheet reference a project uses, check settings.forma_classifications.
If your extracts include Takeoff or Estimate classification data, do the following:
Add the classifications service group to your extract.
Read classification1_node_id through classification5_node_id instead of classification1_id and classification2_id.
Group and filter by classification structure, not column position.
Allow for up to five classifications per item.
Check settings.forma_classifications for each project and handle both models.
If you trace takeoffs to 2D sheets, resolve takeoff_items.content_version for converted projects through the Data Management API.
Validate your extracts before your projects convert.
| If you use | Do this |
|---|---|
| Saved Takeoff or Estimate report templates that filter, group, or sort by Classification 1 or 2 | Re-create the templates after your project converts. The report shows what you need to update. |
| Custom data pipelines, ETL processes, or dashboards, including custom Power BI reports | Update them to query the new schema. Until you do, they don't show classification data for projects on the new model. |
| Autodesk Power BI templates | The current templates use the legacy schema and don't include the classifications service group. Classification data is missing for projects on the new model. Autodesk plans to release updated templates after all existing projects convert. |
| Insight Builder | No action needed. Autodesk manages these data sets. |
To test your extracts on the new model, create a project on or after October 15, 2026. To set up a test project before that date, contact takeoff.migration.support@autodesk.com.