You have the estimate in Presto. You built it line item by line item, with every unit cost breakdown and measurement. And now you need to move it to another program —TrowelApp, the developer's software, the public administration's platform— without losing a single piece of data.
The solution is to export the Presto file in BC3 (FIEBDC) format. In this guide you will find the complete process, step by step, and the configuration options you need to know so the file reaches its destination correctly.
What is the difference between a Presto .PHZ file and a BC3 file?
Presto stores its projects in a proprietary format with the .PHZ extension. This file contains all the project information in a format that only Presto can read and edit directly.
The BC3 file (FIEBDC), on the other hand, is the open standard for exchanging construction estimates in Spain. Any industry program that supports BC3 can import it without needing Presto installed.
In other words: the .PHZ is for internal use in Presto; the BC3 is for sharing with the outside world.
Not sure what the BC3 format is? See: BC3 file: what it is, what it is for and how it is used in project management →
Why you need to convert Presto to BC3
There are three common situations where you need to export your Presto estimate to BC3:
To import it into your construction management software. If you use TrowelApp or another integrated management platform, you need the estimate in BC3 to import it and turn it into the starting point for cost control. Presto's .PHZ file cannot be imported directly into other programs.
To send it to the contractor or developer. When the architect or quantity surveyor prepares the estimate in Presto and needs to send it to a construction company that uses different software, BC3 is the universal format.
To take part in a public tender. The Spanish public administration requires estimates in BC3 format. Exporting from Presto is the standard process for preparing tender documentation.
How to export a Presto file to BC3: step by step
The export process from Presto is straightforward:
Step 1 — Open your project in Presto. Launch Presto on your computer and open the .PHZ file of the project you want to convert to BC3. Check that all the data is complete and up to date before exporting.
Step 2 — Go to File → Export. In Presto's main menu bar, click File and then Export. A submenu will open with the available export options.
Step 3 — Select FIEBDC. In the export menu, choose the FIEBDC option (or "Export to BC3" in some versions). This option generates the file in the standard BC3 format.
Step 4 — Configure the export parameters. Presto will show you a configuration dialog with several options. The most important are:
- FIEBDC version: select FIEBDC-3 (the most compatible with current programs)
- Include cost breakdowns: enable this option if the recipient needs the detail of materials and labor
- Character encoding: use UTF-8 to avoid problems with accents and special characters
- Include measurements: enable if you want the BC3 to include the detailed measurements
Step 5 — Choose the location and save. Select the folder where you want to save the file, give it a descriptive name (for example: estimate-project-name-2026.bc3) and click OK. Presto will generate the .bc3 file in the chosen location.
Step 6 — Check the generated file. Open the file explorer, locate the generated .bc3 file and confirm that it has a reasonable size (it is not empty). If the file is 0 KB or very small, repeat the export and review the parameters.
Configuration options when exporting
These are the options that most affect the quality of the exported BC3:
Format version (FIEBDC-2 vs FIEBDC-3). Always use FIEBDC-3. It is the most compatible version with the current programs on the market. FIEBDC-2 is older and some modern programs may have trouble importing it.
Cost breakdowns. If the recipient needs to see the detail of materials, labor and machinery for each line item, enable the export of cost breakdowns. If they only need the final unit price of each line item, these can be disabled to generate a lighter file.
Measurements. Enable the export of measurements if the BC3 will be used for progress billing or to verify the quantities of each line item. In tenders, administrations usually include the measurements in the BC3.
Encoding. Select UTF-8 to ensure that Spanish special characters (accents, ñ, ü) are exported correctly. With ISO-8859-1, incorrect characters may appear when importing into some programs.
How to import the Presto BC3 into TrowelApp
Once you have the .bc3 file generated from Presto, importing it into TrowelApp takes less than a minute:
- Log in to TrowelApp and open the relevant project
- Go to the Estimates section
- Click Import
- Select the .bc3 file you just exported from Presto
- TrowelApp automatically processes the structure: chapters, line items, measurements and prices
- Check that the data matches the original and save
From that moment on, the Presto estimate is active in TrowelApp and you can start controlling costs, managing purchases and generating progress billing directly from it.
See the full guide: How to import an estimate from a BC3 file in TrowelApp: step-by-step guide →
Common mistakes when converting Presto to BC3
Exporting in FIEBDC-2 instead of FIEBDC-3. Some modern programs have trouble importing the FIEBDC-2 version. Always export in FIEBDC-3 unless the recipient specifically requests another version.
Not including the cost breakdowns and then needing them. If the BC3 arrives without cost breakdowns and the recipient needs them, the export will have to be repeated. It is better to include them by default.
Special character issues. If the characters appear as strange symbols when importing the BC3 into another program, the problem is the encoding. Repeat the export with UTF-8 encoding.
The generated file is empty or incomplete. This can happen if Presto does not have an active license for BC3 export or if there is an error in the project. Check that the license includes the FIEBDC export function and that the project has no structural errors.
Confusing the .PHZ extension with .BC3. The .PHZ file is the Presto project, it is not a BC3. The BC3 is generated after the export process and has the .bc3 extension. Never try to import a .PHZ directly into TrowelApp.
Is there an alternative to Presto that already works natively in BC3?
Presto is excellent for advanced technical estimating. However, it has one important limitation: it is desktop (on premise) software and does not manage the project during execution. Once the project is awarded, the Presto estimate has to be exported to BC3 and imported into another platform for cost control, purchasing and invoicing.
TrowelApp is Presto's natural complementary platform in Spain. The usual workflow of many Spanish construction companies is: estimate in Presto → export to BC3 → import into TrowelApp → manage the project from TrowelApp.
But if you are looking for a solution that unifies estimating and project management in a single cloud system, TrowelApp also lets you create estimates directly inside the platform, without needing Presto as an intermediate step.
Frequently asked questions
What extension does the BC3 file generated from Presto have?
The extension is .bc3. Make sure the file has this extension before trying to import it into another program. If it has a .phz extension, it is not a BC3, it is Presto's native file.
Is the BC3 exported from Presto compatible with TrowelApp?
Yes, completely. TrowelApp imports BC3 files in FIEBDC-3 format, which is what Presto generates by default. The import process is automatic and requires no additional configuration.
Can I export only part of the Presto project in BC3?
Yes. Presto lets you select which chapters or parts of the estimate to include in the export. Useful when you only need to send a specific chapter to a subcontractor.
Is data lost when exporting from Presto to BC3?
It depends on the configuration. If you include cost breakdowns, measurements and notes in the export, the information will be complete. If you export only the summary without cost breakdowns, the detail of materials and labor will be lost.
Can I import the Presto BC3 directly into TrowelApp from the tender?
Yes. If the administration delivers the project in BC3, you can import it directly into TrowelApp without going through Presto. The tender file is already in the correct format.
Conclusion
Converting a Presto file to BC3 is a 5-step process that is completed in less than 5 minutes. The key is to configure the export parameters correctly: FIEBDC-3 version, UTF-8 encoding and cost breakdowns included.
Once you have the .bc3 file, you can import it into TrowelApp and instantly turn it into the engine for cost control, purchasing and progress billing of the project.
How Trowel helps you
If you manage many projects and want to eliminate the intermediate step of exporting from Presto on every project, TrowelApp lets you create estimates directly inside the platform, without needing Presto as an intermediate step, and link them instantly to purchasing, cost control and progress billing. The result is the same BC3, but without leaving the platform.
Request a free demo and discover how TrowelApp simplifies the management of your BC3 estimates → Book a demo
