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GAEB file formats explained
A GAEB file name tells you two things: the letter is the format (X, P or D) and the number is the step of the tender (81 to 89). This page explains both, shows one item in all three formats and links to a page for each common file type. The viewer opens any of them.
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How to read a GAEB file name
The letter and the number of the extension, then the same item, 01.01.0010, written in GAEB 90, GAEB DA 2000 and GAEB DA XML.
What the file holds
| Part of the name | Means | Note |
|---|---|---|
| X… | GAEB DA XML | The current standard, version 3.3. |
| P… | GAEB DA 2000 | Keyword format. No longer supported by the GAEB. |
| D… | GAEB 90 | Line format with 80 characters per line. No longer supported by the GAEB. |
| …81 to …89 | Exchange phase | The step in the tender, for example 83 = request for quotation, 84 = bid. |
The sample, explained
| Sample | What it says |
|---|---|
| GAEB 90 (D83) | |
| Item 01.01.0010 as records: 21 with OZ, item type, quantity and unit in fixed columns, 25 short text, 26 long text. |
| GAEB DA 2000 (P83) | |
| The same item as a Position block: [OZ], [Menge] with a decimal comma, [ME], and the long text as RTF. |
| GAEB DA XML (X83) | |
| The same item as an Item element: Qty and QU, then the texts in Description. |
Tender phase
The exchange phases
GAEB DA XML 3.3 defines these phases for LV data, plus phases for quantities, costs and trade. GAEB 90 and GAEB DA 2000 use the same numbers from 81 to 86.
| Phase | Name | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Universal LV data | Any LV data, not tied to a step of the tender. |
| 81 | Leistungsbeschreibung (description of works) | The LV with its texts, as the planner hands it to the client. Usually without prices. |
| 82 | Kostenanschlag (cost estimate) | The LV with estimated prices, for award decisions and cost control. |
| 83 | Angebotsaufforderung (request for quotation) | The LV without prices, sent to the companies invited to bid. |
| 84 | Angebotsabgabe (bid) | The bidder's prices, text additions and free quantities, sent back to the client. |
| 85 | Nebenangebot (alternative bid) | A bid with an alternative way of execution, if the client allows it. |
| 86 | Auftragserteilung (contract award) | The award to the most economical bid. With it, the construction contract is concluded. |
| 87 | Auftragsbestätigung (order confirmation) | The contractor confirms the order. |
| 89 | Rechnung (invoice) | The invoice with items and quantities, which can be backed by quantity take-offs. |
| 93–97 | Trade (Handel) | Between contractor and manufacturer or wholesaler: price request (93), price offer (94), order (96), order confirmation (97). |
Three generations of the format
| Format | Files | Status |
|---|---|---|
| GAEB DA XML | .X80 to .X89, plus other phases | The current standard, version 3.3 (edition 2023-01). |
| GAEB DA 2000 | .P81 to .P86 | Keyword format. No longer supported by the GAEB. |
| GAEB 90 | .D81 to .D86 | Line format with fixed columns. No longer supported by the GAEB. |
Open and convert
How to open and convert GAEB files
The same options apply to every GAEB file, whatever its letter and number.
| Task | How |
|---|---|
| Read it now | Drop the file into the viewer at the top of this page. It opens X8x, P8x and D8x files in your browser; the file is not uploaded. |
| Excel or CSV | In the viewer, choose Excel (.xlsx) or CSV: one row per item with OZ, short and long text, quantity, unit and prices. |
| Open the print view in the viewer and save it as PDF. | |
| Work with it | AVA or estimating software with a GAEB interface. The BVBS certifies such interfaces for GAEB DA XML 3.1 to 3.3. |
| Convert between versions | The GAEB converter turns GAEB 90 and GAEB 2000 into GAEB DA XML 3.3 of the same phase. The viewer converts GAEB to Excel, CSV and PDF. |
PDF and Excel tenders
Not every tender comes as GAEB.
Many bills of quantities still arrive as PDF, scan or Excel, and someone types them in. Mercura reads tenders in GAEB and PDF and suggests matching articles from your catalogue for every item, so a PDF tender is handled like an X83.
FAQ
Questions about GAEB files.
Three generations: GAEB 90 (files .D81 to .D86), GAEB DA 2000 (.P81 to .P86) and GAEB DA XML (.X80 to .X89 and more), whose current version is 3.3. The letter names the format, the number the exchange phase.
They are the exchange phases of a tender: 81 description of works, 82 cost estimate, 83 request for quotation, 84 bid, 85 alternative bid and 86 contract award. GAEB DA XML adds 87 for the order confirmation and 89 for the invoice.
Usually an X83, sometimes a D83 or P83: the bill of quantities without prices. You answer with the bid, phase 84, in the format the client asks for.
GAEB DA XML, version 3.3 (edition 2023-01). The GAEB no longer supports the older formats GAEB 90 and GAEB DA 2000, but files in them are still in use.
Trade phases of GAEB DA XML: with an X93 the bidder asks a manufacturer or wholesaler for prices of products from the LV, the X94 is their price offer, the X96 the order and the X97 the order confirmation.
Yes. The free GAEB converter at mercura.ai/tools/gaeb-converter turns GAEB 90 and GAEB DA 2000 into GAEB DA XML 3.3 of the same phase and lists anything it cannot carry over. AVA software can do it too. The viewer on this page converts GAEB files to Excel, CSV and PDF.
GAEB formats
More GAEB formats, explained.
X83
Request for quotation
The bill of quantities without prices that bidders receive.
D83
Request for quotation, GAEB 90
The same request in the GAEB 90 line format.
X84
Bid
The bidder's prices for every item number.
X81
Description of works
The description of works from the planner.
P83
Request for quotation, GAEB 2000
The request in the GAEB 2000 keyword format.