Manual Tools
Starting a Takeoff (New Takeoff Menu)
The New Takeoff button on the toolbar starts each manual measurement. Each type has its own shape options, and measuring starts as soon as you pick one.
Steps
- Set the sheet scale first. Until a scale is confirmed, New Takeoff stays closed and a pop-out on the Scale selector says "Set the scale before starting any takeoff".
- Click New Takeoff and point at New Area, then choose Polygon (click each corner) or Rectangle (drag a box).
- Or point at New Linear and choose Straight, or Arc for curved runs (click the start, the peak of the curve, then the end of each segment).
- Or choose New Count to click-count items, or point at More Measurements for Linear with Drop, Surface Area, Volume 2D, and Volume 3D.
- Measuring starts right away under an auto-generated name (e.g. "Area 1"). The Measure panel on the right holds the Name, an optional cost Assembly, and the colors.
- Click Finish Measuring (or press Escape) when you're done.
Notes
- •Keys start the same tools: A = Area, M = Linear, C = Count. A and M reuse the shape you last picked in this menu (Polygon or Rectangle, Straight or Arc). Line has no menu item: press L to start one.
- •Alt (Option on Mac) shortcuts start a new takeoff of a given type: Alt + A = Area, Alt + L = Linear, Alt + C = Count, Alt + D = Linear with Drop, Alt + S = Surface Area, Alt + 2 = Volume 2D, Alt + 3 = Volume 3D.
- •New Takeoff is turned off on mobile devices and in narrow browser windows.