What are comment lines?
A comment line is a text note attached to the active service in Ensign X. It does not place any mark on the drawing — it appears only as a line item in the service panel. Crucially, comment lines carry over into the estimating software when you export, so they are visible to anyone reviewing the estimate.
Comment lines are useful for capturing observations, assumptions, and reminders while you are actively looking at the drawing, rather than trying to remember them later.
When to use comment lines
- Flag something for site verification — for example, "Check riser height on site before ordering".
- Record a provisional assumption — for example, "Provisional — awaiting confirmation of luminaire type from architect".
- Leave a note for yourself or a colleague — for example, "Two spare ways allowed in DB" or "Cable route TBC — allowance based on longest feasible route".
- Document a design decision — for example, "Trunking size increased to 225mm to allow for future cabling".
Because comment lines travel with the export, they provide a paper trail of the decisions and assumptions made during takeoff. This is valuable when the estimate is reviewed by a different team member or revisited weeks later.
Adding a comment line
- 1
Make sure the correct service is active in the service panel on the left. The comment will be logged under this service.
- 2
Click the Comment Line button in the toolbar.
- 3
Type your note in the dialog that appears.
- 4
Press OK. The comment appears in the service panel as a line item.
You can add as many comment lines as you need under any service. They appear in the service panel alongside your takeoff items, making it easy to see notes in context.
Comment lines vs text labels
Ensign X provides two different ways to add text during takeoff. It is important to understand the difference:
| Comment line | Text label | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it appears | Service panel only (not on the drawing) | Directly on the drawing |
| Carries to estimating | Yes — logged as a takeoff line item | No — stays on the drawing only |
| Purpose | Notes, assumptions, and reminders for the estimate | Visual annotations on the drawing for reference |
If you need a note that will be seen in the estimating software, use a comment line. If you need a label on the drawing itself (for example, marking a room name or noting a cable route), use a text label from the pen tools.
Comment lines are one of the most underused features in Ensign X. Adding a brief note while you are looking at the drawing takes seconds and can save significant time later when you or a colleague are reviewing the estimate and trying to remember why a particular allowance was made.