Drawing Layers

What are drawing layers?

Some PDF drawings contain built-in layers created by the original CAD or design software. These layers separate different types of information within the same drawing — for example, structural walls, furniture, electrical symbols, and annotations may each sit on their own layer. Ensign X lets you toggle these layers on and off so you can focus on the detail that matters for your takeoff.

In addition to built-in PDF layers, Ensign X creates new layers automatically as you work. Every takeoff operation — whether it is a manual count, a linear measure, or an auto-count — is logged as its own layer. This means you can show or hide your own work independently of the original drawing content.

Opening the layers panel

1. 1

   Click the Layers button in the toolbar to open the layers panel.

2. 2

   If the drawing contains embedded layers, they appear as a list of tick boxes. Each tick box represents one layer within the PDF.

3. 3

   Click the Layers button again to close the panel and return to your normal view.

Toggling layers on and off

To hide a layer, untick its check box in the layers panel. To show it again, tick the box. Changes take effect immediately on the drawing.

This is useful for:

• Removing visual clutter — for example, hiding furniture or room labels so you can see containment routes more clearly.
• Isolating a specific trade — on a multi-discipline drawing, you can hide the mechanical layer to focus on the electrical detail, or vice versa.
• Checking coverage — hiding certain layers helps you spot areas you may have missed.

Takeoff items as layers

Every time you complete a takeoff operation in Ensign X, the result is stored as a separate layer. This applies to:

• Unit counts — each counted item type becomes its own layer.
• Linear measures — each traced run becomes its own layer.
• Area, perimeter, and volume measures — each region becomes its own layer.
• Auto-count results — each symbol type you count is stored as its own layer.
• Background removal — when you remove the background, it is created as a toggleable layer.

You can turn any of these layers on or off from the layers panel, just like the built-in PDF layers.

Using the show/hide tool to track progress

The Show/Hide button (the eye icon in the toolbar) provides a shortcut for managing takeoff layers. When you click it:

1. The software hides all of your counted and measured items at once.
2. The layers panel opens automatically, showing each takeoff layer with its tick box unticked.
3. The drawing displays only the original content that has not yet been taken off.

This gives you a clear view of what remains to be measured or counted. You can turn individual takeoff layers back on at any time by ticking their check box in the layers panel, or press the eye icon again to restore everything.

Tips for working with layers

• Check for layers early. Open the layers panel when you first load a drawing. If the PDF has useful layers (e.g. separating architectural from services detail), you can hide the irrelevant ones before starting your takeoff.
• Use layers alongside background removal. Removing the background creates a layer you can toggle back on at any time. Combined with hiding other layers, this gives you maximum control over what is visible.
• Keep takeoff layers visible during review. Before exporting your work, turn all takeoff layers back on and scroll through the drawing. Coloured markers and lines make it easy to verify that every item has been captured.