Unit Takeoff Tool

Overview

The unit takeoff tool is used for counting individual items — light fittings, accessories, socket outlets, bends, tees, or anything else that needs a simple quantity. Each left-click places a coloured marker on the drawing and adds one to the count. When you have finished, right-click to finalise.

Setting up a unit takeoff

1. 1

   Make sure the correct service is active in the service panel on the left. The count will be logged under this service.

2. 2

   Click the Unit Takeoff button in the toolbar (in the green icons row).

3. 3

   In the dialog that appears, enter a description for the item you are counting — for example, 225 90 Bends.

4. 4

   Choose a colour for the markers that will appear on the drawing. Pick a colour that contrasts with the drawing background so your counts are easy to see.

5. 5

   Set the pixel size to control how large each marker appears on the drawing. If the default is too big or too small for the drawing's zoom level, adjust it now.

6. 6

   Optionally fill in the product code, hours, and cost fields. These carry through to the estimating module and CSV export. You can leave them blank and complete them later.

7. 7

   Press Start.

Counting on the drawing

1. 1

   Left-click on the drawing wherever you need to place a count. Each click adds one to the quantity and drops a coloured marker at the click location.

2. 2

   Use the mouse wheel (press and hold) to pan around the drawing between clicks. This is essential — if you use left-click to drag, you will accidentally place count markers.

3. 3

   When you have finished counting, right-click to finalise. The total quantity is logged in the service panel on the right.

Removing individual markers

If you accidentally place a marker in the wrong position, you do not need to delete the entire count. Simply double-click the incorrect marker to remove that single count without affecting the rest.

Finalising the count

When you right-click to finalise, the count is logged in the service panel under the active service. The entry shows the description you entered and the total quantity — for example, 225 90 Bends — 4.

You can continue to use the same tool to count more of the same item (left-click to place additional markers, right-click to finalise again), or switch to a different tool or item.

Worked example — counting bends on a trunking layout

Suppose you have a section of 225mm trunking on the drawing with several 90-degree changes of direction:

1. Click Unit Takeoff and enter 225 90 Bends as the description.
2. Choose a colour that stands out against the trunking line (e.g. blue on a black drawing).
3. Press Start.
4. Left-click on each visible bend — the marker confirms you have counted it.
5. Hold the mouse wheel and drag to pan along the trunking route as you go.
6. Right-click to finalise once every bend has been marked.

The service panel now shows 225 90 Bends — 4, confirming you counted four bends.