Open topic with navigation

Digital Takeoff

Viewpoint MEP Estimating, version 10.3

• Count Symbols. Enhancements have been made in the Drawing Tools area and for creating and editing symbols. Access the Drawing Tools options through the Takeoff Tools Panel in Digital Takeoff.

•  The Select Count Symbol area reorganized to show more information about the active symbol

•  A tool tip has been added when you hover any symbol that has a name

• A label has been added showing the name of the Active Symbol

• The Edit Symbols button has been added for easy access to Customize Symbols window

• The Customize Symbols window has a new Size column. Select this box if you want to save the symbol’s current size for use on all sheets, across all jobs. Un-checking this box will cause the symbol to use the default size of each sheet that it is used on. In Customize Symbols, you can:

• Add: opens the Add Symbol window      

• Edit: opens the Edit Symbol window

• Delete: deletes the current symbol

• Copy/Paste: Highlight the row of the symbol you want to copy, select Copy. Then move to the location in the list where you want the copied symbol to appear and select Paste.

• Move Up/Move Down: Highlight the row of the symbol you want to move, then click Move Up or Move Down to move the symbol one position at a time to the desired location in the symbols list. You can also Drag & Drop symbols to reorder them.

• Clear All: de-selects all of your checked Selected Symbols

• Select Top Symbols: The Set Defaults button has been re-named Select Top Symbols to more accurately describe selecting the top 36 symbols.

• On the Add and Edit Symbol screens, you can now select Remember Size Across All Sheets to save and use the symbol’s size across all sheets and jobs. Check Selected to add this symbol to the Digital Takeoff Tools Palette.

• The Sheet Browser has been added to the main Digital Takeoff tool bar. Click the Sheet Browser icon to open the Sheet Browser window that displays thumbnail images of your drawings. See the Help topic, Sheet Browser for more details (Digital Takeoff > The Digital Takeoff Application > Sheet Browser).

Viewpoint MEP Estimating, version 10.2

• The System Preferences tabs have been re-structured with the addition of tabs for Display and Image Import. The settings options remain the same; they have simply been reorganized to keep similar settings on the same tab. See Digital Takeoff Preferences.

• There is a new option in Digital Takeoff Preferences where you can select to automatically take off a fitting with your lines. Go to Digital Takeoff > Preferences to open the System Preferences window. On the Settings tab, use the Line Options setting to determine if you want Estimating to take off duct and fittings or duct only.See Digital Takeoff Preferences.

• In Digital Takeoff, you can now create a new sheet from a custom view. Use the new Add Sheet option. See the Custom Views tab in the Takeoff Tools Panel.

• Continuous Line is a new tool in Digital Takeoff. Continuous Line functions like Segmented line, however, if you finish the line by switching to takeoff or pressing a takeoff key, MEP Estimating starts a new line where the previous line ended. See Continuous Line for details.

Viewpoint MEP Estimating, version 10.1

• When using Digital Takeoff, the mouse as a pointer finger has been replaced with cross-hairs providing more accurate scale measurements when compensating the sheet.

• Show Selected: Previously, deleting items from takeoff only deleted the linked Digital Takeoff items on the current sheet; if items existed on other sheets, they wouldn’t be removed. Now, “Show Selected” displays groups on other sheets and the Delete function deletes annotations on other sheets by grouping them and deleting them, sheet by sheet.

Estimating, version 10.0

• New options on the Drawing Tools tab on the Takeoff Tools Panel for Marker and Area. Now, you can change the Marker color and thickness and Area color from the Drawing Tools pane while you are working in the drawing making it easy to categorize your drawing before taking off the items. These items are still available for setting in System Preferences > Colors & Tools tab. If the tools are updated in the Colors and Tools tab, they will then be updated on the Drawing Tools panel.

• Select Marker Color/Thickness: These options allow you to select the marker color and the thickness of your annotation lines.

• Area Color: This option allows you to select the area color used to highlight areas that you are selecting on the current drawing. The area measurement is displayed in the bottom left corner of the work area. When you select the Area Color, Area becomes the active annotation.

• The Area & Trace Area tools now display segment lengths for each side of the area (rectangle/polygon) as they are being drawn. The last segment displays the total area. The total Sq ft (or Sq M) of the highlighted area is displayed in the left panel of the Status Bar labeled Marked Area.

• You can Copy & Pasteannotations linked with an associated takeoff. Copy/Paste works between sections and sheets. While in Digital Takeoff, you can copy/paste by using the Edit menu, by right-clicking or by using the hot keys (CTRL-C / CTRL-V). If the annotations are linked to Takeoff, the linked items will be copied and updated. Note: You must be connected for the annotations to be copied and updated to Takeoff. If you are not connected, you will get a warning prompt.

• Estimating will save each annotation’s size independently. This information is stored per user and will be used for any job that user works on. The first time you take off a symbol, Estimating will use the current sheet's default size for the annotation’s size. After this, the symbol will always be taken off at that size (unless you re-size an existing symbol). These retained size preferences will also be used for drop elbows, SLT elbows & fittings, etc. 

• Add Custom Symbols in Digital Takeoff. You can add, edit or delete count symbols through the Drawing Tools tab in the Takeoff Tools panel (double click Active Symbol) or through Digital Takeoff System Preferences > Colors & Tools tab. See Customize Symbols.

• New features on the main toolbar:

• Pan: Click the new Pan Image icon on the tool bar will activate this feature. Your mouse will function as the pan tool that allows you to move across your drawing. Click the Pan Image icon again to toggle this feature off and resume normal mouse functions. Another way to pan in your drawing is to hold the CTRL key while holding down the left or center mouse buttons moving in the direction you want to see.

• Add Rise / Add Drop / Add Run: These new options on the toolbar allow you to manually mark on drawings where a line turns. In the Digital Takeoff Preferences > Colors & Tools tab, you can define a different symbol for each. You can also select the checkbox for Show All Drop Items to display all of the annotations associated with the drop versus the just a single symbol. When using this tool, click on the drawing where the turns occur and Estimating places the appropriate symbol at those spots. When you Finish takeoff, Estimating adds the drop line and elbows. You can then take off those items in Estimating Takeoff. See Other Digital Takeoff Drawing Tools.

• Finish w/ Rise, Finish w/ Drop, Finish w/ Run: These new options are on the toolbar as well as on the right-click menu. When drawing a line, these options finish the line annotation and add a turn in the line at each break (of a segmented line) and at the last point of the annotation. See Other Digital Takeoff Drawing Tools.
  

• Estimating now prompts you for the drop length if this value was not specified before using line drawing tools or clicking Add Vertical Drop and Finish or Add Horizontal Run and Finish. Additionally, the option to Drop & Continue has been added to the right click menu. Using this enables you to add the drop and two elbows at every point where you select the annotation.

• When adding a revision from the Update Plan dialog, Estimating now populates the filename into the Revision Information field.  

• New warnings for deleting sheets have been added to Digital Takeoff: If you are connected in Digital takeoff, deleting sheets will remove all annotations and entries associated with that sheet.  An “Undo” will only restore the takeoff items, not the sheets or the annotations.

• Simplified the process to pick a symbol and perform counts automatically. If you change the Marker Color/Thickness in the Marker options, this will update the active tool along the top tool bar making Marker the active tool. The same is true for changing Area Color (Area becomes active) or Line style/Thickness (Segmented Line becomes active).

• Simplified the process for taking off counts while measuring line segments. Use the middle mouse button/ wheel to switch to the count, it returns you to the active tool you were using.  See the Help topic Count for more information.

• In System Preferences, on the Settings tab, there is a new option for Auto-Width mode where you can specify the thickness of lines to fill a run of duct/pipe, etc.

• In System Preferences, on the Integration tab, there is a new section for linking sheets, similar to how you link layers. Add a check-mark next to Link Sheets and then select a Level Type in the field next to it to integrate your sheets with the selected Takeoff Level Type. Once you have established your integration, all sheets you add to Digital Takeoff automatically import into the selected level type. Changes to the sheets will update the Takeoff Levels (and vice versa).

• 132485A message prompt has been added to the Check In / Check Out Estimate function to remind you that drawings and annotations are not saved or checked in or out with the job/estimate. 

• 112701ALLEST

• In System Preferences, the Colors & Tools tab has new options: Initial Annotation Color, Use Drawing Tools Line Style & Width, Drop Options, Symbols.

• Digital Takeoff now retains the zoom factor and position of each sheet (per user) during an active session. Once you exit Digital Takeoff, the zoom/position reverts back to the entire sheet view and will need to be re-set when you start your next session.

• 125320 ALThe filename length has been increased to 250 characters in Digital Takeoff.

• 113787 The Current Sheet drop-down selection box now allows you to view long sheet names in their entirety. After clicking the down arrow, you can hover over the sheet name to see the complete sheet name.

• In Digital Takeoff, if you attempt to change the scale of a sheet that has annotations on it, you will be prompted with confirmations and warnings. If you want to change the scale of a sheet with linked annotations and you are not connected to Takeoff, a warning message will display. If you proceed to change the scale without being linked to Takeoff, differing quantities in Takeoff and Digital Takeoff will result. NOTE: Changing the scale without being connected is NOT recommended.

• Sheet Alignment Tool: A new Zoom toggle has been added for users who are not using a scroll wheel mouse when using the Realign feature in the Sheet Alignment Tool. The zoom icon is a toggle to turn on zoom capabilities if you are not using a mouse with a scroll wheel. Click the icon to activate the zoom. When you press the right mouse button, the cursor changes to cross-hairs. You can now zoom-use the left mouse button to zoom in and use the right mouse button to zoom out. Click the zoom icon again to toggle the function off; the cursor changes back to the standard hand and the mouse buttons resume normal behavior.

• As of Estimating release 9.5, sheets are NOT shared among different applications (i.e., HVAC and Mechanical or Electrical and Mechanical) for the same job. For example, if a set of sheets are loaded in Job 123 Mechanical takeoff, if you open Job 123 from HVAC, there will be no sheets visible.

• Estimating tracks where (in which application) sheets are created. All new sheets will be tied to the current application (Mechanical, HVAC, Electrical) and will not appear in a different application.

• It is possible to have two sheets with the same name loaded in one job, but they will be in different application estimates, so you are not able to see the other application's annotations.

• All existing sheets from previous versions of Estimating will still be visible in all three applications.

Estimating, version 9.5

• You can now import color drawings into Digital Takeoff. The Get Plans window has been updated to allow you to select a color image as your output.

• Sheet Revisions will convert all color drawings into grayscale (if necessary) when calculating the revisions.
  Note: Shape Recognition will still convert all images to black & white (if necessary).

• The Display Quality option on the toolbar will now default to “Scale to gray” after you import a drawing into Digital Takeoff. If a color or grayscale drawing is imported then the default display quality will be set to “Resample”. 

• InDigital Takeoff, the Finish button has been removed from the Create Custom Views window. Estimating will automatically "finish" the view once you press the second point on the highlighting rectangle. Capturing a view now works the same way as the Area Marker & Shape Recognition features: left-click & hold, drag the rectangle, and then release the button to capture a view.

• You can now create custom views on sheets that already have annotations. Remember, however, that annotations are not copied into the view.

• TheSheet Import Managerhas been updated to support color and grayscale drawings and to improve usability.
  The toolbar functions have also been reorganized. Note: Display quality defaults to "Scale to gray", unless it is a color or grayscale image, in which case the default is "Resample".

• The Scale and Override Compensation features have been improved.

• You can now use the Scale and Override Compensation functions on enhanced images.

• In addition to being able to manually set the scale, you can now select a predefined Architectural or Engineering scale for your drawing.

Estimating, version 9.4.3

Estimating has made changes to improve the quality of images in Digital Takeoff.

• On the System Preferences screen and when using Sheet Import and Manage Revisions, you can select Image Import Quality and Image Conversion to B&W Options.

• • Image Import Quality: The Image Import Quality options allow you to select the DPI (dots per inch) resolution for the image. Select:

  • • Standard (Default): This setting is equivalent to 100 DPI

    • Medium: This setting is equivalent to 150 DPI or

    • High: This setting is equivalent to 200 DPI

  • Image Conversion to B&W Options: This method presumes that sheet images are stored as a B&W (black and white) or 1-Bit image. Each point or pixel can only be either black or white in the original drawing. Select from the options below:

  • • Dither Type 1: This option represents Pattern 1.

    • Dither Type 2: This option represents Pattern 2.

    • Threshold to B&W: This option allows Estimating to select the threshold point based on the characteristics of the image automatically, no dithering to represent gray is performed.

    • Enhance Image Before Conversion: This option performs automated manipulations on the image to improve quality before importing it. This uses a histogram to make the difference between intensity levels more distinguishable before conversion.

    • Use Sheet Import Manager for Single Page PDFs: This option allows you to use the Sheet Import Manager tool (even for single page PDFs) so that you can see the different effects on the image before importing the sheet. 

See the Help topic System Preferences (Settings tab) or Loading Sheets into Digital Takeoff for more details.

• Improvements to Sheet Import Manager, please see the Help topic Sheet Import Manager for details:  

• • You can now select layers on PDFs that have multiple sheets. When importing the drawings, you will receive a prompt that the “.pdf contains XX layers and  XX sheets, would you like to select which layers and which sheets that you want to import?”. Estimating gives the same prompt for sheets only and layers only when you load the sheet.

  • The Sheet Import Manager toolbar now includes all the feature’s options, including Image Options, which opens the Drawing Format Options dialog that contains the options for selecting Image Resolution (DPI), Image Enhancements and Image Type (dithering settings).

Estimating, version 9.4.1

• For AutoCAD Imports, you now have the option for “Override Auto Size Match and Save to Session Only”. Use this checkbox when you need to select the size for items such as accessories or fixtures, rather than having the system automatically import the size as it is in the import file. 
  See the Help topic Import from CAD for more details.

• • Sizes should not be overridden for normal pipe and pipe fittings that have a size specified. 

  • The size you select will be for the current import session only.

  • Once you select the checkbox, the Size drop down field becomes available.

Estimating, version 9.4

• The Digital Takeoff Archive Tool has been updated to include a splash screen so you will know that the program is opening or processing. You must manually uninstall your existing Tool (from Start > Programs) and then re-install the new one from Utilities > Install DT Archive Tool.

• The two enhancements below make using Digital Takeoff more seamless and reduce the number of keystrokes or mouse-input that is necessary to take items off.

• • Digital Takeoff will now process PowerPad keys, so you can measure lines or count annotations and immediately press the PowerPad key to take them off. Previously, you had to switch from Digital Takeoff back to Takeoff before pressing a key to take off an item. When pressing one of the item keys in Digital Takeoff, Estimating will automatically switch to Takeoff, process the key, prompt for additional input (if necessary), and return to Digital Takeoff.

  • Digital Takeoff will now process using the size key on the PowerPad or the F2 key on the standard keyboard. Previously, you had to switch focus from Digital Takeoff back to Takeoff before pressing the size key (F2) to change the size. To use this feature, press Size/F2 in Digital Takeoff, this will return you to Takeoff and prompt you for a size. Type the size or use the size keys predefined on the PowerPad or onscreen keypad. When you are finished, the program will switch back to Digital Takeoff automatically. 

• In Digital Takeoff Preferences, in the Database tab, the saved defaults in the Folders section have been updated to include Plan Room and Internet Site. Entering the Plan Room and/or Internet Site here will enable Estimating to populate those fields when retrieving sheets.

• A new cursor is being used for the Count operation in Digital Takeoff. This will make it easier for you to know what function is active when moving in and out of Count mode.

• The “Area” color is now a brighter yellow to make it easier to view.

• If you select multiple areas, the status bar now shows the total square footage of the area, including any overlap.

• When creating a new estimate and going into Digital Takeoff for the first time, Estimating will populate that estimate with its default layers, created from the layer templates.

• Estimating has enhanced Digital Takeoff's import of .PDFs to improve the clarity of the images and to address issues with inaccuracies arising from using manual compensation of drawings imported at different resolutions.

• Using layers in Digital Takeoff has been improved:

• 1. • There are additional messages for duplicates

     • You can add a duplicate layer by renaming it

     • Right-click editing capabilities are in place, as well as double-clicking on the layer to open the Edit dialog

     • The ability to use the Delete key to remove layers has been enabled

• You can now integrate your Digital Takeoff Layers with a Level Type in Takeoff. Now, changes to the name and/or description of Layers will update the integrated Level and vice versa. Assigning an annotation to a layer will update the corresponding item’s level, and changing the item’s level will alter the linked annotation’s layer assignment.

To support this integration, there is a new tab for Integration settings in Digital Takeoff > Preferences. The options in this tab allow you to copy or import systems from Takeoff and create layers for each of them in Digital Takeoff. This eliminates having to enter layers for jobs in both Takeoff and Digital Takeoff. Once you link layers on the Integration tab, new layers assigned to that division will automatically create matching levels.

• When assigning layers, you can now associate individual layers with a specific division: HVAC, Electrical, or Mechanical. Layers which are not assigned to one of these divisions (and all layers created in previous versions of Estimating) will be assigned to the division “Any.” Layers with the “Any” division will always display. On the “Layers”, “Assign To Layers”, and “Choose Active Layer” dialogs, you can filter out the layers belonging to other divisions, so they are not displayed.

• The new Sheet Import Manager enables you to save .PDF drawings to a common folder or the Digital Takeoff repository, selecting only the pages or layers that you'll need in Digital Takeoff. The Sheet Import Manager is a tool for handling multiple-pages or multiple layers in a .PDF. This tool is available from File > Sheet ImportManager in Digital Takeoff. It can be run at any time. The Sheet Import Manager will also open if you select a multi-page or multi-layered .PDF from the Get Plans window.

This tool allows you to select and process individual pages or layers so that only the needed drawings are extracted and saved to a common area for import into Digital Takeoff. This will eliminate unneeded pages in Digital Takeoff.
See the Help topic, Sheet Import Manager for more information.

Estimating, version 9.3

• The Digital Takeoff Archive Tool is now installed and accessed from within Estimating. To install the Digital Takeoff Archive Tool, go to the main Estimating screen and select Utilities > Install DT Archive Tool. To run the Digital Takeoff Archive Tool, go to Utilities >> Run DT Archive Tool. See Digital Takeoff Archive Tool.

Note: The Digital Takeoff Archive Tool should only be installed if you are using Digital Takeoff.

• In Shape Recognition, the status bar displays the count of currently selected items ready to be taken off.

• Performance has been improved in Shape Recognition in a variety of areas including loading, processing, and drawing.  

Estimating, version 9.2

• In Manage Sheet Revisions, the original sheet will default to red and the first revision will default to green to help you see differences. The second revision will be blue; the third revision will be purple, the fourth green and the fifth yellow. You may change these colors by clicking the color cell.

• Estimating now has a Sheet Alignment Tool. This new tool allows you to correct alignment issues between two sheet images. From the Manage Revisions window, select the sheets you want to align and select the Realign button. The Sheet Alignment Tool will start and you will be able to line up your sheets, as well as rotate and/or resize them if needed.

• New options in Preferences on the Single Line Takeoff tab.

• • A checkbox for Use Standard Drawing Tools Defaults has been added under the Default Options for Single Line Takeoff. If you place a checkmark in the Use Standard Drawing Tools Defaults checkbox, the preferences selected in the Sheet Setup for Single Line Takeoff and/or Drop Options will be used. Checking this box will override the SLT default colors, line styles, etc. and replace them with the main Digital Takeoff current settings in the Takeoff Tools panel. When Use Defaults is checked, color and style options in Preferences are hidden.

  • You can set the Transparency of annotations so that you can see the actual drawings when lines are on top of them. The range for transparency is from 0 (not transparent) to 75 (very transparent).

  • When you select the new Auto (thickness) checkbox the entire pipe or duct will fill with color, overriding the specified line thickness.

Note: The default settings for Transparency and Auto thickness are set in System Preferences. Both options are also available from the Takeoff Tools menu.

• • At the bottom right, there is a checkbox for Line 90. Use this check box to have Estimating default to automatically taking off elbows when using the Right Angles 90 measuring tool.

• Added the Trace Area tool which allows you to highlight a specific building or area on the sheet image that is an odd shape. Left-click from point to point to outline the area. Then end with a right-click at the final point.

• The Override Compensation feature allows you to manually set the scale of your drawings. Override Compensation is located on the Sheet Setup tab on the Takeoff Tools Panel.

• Shape Recognition Search Parameters

• • If you add or edit an image, it will be saved when you select Save & Exit. The Cancel button is no longer on the screen.

  • You can add a Group name and Notes for images that you add to the search feature.

  • You can right-click on the Search For header to open the Search For filter window.

  • You can left-click on the Group header to sort the list alphabetically.

  • You can right-click on the Group header to filter the groups that you set up.

• In Shape Recognition, images will be “scaled to fit” in the display column, so the entire image is visible.

• Setting a layer active will set the color and line style/size in Takeoff Tools.

• When you select Print Image or File >> Print Drawing, the first option you will see is for Select Printer. Here, you can select and set your default printer, properties, range and number of copies. Then, you can select your Print Options. These two features were previously combined.

• The Digital Takeoff Main Toolbar icons have changed.

• The Digital Takeoff Sub-Toolbar icons have changed.

• You can customize the toolbar in Digital Takeoff. Right-click on the toolbar and then select Customize. Highlight the tools that you want to add or delete from the toolbar and choose to Add or Remove them.

Estimating, version 9.1

• New options have been added to the Custom View Image window.  You can now keep your Custom Image on top of your Sheet Image by using the Always on Top option. Furthermore, you can adjust the size of your Custom View by using the Zoom Bar on the left side of the window.
   

• The default Takeoff Tools color for new users is now Red instead of Black.
   

• You can now control the quality of your imported PDFs through a new option in the Preferences > Settings tab.  Under Image Quality you can choose to import your PDFs at 72, 150, or 300 dpi.  While lower quality images will speed up processing time, higher resolutions are more effective when using the Shape Recognition tool.
   

• New options have been added to the Single Line Takeoff tab of the Preferences window.  These options allow you to set the symbols used to represent 90 degree angle, 45 degree angle, and end fittings when using Single Line Takeoff.
   

• Notepad can now be printed.  To do so either click Print Notepad or select the File > Print Notepad option.
   

• You can now customize the annotation symbols that appear on the Drawing Tools panel.  To access the Customize Icons window, double-click the Active Symbol box.  
  
  To select the symbols you wish to use, either check or uncheck the Select box by each symbol.  When finished, click Apply.  You must have 36 of the 130 icons selected for use before you can exit the window.  For more information, see Customize Icons.
   

• A new tool, Area Marker has been added.  The Area Marker tool allows you to highlight an area on your Count Worksheet.  This marked area is not linked to any Item and does not appear in the Notepad.  Furthermore, the Sq Ft/ Sq M of the highlighted area is displayed on the status bar of the Count Worksheet.  You can select the color used to mark an area in Preferences.
  
  To access the Area Marker, go to Takeoff > Mark/Measure Area or click its button on the Takeoff Mode toolbar.  For more information, see Other Digital Takeoff Tools.
   

•  A new tool, Marker, has been added to the Takeoff Mode toolbar.  The Marker tool allows you create lines on your Count Worksheet that are not linked to any Item and does not appear on the Notepad.  
  
  To access the Marker, either go to Takeoff  > Marker or click the its button on the Takeoff Mode toolbar.  The line thickness and color is set in Preferences.  For more information, see Other Digital Takeoff Tools.
   

• New Takeoff Drawing Tools have been added:  90-Degree Angle Line, Curved Line, and Free Hand Trace.  

1. 90-Degree Angle Line: This tool allows you to draw lines that include a 90 degree right-angle.

2. Curved Line:  This tool allows you to create lines that curve.

3. Free Hand Trace:  This tool allows you to draw lines without help or restrictions from the software.

For more information, see Takeoff Drawing Tools Descriptions.  
 

•  Digital Takeoff Layers have undergone several changes:

• •  Various user interface and window changes (i.e. Preferences, Takeoff Tools Panel, etc.)

  •  You can now preset Line style, width and color.

  •  Layer names must be unique, no duplicate names are permitted.

  •  New Estimates and Jobs will automatically inherit the templates that have been previously set up as long as no layers are already defined in the estimate.  

  • A new field, Active Layer, has been added to the Takeoff Tools Panel.  This new field allows you to assign the Active Takeoff Layer.

  • Layers with annotations associated with them can not be deleted until the annotations are removed.

  • When on a network:  

1. 1. 1. Layers can be edited for each Estimate, however if a user changes line style/color, the existing takeoff will not be automatically changed to the new color/style.

      2. Layer color/style is a shared setting for all users.

      3. Layer viewing preferences are stored as a per user setting based on your Network User login name.

For more detailed information on the Layer changes, see Layers.
 

• If applicable, Line length values will now be printed when using the File >Print > Drawing with Annotation option.

•  A wait cursor now displays when the program is saving your Custom Views.

Estimating, version 9.0

• You can now archive or backup your Digital Takeoff data (sheets, annotations, Estimating links, etc) with the new Digital Takeoff Archive Tool (DTAT).  The DTAT is a separate utility program that can be installed by running the Digital Takeoff Archive Tool.exe file.  This file is copied to the “C:\Program File\Estimating\Logistics\Setups” folder if you had Digital Takeoff selected when you installed Estimating.

Note: The directory mentioned above may be different if you chose not to use the default directory when installing Estimating.  

After installing, you can access the program, it can be run by clicking the Digital Takeoff Archive icon on your Desktop, or by selecting Digital Takeoff Archive from the Start > Programs Files > Estimating > Estimating menu.  

Note:  The DTAT must be installed on the computer/server which has the Digital Takeoff SQL database.  You must also have Administrator rights to properly use the DTAT.

For further information, see the Digital Takeoff Archive Tool topic.

• Deleting items in Standard Takeoff that are linked to annotations in Digital Takeoff will now cause the annotations to also be deleted, provided that Digital Takeoff is connected.  Please note that this new behavior only applies when the Standard Takeoff item is deleted, not when its quantity has been changed.

•  You can now make annotations permanent on a drawing by saving a new copy of the original image with annotations included.  New drawings can be saved as BMP, JPG, PNG, or HI RES PDF images.  To use this new feature either go to File > Save Drawing or click Save Image on the Digital Takeoff toolbar.  Additionally, in the Preferences window, you can configure the default behavior of the Save Image button.

• You can now print your Digital Takeoff Sheets to different printers.  To do so, first use the Select Printer & Options button in the Print Drawing window.  Next, choose the Printer button to open the Page Setup window.  Finally, choose your printer using the Printer: Name drop-down list.  Additionally, in the Preferences window, you can configure the default behavior of the Print Image button.

•  The Digital Takeoff Notepad can now store up to 50,000 lines per Job.

•  You can now select and delete multiple sheets at once from the Job Plans box in the Takeoff > Get Plans window.

• You now have the ability to change the default colors and line styles of Single Line Takeoff, Consolidated Single Line Takeoff and Drop Color.  These new options are available on the Single Line Takeoff and Drop Color Options tab in the Preferences > System Preferences window.

Note: Consolidated Single Line Takeoff is only available in Mechanical estimating.

• When using the Manage Sheet Revisions feature, you can now load a Sheet directly from the Existing Drawings window.  To do so, highlight the drawing you want to use and click Load.    

• You can now create customized views of your Digital Takeoff Sheets.  After you scale your Sheet, click on the Customized Views button in the Takeoff Tool panel.  A new set of options will then appear; allowing you to select a portion of your drawing which can be displayed as you draw annotations.    

Note: Any custom views must be created before you begin takeoff.

• The rectangles surrounding selected annotations are now bigger, better illustrating which items are being highlighted.

• Digital Takeoff now features Shape Recognition.  The Shape Recognition tool is designed to automate the drawing of Count annotations.  The tool scans an image and looks for closed objects, which it then compares to the parameters you have created.  If it finds a match, it will highlight the object.  After confirming and/or adjusting the tool's findings, the objects are then added to your Digital Takeoff Sheet as Count annotations.  For more information, see the Shape Recognition topic.
   

• Digital Takeoff will now display markers when you draw annotations with drop added.                                               
  In addition, you now have the ability to assign the Installation Type for the added Drop (horizontal/vertical) in Standard Takeoff.
   

• When the Show Selected button is used in Standard Takeoff, the corresponding items(s) may have been selected in Digital Takeoff, but not visible due to your zoom settings.  In order to better display the item, Digital Takeoff will now auto-zoom to the item(s) as needed.