Measurements
Available onEstimatorBuilder
A measurement (also called a take-off field) is a named quantity on the job: Slab area, Wall length, Roof pitch area. Items take their quantity from one, so changing the measurement changes every item on it.
The Measurements button at the top of the BOQ, next to Assemblies, opens a window listing every measurement on the job. (It used to be called Take off fields.)
The window
Section titled “The window”- Down the left: the job’s assemblies. Each shows how many fields it has, how many are measured on a plan, and how many items are priced from it. All fields at the top lists every measurement on the job in one table.
- On the right: the fields of the assembly you picked — name, unit, quantity, where the number comes from, and which items use it.
- Along the top: totals for the job.
The search box finds assemblies and fields by name.
Where the number comes from
Section titled “Where the number comes from”Every field says which of three places its number comes from, and that decides whether you can type it:
| Tag | The number comes from | Change it |
|---|---|---|
| Measured | Measurements drawn on a plan in Take-Off (or fields linked into it) | In Take-Off. Open in Take-Off opens the plan and page it was last measured on, with that field picked |
| Formula | The assembly’s take-off sheet — its questions, lines and formulas | On the take-off sheet (Open take-off sheet) |
| Typed | Whatever was typed here | Type over it here, then Save |
Measured and formula quantities show a padlock. That stops a typed number being overwritten the next time someone measures or recalculates.
Typing and saving
Section titled “Typing and saving”Change a name, a unit or a typed quantity, then press Save. The button says how
many changes are waiting, and a changed row is marked down its left edge. A quantity
can be a sum: type =2.4*3.
Only the rows you changed are saved. If you try to close the window, open another one, or go to Take-Off with changes still unsaved, it asks whether to Save and continue, Discard them, or Stay.
Every item priced from a measurement updates as soon as it is saved, and any item formula that reads one recalculates a moment later.
Which items use a field
Section titled “Which items use a field”Used by shows how many items use the field. Click it to list them, with each item’s cost code and quantity. An item appears here if its quantity is the field, or if its formula reads it.
Quantity source… beside an item opens its Calculate Item Quantity window, to point it at a different field or give it its own quantity. Closing that window brings you back here.
Adding, moving and deleting fields
Section titled “Adding, moving and deleting fields”- Add field (with an assembly picked) adds a typed field with its name ready to type over.
- ⋯ › Move to moves a field to another assembly on the same job. It keeps its number, its measurements and its items. A formula field can’t move on its own, because its formula reads its own assembly’s questions — duplicate the assembly instead.
- ⋯ › Delete field… asks first. It is refused, with the reason, while an item uses the field or while it has measurements drawn on a plan. Delete those in Take-Off first.
Assemblies
Section titled “Assemblies”- New adds an empty assembly and lets you name it straight away.
- From library opens the Assemblies window, which adds a kit’s fields and its items.
- Open take-off sheet opens the assembly’s questions, lines and formulas. Closing it brings you back here.
- ⋯ › Rename, Duplicate (a copy with its fields, questions and lines; the items stay with the original) and Delete assembly….
Deleting an assembly removes it with its fields, questions and lines in one step. It is refused while any of its fields prices an item, or has measurements drawn on a plan.