The Takeoff screen for a Zone is built using the Spec for this Zone, including sizes, types of pipe, fittings, valves, hangers, and specialties. The information in the Header of the Zone is in the upper left hand corner of the screen.
The steps for taking off items are always: SIZE, ITEM, QUANTITY.
Here is an example of one takeoff line (for Vertical Pipe):
With your mouse, touch the 1″ size, touch , touch 15′ and then touch .
Items can be taken off with the mouse and keyboard OR with the digitizer. Even with the digitizer being utilized, you can still use the mouse when taking off risers, “not to scale” details, and other times when scale is not available.
How to use the digitizer will be discussed later.
NOTE: Marking items as they are taken off is recommended.
After you enter in the quantity (or length), you can log the item into the Takeoff List by doing one of the following:
Pipe can be taken off with the mouse and keyboard or with the Digitizing Tablet. Do the following to take off a length of pipe:
This information includes the Group and Class of the pipe. But the takeoff of pipe also has the following features:
AutoJoint – If this is selected, the system automatically includes the joint defined in the Spec at the spacing shown. AutoJoint will automatically be engaged when you click on pipe, but can be disabled by clicking on the check box on the screen. When activated, AutoJoint will provide for calculation as many joints required for the length of pipe taken off.
AutoHanger – If this is selected, the system automatically includes a hanger contained in the Spec at the spacing shown. The type of hanger is shown in the window below AutoHanger. If a Spec contains more than one type of hanger for a given size, you can choose the hanger you wish to have by clicking on the down arrow button and selecting from the list. AutoHanger will automatically be engaged when you click on pipe, but can be disabled by clicking on the check box. When activated, AutoHanger will provide for calculation as many hangers (rounded to the nearest hanger) required for the length of pipe taken off.
These items can be taken off with the mouse and keyboard or with the Digitizing Tablet (optional).
Take off the fittings, valves, flanges and specialties for a Zone as follows:
When there is more than one item in the Database with the same first size, a list of the available sizes appear on the screen. The proper size must be selected before a count can be taken.
The digitizer is the key to a fast takeoff. There are two tools you use with a digitizer: the touchpen and a template. The touchpen is similar to the mouse (from the previous section) and the template is a menu that goes onto the digitizer (it looks just like the template that is onscreen when doing a “mouse” takeoff.)
In this session, you will first become familiar with the digitizer and how to customize it for the way you work. Then, you’ll practice taking off items with the digitizer, touchpen, and template.
When the digitizer is hooked up, there is a separate program running alongside QuoteSoft Pipe. This software is Virtual Tablet™; you will see this icon on your task bar. This is the software that is the interface between the digitizer and our software. It enables the touchpen to be a mouse/counting/measuring device.
The following picture is a sample template that is placed at the bottom of your digitizer. Notice there are several Accept buttons on the template. This is one way to speed up your takeoff since you don’t have to move your touchpen a long distance to accept items into your takeoff.
The order of the digitized takeoff is just like when you took off a run of pipe with the mouse: SIZE, ITEM, QUANTITY (or LENGTH).
Here is a picture of the touchpen and the functions of the buttons.
NOTE: If you selected Pipe and you really wanted to select Pipe Branch, you can cancel your command by pressing the top button on the touchpen. (You can also hit the Escape key on the keyboard.)
You can use the touchpen on the digitizer to control the mouse cursor on your computer monitor. Hover your touchpen over the middle of the digitizer. Notice the mouse cursor is moving on the computer monitor. Move the touchpen so that the mouse cursor is over Pipe on the “onscreen template.” Click down. The scale window appears. On a drawing that is on the digitizer, press two touchpoints and the press the bottom button on the touchpen to Accept the length.
There are four places where you can define the scale:
Each of these places gives you more and more flexibility (i.e. starts out at the company level, then job level, then zone level, then item level).
In Takeoff:
If a custom scale is chosen, you must set up the scale based on a known dimension from the drawing from which you are going to takeoff. Click on the beginning point and then the ending point of this known straight length. Then with the keyboard, enter the known distance (in feet) to establish the scale. The scale will be shown as 1″ = x’.
You have two methods of scaling off pipe – pairs or continuous. Continuous means you take off a whole run of pipe by touching only where the pipe changes direction. Pairs means you touch each change in direction twice. The pairs mode is a start/stop, start/stop method. Every user seems to have a preference to which one they prefer – pairs or continuous. Select the method that will give you the best performance. The following picture illustrates the differences between the two methods.
If you prefer, you can toggle between the two methods at any time. On the takeoff screen, select the circle in front of Pairs or the circle in front of Continuous.
There are times when you do not want to go into scale or count mode when you select an item. When you are in takeoff, click File > Takeoff Options. The following screen appears. Most users turn off the Vert Pipe AutoScale, Assemblies AutoCount, and the Auto Size options.
Please take a moment to read the section in this manual called “Pipe Takeoff (Without Digitizer).” There is some important information in that section that we did not want to repeat to this section.
If there is a branch line coming off the main line, this branch line could either be a reducing tee or some type of “o-let.” An “o-let” does not break the pipe at that connection; however, a reducing tee does break the pipe at the connection. In Example A (since there is no break in the pipe), you'll only have to touch point 1 and 2. In Example B (where the reducing tee breaks the pipe), you have to touch point 1, 2, and 3.
NOTE: Valves and Specialties that are taken off will automatically include any accessories defined in the Spec.
NOTE: Flanges that are taken off will automatically include gaskets and bolt sets as defined in the Spec.
Fittings that have multiple sizes can be entered in several different ways. On the following example, we took off a reducing tee on the run. That type of fitting has 3 sizes to it. Once you touch the fitting on the template, a selection box appears on the computer monitor.
There are two ways to select the size of the fitting:
The system is now in quantity mode. Touch on all of the fittings in a pipe run.
You may want to generate fittings while you are in takeoff.
NOTE: You will only want to touch when there are changes of direction or you will generate too many elbows.
Often times, you may have multiple lines running side by side, e.g. when you have two (or three) chilled water pipes running to several lavatories. When you have this situation, you can turn on a “multiples” feature. You only have to take off one line of pipe and the rest are automatically added.
On the takeoff screen, type in the number of multiples to generate the correct number of times you want that item duplicated.
NOTE: Multiples is a great feature; however, REMEMBER TO TURN IT OFF. When you take off multiples, you will hear a beeping sound. Those beeping sounds keep you aware that you are in “multiple mode.”
There are times when, after you finish your takeoff, changes occur that require you to take quantities OUT of your takeoff. Multiples can be toggled to negative to deduct those quantities. Turn your multiples to negative and it will turn red.
Once an item is entered into your takeoff, a simple double click on the item will allow you to change that item. A “Resize” window appears where you can change the size, quantity, area, phase, etc.
When you are done making changes, click . The changed line item will appear in your Takeoff List.
There are times when, after you finish your takeoff, changes occur that require you to take quantities OUT of your takeoff. Multiples can be toggled to negative to deduct those quantities. Turn your multiples to negative and it will turn red.
Deleting an item in the Takeoff List is simple. Click the item and click . If you want to confirm that you want that item deleted, go to File > Takeoff Options and change the setting for deletion.
When you take off a new item, the system automatically puts it at the end of the list in the Takeoff List. If you want to replace an item in the list with another item (when you cannot simply edit the item), click . This is helpful is you want to keep the order of takeoff.
NOTE: If you wish, you can delete the item and take it off again; however, the new item will appear at the end of the Takeoff List.
When you select multiple items in the Takeoff List (by holding the shift key or Control key), the Replace command changes to the command. This command is used when you want to convert valves or flanges from one type to another. It is mainly used for Value Engineering. For example, use this command if you want to change from a grooved system to a welded system. You would change Grooved Butterfly Valves to Flanged Butterfly Valves.
When you select the Convert command, a warning screen appears:
If you would like to change the same attribute for multiple items in the Takeoff List, you can use the command. Highlight all the rows you would like to change (Control-Shift to highlight just the rows you want.) Select the button. The Resize window appears.
Change the items you wish and then click .
You can print the Takeoff List by clicking .
After you've taken off your blueprint, you can bring up a screen that shows you a visual of your takeoff. This is helpful for you to get a quick glance to make sure you got all your pipe runs. First you have to configure your system to show the visual audit trail. Then, when you are in takeoff, you can press a single key to see the diagram.
You have available to you in Takeoff the entire Database.
The Database in Takeoff is very similar to the Database on the Main Menu. When you click , the Database screen appears where you select Family, Group, Class, etc. Select the quantity by clicking on the number pad on the right. Click Accept.
When you are done adding Database items, click .
Bookmarks can be any items from the Database that you repeatedly use in this takeoff. You have 50 buttons per palette available with an unlimited number of palettes. You set up bookmarks so that they can default to the Specification selected.
NOTE: There are no automatically generated items from bookmarks, e.g. if you take off a victaulic fitting from a bookmark, you will only get the fitting and no couplings.
NOTE: If you hover your mouse over a bookmark, a full description appears.
If there is a item on the bookmark palette you would like to take off, simply click on the picture or description of the item and then click . The item appears in the Takeoff List.
You can change the picture or description of the bookmark.
Hover your mouse cursor over the bookmark you would like to edit. Right-mouse click on the bookmark.
You can change anything on this screen. When you are ready to save the changed information, click .
You can either add a whole new palette of bookmarks or you can add a single new bookmark to an existing palette. If you’d like to add a single item to an existing palette, move your cursor to a blank spot on a palette and click your right mouse button.
Like the Database, select the Family, Group, Class, etc. and then click . The new item appears on the blank spot on the palette.
To delete a Bookmark, move your cursor to the item you would like to delete and click your right mouse button. On the bottom right side of the screen that appears, click .
You can add a whole new palette of bookmarks.
Bookmark palettes are stored in a special directory. If there are bookmarks from other palettes you would like to use, click the Load or Copy commands.
Click the button to bring in an existing palette. NOTE: Any changes you make to this palette will be permanent.
If you would like to start with a specific palette and then change it (without altering the first palette), click the button.
The Job Items store all of your Equipment, Fixtures, Specialty and Other Items. The Job Items also allows you to import your own custom items like Angle Iron Stands and piping and plumbing accessories.
If you already defined Job Items (on the Job Item tab), they will be displayed on the bottom half of the takeoff screen.
To select a Job Item, simply click on the Job Item from the list and and begin counting in the same way you would for fittings, valves, flanges or specialties. Click when you are done.
You can enter new job items by clicking on the left side of the screen. You will be presented with a list of all items currently defined for this job.
To help remind you what you have taken off, the system puts a small symbol next to each takeoff line (when appropriate).
On the Takeoff List, there is an Info column that tells you information about joints and hangers.
When you are done taking off all the items on your blueprint, you are ready to run reports. To save and close Takeoff, click on the upper right corner of the screen.
NOTE: The system will NOT ask if you want to save your Takeoff. It will automatically be saved and closed.