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Associate matches to a library cost item and add them to the takeoff

Modified: 7 Sep 2026 Viewpoint Estimating Estimating Help
  1. Open a job in the Manage Estimates screen.
  2. Open the Shape Recognition tab.
    Tip: If you want to use a different sheet than the one displayed, open the Takeoff tab to Work with Sheets.
  3. Do one of the following:

    • Click Select on the speedbar, press and hold Ctrl, and select each match you want to associate to one or more cost items in a library.

    • Click Select Match to select all high-confidence matches currently displayed.

    • Click Select Similar to select all similar matches currently displayed.

  4. From the Library panel tab, click to select the library that contains the cost items you need for the current job.
  5. Select the Show Takeoff Items checkboxes to filter cost items based on who created them.

    • My – Cost items assigned to your user ID.

    • Foreign – Cost items assigned to other users.

    • Default – Cost items not assigned to a user.

  6. Open the appropriate folder and select the cost item(s) you want to use.
  7. Click Takeoff Group on the speedbar.
  8. Modify the following fields as necessary:

    • Reference – This field defaults to the reference of the cost item selected in the Library.

    • Description – This field defaults to the description of the cost item selected in the Library.

    • Comment – Add a comment if needed.

  9. To assign the annotation to a specific layer in the Takeoff tab, click Use Layers. Choose the appropriate layers and click OK.
  10. Select one of the following options in the Show this form on Takeoff finish area to set when the Finish Takeoff popup window (current window) appears:

    • Always – Finish Takeoff popup window displays after every annotation is finished or an existing annotation is opened.

    • New item – Finish Takeoff popup window displays only when a new annotation is placed on the takeoff.

    • When selected – Finish Takeoff popup window displays only when an existing annotation is opened.

  11. Select the appropriate Send Data To checkboxes to specify where to send the quantity of this takeoff item:
  12. Click one of the following options in the Send Data To group to specify how the quantity of this takeoff item is calculated:

    • Add – Adds the quantity to the Notepad and/or Working Total.

    • Subtract – Subtracts the quantity from the Notepad and/or Working Total.

    • Replace – Replaces the quantity in the Notepad and/or Working Total.

      Note: If you are adding or subtracting values from the Working Total, the units of the takeoff item and the Working Total have to be the same.
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