Area Tab Button and Keyboard Reference

The following tables explain the buttons and keyboard shortcuts available when using the Area Tab.

Button Reference

Icon Description
Use in conjunction with other takeoff tools to create annotations for areas comprised of vectors. Select Vector to turn on the Vector tool. When you turn on the Vector tool, it is activated on the Takeoff, Area, Trench, and Len/EA tabs. Select Vector again to turn off the Vector tool.
Note: For newly imported PDF files that contain vectors, the Vector tool is automatically enabled. If the Vector tool is disabled in a newly imported PDF file, then the file does contain any vectors.
Allows you to select a vector or area. Note that if you select one item and then select another, the first item you selected will be deselected.
Tip: Hold the Shift key to select multiple items.
 Allows you to select multiple vectors or areas.
Allows you to align the boundaries of two or more adjacent areas.
Allows you to create an area by digitizing the area points on a drawing using the stylus or mouse.
Allows you to create an area by tracing it using the stylus or mouse.
Magnifies a selected region of the tab when you select the button and drag the stylus or mouse over the region you want to magnify.
Restores the drawing view to the limits of the located drawing after you have magnified the view or zoomed into a specific section.
Displays the entire job site you are currently working on in respect to all the other drawings or phases of a job, such as viewing a golf course hole in respect to its location and position on the golf course along with all the other holes. Fit to World is only pertinent when you use multiple drawings for a job.
Displays the Properties pop-up window for the selected area and allows you to change the general properties, grade properties, and subgrade materials for the specified area.
Specifies that you have finished digitizing an area and creates an annotation. Once you select Finished, the Area Properties pop-up window appears.
Tip: If the area is comprised of vectors, you can also right-click to create the annotation from the selected vectors. Right-clicking when no vectors are selected creates an annotation from the closest vector.
 Allows you to create point to point and trace annotations faster and more accurately. Set the sensitivity of the tool on the Preferences screen. When you turn on the Align to Image tool, it is activated on the Takeoff, Area, Trench, Len/EA, and Layout tabs. Select AI again to turn off the Align to Image tool. You can also hold Shift to turn Align to Image on or off temporarily while you are digitizing.
Note: When digitizing against a colored background, turn OFF the Align to Image tool.
Select single or multiple areas from the Area tab. The Select Multiple Areas pop-up window appears allowing you to choose the areas you want to select.
Copies the properties of one area, such as grade, to another. Note that area name and elevations are not copied.
Displays the Select Layers to View pop-up window.

Keyboard Reference

Key Description
[F] Specifies that you have finished digitizing an area and opens the Area Properties pop-up window.
[S] Activates the Select tool.
[U] Activates the Multi Select tool.
[P] Activates the Point Area tool.
[T] Activates the Trace Area tool.
[Z] Activates the Zoom tool.
[D] Activates the Fit Drawing tool.
[W] Activates the Fit World tool.
[R] Displays the Area Properties pop-up window for the selected area.
[A] Displays the Select Multiple Areas pop-up window.
[C] Displays the Copy Properties pop-up window for the selected area.
[E] Displays the Offset Area pop-up window for the selected area.
[Q] Displays the Coordinates tab on the Area Properties pop-up window allowing you to create reference points.
[I] Zooms in on the center of the drawing.
[O] Zooms out on the center of the drawing.
Shift Hold Shift to activate or deactivate the Align to Image tool temporarily. Release the Shift key to return the Align to Image tool to its previous state.
[Crtl] + [I] Activates the Align to Image tool without changing the sensitivity level.
Shift + [0] Turns off the Align to Image tool.
Shift + [1] Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Low.
Shift + [2] Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Medium.
Shift + [3] Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to High.
Shift + [4] Activates the Align to Image tool and sets the sensitivity to Maximum.
[+] and [–] Cycle through digitized areas.
Ctrl+[Z] Undo the previous action.
Ctrl+[Y] Redo the previous action.
Ctrl+[X] Removes the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+C Copies the selection and places it on the Clipboard.
Ctrl+V Inserts (pastes) the contents of the Clipboard onto the active layer at the location from which they were copied.
Note: The contents cannot be pasted onto the same layer from which they were cut/copied.
Ctrl If you have magnified the tab, hold Ctrl and move the mouse to the portion of the sheet you want to view.
Ctrl + [A] Selects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.
Ctrl + Shift + [A] Deselects all vectors (if using the Vector tool on the speedbar) or annotations.