A reference list of takeoff tools you can use in the process of digitizing your plans.

Digitizing—also known as annotating your plans—is the process by which you are able to calculate the quantities of cost items required in your plans. You select the cost items to digitize, then use your mouse or stylus to trace over the sheet where you plan to use the cost items to create an annotation that represents the cost item. Viewpoint Estimating calculates the quantities of cost items based on the scale of the sheet and size of the annotation you created. Digitizing is more accurate at higher levels of magnification. See Zoom on Sheets for information on increasing magnification.

Tool	Description
Each digitizing takeoff tool is represented by a button on the speedbar. Use them to digitize cost items on your plans. Select the cost item to takeoff from the Estimate panel tab, then either use the default tool selected or select the tool to use from the speedbar.
	Use Count to digitize count items, like fire hydrants or manholes. Click the button on the speedbar and then select the appropriate spot on your plans to add a count item. Select each additional spot where you want to add the item.
	Use Line to digitize a straight line. Select the button on the speedbar and then click the starting point of the line, move the cursor or stylus to the end point of the line, and click again.
	Use Points to digitize several connected straight lines, such as a perimeter. Click the button on the speedbar and click the first point, move the cursor or stylus to each successive point, and select it.
	Use Curve to digitize curved objects. It is best used on objects without any straight segments. Click the button on the speedbar and then click the starting point of the curve, middle point of the curve, and end point of the curve.
	Use Trace to digitize straight and curved lines. After selecting the Trace button on the speedbar, click on the line's first point, hold the mouse button or press the stylus down, and trace the line.
	Use Measure to count or measure lengths, areas, or volumes for measurements and calculations, without associating the measurement with a cost item. When you click Measure, select the type of measurement you want to take: Count, Length, Area, or Volume. If needed, select the takeoff tool you want to use and takeoff what you want to measure. When you finish the takeoff, you can add a description and send the measurement to the Notepad and/or the Working Total.
	Use Highlighter to digitize a highlighted straight line. Select the button on the speedbar and then click the starting point of the line, move the cursor or stylus to the end point of the line, and click again. You can customize the color, width, and style of the highlight. The default color, width, and style are set on the Estimating Preferences screen.
	Use Break in conjunction with Points to insert a break in the lines when taking off a length. This allows you to takeoff multiple sections of the same Points cost item without having to "finish" each individual section. You can also right-click and select Break will digitizing with the Points tool.
	Use Add to add additional annotations to an existing cost item. For example, say you have taken off a series of curb runs and later realize that you had forgotten a section. Select an existing annotation for the cost item and click Add. Then take off the remaining sections.
	Use Vert in conjunction with Points to takeoff a vertical area. You will need to enter the height of the cost item when you finish the takeoff. You can still use Break with Points and Vert.
	Click Undo or press Ctrl+[Z] to undo the previous action. This tool is useful if you select the wrong point while performing takeoff. Clicking Undo removes the last digitized point, not the entire annotation. You can click Undo multiple times. If you need to remove the entire annotation, press Esc.
	Use Redo or press Ctrl+[Y] to redo an action that you undid.
	Use Text to add a text object to the sheet. See Add Text Objects for more information.
	Click Links to add hyperlinks to your plans. See Add Links for more information.
	Use Pitch to add a slope to an annotation. See Add Pitch for more information.
	Use Finish to indicate that you are done with the current annotation.

Ideally, the most efficient method of performing a job would be to build an estimate first, followed by entering in quantities to the Estimate items; however, you may find situations where you may need to add quantities that don't involve Estimate items.

You can select to digitize cost items from the Estimate panel tab. The Estimate panel tab contains a list of cost items from the estimate. You can insert items from a catalog into the Estimate panel tab to add them to the estimate and make them available for takeoff. You can edit a cost item in the estimate by double-clicking on the cost item in the Estimate panel tab. See Cost Items for information on editing cost items.

If you need to obtain information about a cost item in the Estimate panel tab, hold your mouse over the appropriate item. The hover text displays you the reference, type, units, and description. See the screenshot as an example. The cost item type is abbreviated in the hover text.

You can digitize multiple items at the same time from the Estimate panel tab. For example, if you have an area on your plans where the perimeter in linear feet defines the square footage of the area, you don't have to perform the takeoff twice to quantify items that would share the same space. Cost items that are digitized together share the same annotation.

You can digitize multiple count items at the same time, but count items must be selected separately from lengths, areas, and volumes.

Once you have digitized your plans, you can manage the annotations as needed. See Manage Annotations for more information on how to adjust, move, format, or delete existing annotations.

To open a job in the Manage Estimates screen, go to Estimating > Estimating > Manage Estimates, then select the job you want to open, and select OK.