Digitize a drawing using matchline points

  1. Examine the drawings you want to use in the job and make sure that the drawings overlap.
  2. Using colored pens, label each reference point on all the drawings. For example, if you mark the northeast corner of a building that appears on drawing one as Point A, you should mark each drawing that shows that corner of the building as Point A.

    Open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen.

  3. Starting with the first drawing in the job, digitize all the elevations and areas on the drawing.
    Note: IMPORTANT: To create a site perimeter for the final job totals, you can either digitize a site perimeter for each drawing and add the perimeters together in the Summary tab to calculate the job totals, or you can use the mouse to trace a single site perimeter that includes all the drawings.
  4. Keep the first drawing on the digitizer.
  5. Select the Takeoff tab, if it is not already active.
  6. Click Estimating > Earthwork > Takeoff > Add New Paper Plan Using Matchlines in the All Tasks pane.
  7. Press the tip of the digitizer on the first reference point you want to digitize on the drawing. Note that this point is one of the points you labeled in step 2 and it must also appear on the second drawing you want to connect to the current drawing.
  8. Enter a unique name for the first reference point. The reference point appears in the popup window. Click OK.
  9. Digitize the second reference point.
  10. Enter a unique name for the second reference point. The second reference point appears in the popup. Click OK. Note that this reference point must also appear on the second drawing you want to connect to the current drawing.
  11. Digitize any additional reference points on the current drawing that you will use to connect other drawings.
    Note: You can also add reference points by clicking Add. Enter the name of the reference point and enter the Northing and Easting coordinates, then click OK. To edit the name and/or the coordinates of a reference point, select the point in the popup and click Edit. To delete a reference point, select the point in the popup window and click Delete.
  12. Once you have digitized all the reference points for the current drawing, click Next.
  13. Remove the current drawing from the digitizer and secure the second drawing on the digitizer.
  14. Enter the scale for the second drawing you want to use for the job.
  15. Click Next.
  16. Locate the second drawing on the digitizer.
  17. Click Next.
  18. From the Point 1 field, click to select the first reference point you digitized.
  19. Click Locate Point to the right of the Point 1 field.
  20. Digitize the corresponding reference point on the second drawing.
  21. From the Point 2 field, click to select the second reference point you digitized.
  22. Click Locate Point to the right of the Point 2 field.
  23. Digitize the corresponding reference point on the second drawing.
  24. Click Finished. The two drawings are now connected using matchlines.
    Note: The drawing may appear rotated from original orientation to match the orientation the second drawing. The dashed rectangle displays the current digitizer location for the drawing. You can only digitize in this area of the job.
  25. Digitize all the elevations and areas as normal.
  26. Click Fit Draw on the speedbar to view the extents of the current digitizer drawing location. Only the drawing location appears in the Takeoff tab and a dotted line appears to show the boundaries of the drawing location.
  27. Click Fit World on the speedbar to view both drawings as a single takeoff. All drawings that make up the job appear in the Takeoff tab.
  28. Repeat these steps for each drawing you need to include in the job using matchlines.