The QuickCALC Digitizing Screen:
Digitized quantities, lengths, and areas are graphically displayed on a drawing on the computer screen. Drawings are normally named to correspond to each estimate. Within a Drawing you may have multiple Layers that may be viewed. Normally a Layer corresponds to a Sheet Number in the set of drawings for the estimate. You may view one Layer at a time or view all Layers.
Dimensions and quantities are summarized, by Layer, on a built-in spreadsheet at the top of the screen. Takeoff may be transferred to any Windows program by simply clicking on the desired value and then inserting (pasting) the number into another windows program of your choice. Unit conversions may be performed in the spreadsheet so that you may see the original value and the converted value side by side.
Quantity (Count) takeoff is performed by selecting an Icon (symbol) from a displayed Pallet of Icons, clicking the Quantity Takeoff Button, and then pressing the digitizer pen tip on the displayed drawing in the desired location. The name of the Icon is used to put an entry in the dimension spreadsheet. You may add your own Icons, as required, for the symbols that are used in your specialty.
Both the Line and Area Takeoff Methods require that you first select a Unit and set the Scale of the drawing to be digitized. The Scale Button will display a Scale Dialog Box that will allow you to enter any Imperial or Metric Scale. You may also Auto Scale the drawing by entering the end points of any known dimension and let the computer calculate the Scale. This is invaluable for reduced size drawings! Also, for Line and Area Takeoff, you may select the line color, width, and type (not shown) to be used when digitizing.
Length takeoff may be performed using either a continuous line or a two point method. Once either of the methods are selected, the Windows mouse symbol will change to a NOT Symbol and a red crosshair will appear on the displayed drawing, waiting for you to start diigitizing the line. The Esc Key may be used to terminate digitizing, if necessary.
For continuous line takeoff, start at one end of the length to be digitized and depress the digitier stylus. As you move to the next turning point of the length a rubber band line will appear on the screen until the digitizer stylus is depressed again. Keep going from point to point on the line until you have digitized the end point. Then depress the Barrel Button of the Stylus to cease digitizing. The new Line will now appear in the spreadsheet with the line length based on the current Scale Setting.
For two point line takeoff, you will enter line segments as two points: the starting point and the ending point. Digitizing will end by presssing the Barrel Button of the digitizer stylus.
Area Takeoff is similar to continuous line takeoff, except that the rubber band line always connects to the starting point. As you go around the area from point to point both the perimeter and the area are calculated and saved. Pressing the digitizer Stylus Barrel Button will close the area back to the starting point. Both the perimeter and the area will be displayed in the spreadsheet.
You may rename any quantity, length, or area line in the spreadsheet to a name that is meaningful to the estimate. If you first select a row in the spreadsheet that is the same unit that you are about to digitize, the system will add the new measurement into the selected line. You may also change the Mode Menu Item to subtract the next digitized dimension from the selected spreadsheet line. This is particularly useful when you are removing a portion of an area.
The QuickCALC System also includes a very useful Calculator, for differing unit calculations, as shown below:
The calculator has two visual tapes. The left tape is the normal one for calculations while the right tape shown the results in a different unit system. Note in the screen above that square feet are multiplied times meters resulting in cubic meters. Then the volume is converted to gallons and on the right to liters. It's a great tool for making conversions for estimating, purchasing, or for just getting use to the relationship between the two measurement systems.
To print out this introduction, the Ctrl+P key combination should do it on most browsers. For more information on QuickCALC Windows or purchasing a digitizer please contact Sales at 800-456-2113 or E-Mail us a request.