New in Bluebeam Revu 2017 is the ability to make custom count markups from your custom symbols.  As the top enhancement request by estimators, count tools can be any shape or symbol. Break out of the box and go beyond different colored check marks, triangles, squares, diamonds, and circles.  With custom count tools your take-off information will be clearer and your legends easier to understand.

How to Create Custom Count Tools

1. Right Click on any tool in your Tool Chest
2. Choose Create Count from the context choices (your new tool will display with a 123 beside it)
3. Click on the new tool to select it, and set additional customizations in Steps 4 and 5
4. On the Measurements Tab in the Measurements section, customize the tool Subject, Label, and if applicable a Depth, Height, Width. (see left)
5. On the Properties Tab in the Appearance section (see right), set the Caption option by checking the Show Caption Box and click Edit to select what to display (Label, Area, Volume, Depth, Width or Height).
6. Drag and Drop your new count tool into the appropriate Tool Set

Height, Width and Depth

The custom count markups now have their own values for height, depth, and width.   This caption information can be displayed in the markup label and is searchable and sortable in the markups list. You can Split the counts to specify individual attributes. This is perfect for doors and windows and will help later to stage the right door in the correct space during installation.  Why not use takeoff for more than just estimates?   Using the height, depth and width allow you to calculate the total area or total volume across multiple counts too.

Multi-Level Floor Plans

When dealing with multiple floors, Revu 2017 adds copy and paste between both pages and files to make the counting process faster. There are also split and merge options along with an automatic split across spaces (aka rooms). Drop a legend on the floor plan to show counts by room by floor. The custom count markups blow the socks off standard count tools found in typical take-off programs.

Watch this video to see the custom count tools in action:

What else can Bluebeam Revu 2017 do? See how Revu 2017 makes area take-off feel like Estimating on Steroids with Dynamic Fill.

If you don’t have Revu 2017, contact me to purchase it at a discounted price, just
Email me your contact info. Hagen Business Systems is the largest Bluebeam Gold Partner in the world.

Looking for Bluebeam Revu Training?,
Email me to schedule training in your office or remotely using GoToMeeting. Carol Hagen is a Certified Bluebeam Instructor

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Bluebeam Revu 2017 has introduced a new estimating innovation, Dynamic Fill, for calculating areas and perimeters to accelerate estimating takeoff. It eliminates the time estimators spend clicking around oddly shaped rooms to account for numerous corners, curves, and arcs. Estimating Takeoff is about to be revolutionized.  I’m sure the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) will be delighted. I like to call it estimating take-off on steroids! Let’s see it in action:

Now that you’ve seen it in action, there are 4 questions I’m often asked about Dynamic Fill.

It seems slow, can you speed it up?

Yes. You can adjust the speed using the Dynamic Fill Preferences found in Revu Settings | Preferences. This allows you to adjust the fill speed, edge sensitivity, boundary size and more.

Can I use Dynamic Fill on Raster or Scanned plans?

Yes. Dynamic fill will work with Raster and Vector quality documents. Depending upon your document quality you may find yourself adjusting the Dynamic Fill settings.

Can I close off the areas before I fill?

Yes. You may create boundaries before or after the fill (if you missed a boundary or forgot to set them first).  Adding boundaries can also create Spaces at the same time.

Where is Dynamic Fill?  I don’t see it in Bluebeam Revu

Dynamic Fill is a new feature only available in Revu 2017.  It is available in 3 editions of Bluebeam Revu (Standard, CAD and Extreme) and Open Licensing. Click on Measure from the menu (at the top) and you’ll see it between Cutout and Count. If it’s not there, check to see what version of Revu you have (Help|About). If you’re on Revu 2016 or below, you can follow these instructions on How to Upgrade to Bluebeam Revu 2017.

Have more questions? Just ask, I’m here to help.

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With the recent Bluebeam Revu 12 release, all take-off measurements appear in the markups list (See image below). If they don’t, you may need to Manage Columns and check off the fields you are missing. All the measurements, however, may not appear on the markup on your document. This can be adjusted by selecting the Show All Measurements in the properties of the measurement or in your custom measurement item in your tool set.
The example above shows an area markup that includes both the area and perimeter. Note that the perimeter equals the length in an area measurement if you are performing calculations for your estimate.

If you are measuring perimeter. The Show All Measurements will add the “P=” to your perimeter markup. This can be helpful to distinguish visibly between an area markup and a perimeter measurement on a document.

If you use the Diameter measurement, Show All measurements will add Area and Perimeter measurements.

Using the volume measurement with the Show All Measurements selected will include Area, Perimeter and Wall Area with the Volume.

All the above examples and the markups list measurements are shown below:
Note that these additional measurements display in the comments column on the markups list.

Want to learn more about Bluebeam or need on-site training for your construction team and office staff? I am available and travel the United States providing in-house customized training for your Project Managers, Estimators and supporting office staff. To arrange for Bluebeam Training in your offices, Email Me Your Contact Info.

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