[David Cutler]

Interesting question Vince. My first thought was that the new columns wouldn’t apply to old markups because of formulas and such, but that doesn’t make sense since the formulas are column based, not tool based.

I’ve had a similar issue where I’ve opened a takeoff file that was created by one of my coworkers with a different profile and an older version of Revu. When I add new a new markup my custom columns populate, but they don’t for the previously applied markups.

Perhaps there is a “refresh markups” or “recalculate columns” command that we haven’t seen yet? If there isn’t, perhaps this is something to add to the “feature request list”.

[David Cutler]

Thank you for the quick replies Matt and Troy!

[David Cutler]

I have a “Cutler Takeoff Notes” workbook in Excel that I use for every project. I typically start with a copy from a previous estimate. This has my checklist for what sub/suppliers that I need to contact and multiple calculation sheets that I use for various details, stone summaries, earthwork calculations, etc. I don’t use every tab in every estimate, but it saves me from starting from scratch each time.

On the Revu side I have started to use an “Estimate Cover Sheet” that includes my standard estimate items (and ones that I historically have forgotten to add in). This brings my Mobilization, Supervision, Layout, Testing, Portable Toilets, etc into every estimate with a simple page insert. The cover sheet is a work in progress. I’m anticipating adding standard layers and other standard items to it in the future.

[David Cutler]

I haven’t registered yet Doug. Talking about the sessions afterwards is a great idea. I look forward to being a part of the discussions – especially in person next year.

[David Cutler]

Soooo many possibilities with this one @troydegroot that I’m not sure where to start…

I need to go re-read the post, but a couple of questions to start with after my first read:

1. If a quantity link is established by a user with an Extreme license, can the markup be performed by someone with a Standard license?

2. Is it possible to have multiple people working in the same PDF file adding markups concurrently?

3. Does quantity link work with drawing sets?

4. Can the same linked Excel file draw from multiple PDF files?

Looking forward to exploring this one further.

[David Cutler]

It would also be helpful if there was a setting that allowed markups to serve as boundaries for dynamic fill.

[David Cutler]

That’s a good question Vince.

The standard “Snip & Sketch” captures does work well for photos and does save the step of printing the photo to a PDF. The challenge becomes when working with text or linework “Snip & Sketch” also captures the background. As a result, in this example “Snip & Sketch” would generate a block of white, in addition to the text. The Revu Snapshot tool only captures the text from the PDF (assuming you have the gridlines turned off in Excel when you print to PDF).

As a side note, for more complicated forms, I’ve considered making an Excel grid template with cell names in each cell (A1, A2, A3) and then printing that to a PDF. Using the Snapshot tool I could then paste that grid over another PDF and use the grid to “map” the form that I’m looking to fill out. I’d then write a series of formulas in Excel to place my data where it needs to be to be pasted into the form.

[David Cutler]

This is another case where the Revu Snapshot tool’s ability to only capture the “linework” without the background color provides better functionality than the default Windows “Snip & Sketch”.

[David Cutler]

Now you have my curiosity up Doug…. I was a bit surprised by your original question as I thought it was as simple as combining files, but now I see that there is more to it…

[David Cutler]

Thank you for sharing these Andrew!

[David Cutler]

I think I’d take it a step further Troy and say that you need to start with how you need to present the information to the client at the end of the process as this drives how you enter the data into the estimating software. Having an item for 10,000 lf of quarter round doesn’t do you any good if your client wants to know how much quarter round is in on each floor.

Spaces are an interesting topic. I’ve experimented with them some, but haven’t had the right project to fully develop my knowledge of how to use them yet. I wonder if we will ever see a routine in Revu that would auto establish spaces…

[David Cutler]

You really should have your IT staff putting those things together for you Troy so you can focus on more important task. 🙂

[David Cutler]

At times I get frustrated with the dynamic fill results when the limits of the markup aren’t “smooth” for lack of a better term. I find that I end up going back in and deleting “extra” points to make the markup “look right” as you say Vince. Many times this appears to be an issue with the quality of the original linework. While I like the concept of dynamic fill sometimes I find it quicker to just click my way around a shape rather than going back to clean up the “extra” control points.

[David Cutler]

That’s an interesting idea Vince having the multiple profiles with the specific folders open. Saving a couple of clicks every time adds up! I might have to try this.

[David Cutler]

Using the freeform function is easy, rather than clicking and holding the mouse button down while dragging to capture a rectangle simply select the tool and then click as many points as necessary to make your capture complete. The freeform capture works the same as a Polygon markup where once you have 3 points established you can tap Enter and Revu will close the shape back to your first selected point.