2. Core Operation

The application is activated directly from the DaB ANY CAD Tools ribbon tab or by entering the command QTY_UTI in the command line. Once launched, users are greeted with a primary mode selection offering two distinct paths:

How to Use the Application

• Quick Option: An automated, streamlined workflow designed for instant drawing evaluation.
• Advanced Option: A fully customizable environment granting granular control over layers, object selection, and manual defining for measurement workflows.

Measurable Quantities & Units

The tool processes three core engineering quantity categories, reporting values directly matching your active CAD drawing units:

• Linear: Measures continuous lengths (e.g., Line, polylines, ...) reported in linear drawing units.
• Area: Evaluates closed boundary surfaces (e.g., Closed polygons, Hatches, ...) reported in square drawing units.
• Count: Quantifies discrete block item occurrences (e.g., manholes, signs, trees, if cad blocks) reported as absolute numerical quantities.

Item Import Methods

To populate your takeoff schedules, items can be brought into the application using three versatile methodologies:

• By Object Layer: Automatically parse and group entities based on their source layer assignments in the drawing.
• By Picking from Drawing: Manually select specific CAD objects directly from model space to include in specific calculation groups.
• By Defining Area or Linear Objects: If source geometry does not pre-exist in the drawing, users can manually trace custom linear paths or closed area boundaries to establish new measurement items on the fly.

3. Quick Option

The Quick Option mode is designed for rapid, straightforward takeoffs directly from drawing elements . When selected, the tool prompts you inside the AutoCAD command line to interact with your drawing objects.

During execution, the command prompt displays the following interactive mode prompt:

Select objects:
Add Item [Only-selected/Entire-layer] <Only-selected>:

Only-Selected

When this mode is active, Only-Selected ensures that strictly the individual items and drawing entities you manually clicked or window-selected are evaluated and added to the calculation list. Surrounding objects on the same layer are ignored.

Entire-Layer

Selecting Entire-Layer switches the scope so that once an object is picked, all matching geometry residing on that same source layer across the drawing environment is aggregated and added to the calculation dataset automatically.

Quick Result Window & Export Methods

Following object selection, the data compiles instantly into the Quantity Takeoff Results window. This window features an adaptive interface with a built-in theme toggle (🌓 Theme) supporting dynamic Dark and Light workspace layouts.

The results window displays a clean data grid layout containing:

• Layer / Item: Identifies the source layer or item description.
• Category: Defines whether the measurement is Linear, Area, or Count.
• Quantity / Value: Shows the calculated aggregate measurement matching current drawing scales.

At the bottom right of the window, multiple export and reporting tools are available:

• 📐 Insert Table: Instantly generates and embeds a professional quantity schedule table directly inside your active AutoCAD drawing layout.
• 🌐 Export HTML: Dumps the takeoff data into a clean, formatted HTML report file for sharing, archiving, or cost-estimating handoffs.
• Close: Safely exits the result window back to the drawing workspace.

4. Advanced Option

Panorama Interface & Layout

The Advanced Option provides a professional, highly configurable panoramic setup interface (AdvancedSetupForm) designed for large-scale multi-disciplinary civil engineering projects. It grants complete oversight over layer mapping, categorization rules, and custom measurement setups.

Available Layers List

Located on the left-hand panel of the interface, the Available Layers list automatically scans and populates all active layers present in your current CAD drawing environment. A descriptive search and multiselect block allows you to review layers containing target elements before assignment.

Category Tabs & Source/Display Mappings

The central and right workspace features a tabbed structure dividing calculations into three distinct engineering disciplines:

• 📏 Linear: For continuous length measurements
• ▧ Area: For closed surface boundary evaluations
• 📌 Count: For discrete block item

Using the middle transfer buttons (Add ➔ and ← Remove), selected layers from the available list can be assigned directly into active calculation grids. Each tab features a dual-column layout:

• Source Layer: Locked (read-only) parameter tracking the native AutoCAD layer that the item is physically placed on in the drawing.
• Display Name: Fully editable text field representing a custom name defined by the user. The Display Name is directly carried over into the final Result Window for streamlined reporting.

Advanced Import Workflows

In addition to standard layer mapping, the Advanced Option panel provides alternative import mechanisms via dedicated action buttons:

• 🎯 Add from Selection (<): Interactively prompts you to select specific objects directly from model space. This mirrors the quick method logic, letting you filter and include either strictly selected items or all matching entities on that layer.
• ⚙️ Define (>): Opens manual definition tools allowing you to trace or define custom linear paths and area boundaries on modular engineering axes if pre-existing drawing geometry is unavailable.

Verification & Right-Click Context Menu

To ensure total accuracy and data integrity across complex drawings, the Advanced setup provides a built-in verification tool. You can Right-Click on any added row inside the Linear, Area, or Count data grids to access a contextual menu option:

• Select Objects on this Layer: Instantly highlights and selects the corresponding objects inside your model space drawing window, allowing you to visually confirm that the correct geometry is linked into the calculation engine.

Calculation & Execution

Once your layers, categories, display names, and custom mappings are fully configured across the tabs, click the Calculate button in the bottom-right corner. This processes your custom rules against the drawing dataset and launches the structured Result Window.

5. Result Window

Results Window Overview

The final Result Window (powered by QuantityResultsWindow) acts as the comprehensive master report summarizing all aggregated Linear, Area, and Count measurements collected from your Advanced configuration panel or Quick selection routines.

Adhering to strict Autodesk App Store usability guidelines, the window features an adaptive layout with a native theme toggle (🌓 Theme) ensuring seamless visual integration under both Dark and Light workspace themes.

Data Grid Structure & Aggregation

The center of the window houses a clean, read-only data grid organized into three precise columns:

• Item: Displays the final consolidated Display Name pulled directly from your configuration settings, grouping identical elements together.
• Quantity: Shows the precise mathematical sum formatted to two decimal places ({0:N2}) matching your current CAD drawing scale and unit tolerances.
• Unit: Clearly defines the measurement unit type corresponding to the active category (e.g., linear units, square units, or item counts).

Export & Reporting Tools

Located at the bottom-right action panel, the results window provides robust handoff routines for project cost estimation and documentation:

• 📐 Insert Table: Instantly embeds a fully formatted quantity schedule table directly into your active model space or paperspace layout drawing.
• 🌐 Export HTML: Dumps the master calculation metrics into an external, clean HTML report file for corporate sharing, client delivery, or archiving.
• Close: Safely dismisses the results window and returns control to the active CAD drawing environment.