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Annotations are graphical markups drawn on plans such as: Dimension Lines, Text, Highlight, Hot Links, and Named Views. Annotations are viewed/managed on Takeoff Tab, in Takeoff Mode. Hot Links and Named Views are covered in the next article.

Annotations added by Foremen are included in the next DPC Change file sent back to the Project Manager.

The Annotation Tools are located on the Annotation toolbar. This toolbar is only active when the Project is flipped (temporarily) to "Takeoff Mode" by clicking the TKO button click the Takeoff mode button to add or edit Annotations in the LCC Panel (on the Takeoff Tab). While in Takeoff mode, the Forman will see colored takeoff and can add/modify Annotations. He or she can also use the Quick Takeoff (Measurement Tools) explained in Related Articles. (Foremen cannot unlock a Bid (to edit takeoff, for example), but they can flip between Takeoff Mode and DPC Mode to view takeoff, add/edit Annotations, and see Bid Area breakdown.)

the annotations toolbar provide access to all sorts of plan markups including highlights, arrows, boxes, etc.

Tips and Reminders

  • Annotations are not measurements and do not affect takeoff quantities or DPC production calculations
  • Annotation is stored on the Annotation Layer of a project - annotations cannot be assigned to other Layers
  • You can change the default Font/Color of Annotations in Tools > Options > Fonts/Colors

Dimension Lines

Dimension lines are simply reference lines drawn on a page to indicate distances between objects and to verify the scale on a page.

  • Click on the Dimension Line tool DPC Dimension Tool annotation button then,
  • Draw the line in the Image Window

To change the formatting of a Dimension line,

  • Change to the Select Tool the select tool is an upward pointing arrow pointed slightly left
  • Click on the Dimension line - the Text Format toolbar (see next section) displays
  • Adjust the font and format as needed
  • Click away from/off of the Dimension line

Dimension lines automatically break at any piece of takeoff they encounter to help you measure the distance between takeoff objects. To draw a line 'over' takeoff objects, draw it on a blank region of the plan (where there is no takeoff) and then just drag it to the location where it needs to be.

Text

Text annotation creates a note on your image/plan that can call out specific information or alert field staff to special requirements.

  • Click the Text tool the text tool allows you to add a text box directly on top of your plan and draw a text box
  • Type in the whatever text to display
  • Click away from the text box and the Text Format bar opens
  • Make adjustments to the text formatting as needed

the text format toolbar allows you to format text within a text box

Highlighter

The Highlighter calls special attention to a section of the Image just like using a Highlighter pen. There are 48 colors you can choose for the Highlighter accessible by clicking the drop down arrow.

  • Click on the Highlighter tool the highlighter tool allows you to draw an rectangular highlight around something in the Image window, then
  • Click on the plan and drag diagonally away from the starting point to draw a rectangle
  • Release to finish

Shapes

the shape annotation tools allow you to call attention to something on the plan

There are seven Shapes available for drawing Annotation, click the small downward facing arrow next to the button to select the color and line width for the shape. Defaults may be set under Tools > Options > Fonts and Colors.

click the small downward pointing arrow to see available options for shape annotations including colorDPC annotation - select line width

Once a Shape is drawn on the plan, you can adjusts its size and position by using the Selection Tool the select tool is an upward pointing arrow pointed slightly left and then adjusting the annotation as needed.

Shape Annotations remember their last setting. For example, if you change the color and line width in Bid "A", then open Bid "B", when you select the same Annotation Shape, it is automatically set to the last color/line width you selected.

Callouts

the callout annotation button is a box with a downward pointing arrow on its right

  • Click the Callout button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point (where the arrow will point) and drag away from this spot to draw the callout box
  • Type in the message and adjust font as needed

callout annotation can be helpful when you have to point to something on the plan without obscuring it

Arrows

the arrow annotation button is a colored arrow pointing up and to the right

  • Click the Arrow button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Click again to draw the ending point

arrow annotation allows you to point out something on the plan

Lines

the line annotation button is simply a line angled up to the right

  • Click the Line button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Click again to draw the ending point

line annotation cn be helpful to separate regions on the plan

Rectangles

teh rectangle annotation button is a colored box

  • Click the Rectangle button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Hold down the mouse button and drag to the ending point
  • Release the mouse button to complete the Annotation

rectangle annotation can be used instead of highlighting to draw attention to some region on the plan

Ovals

the oval annotation button is a colored oval

  • Click the Oval button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Hold down the mouse button and drag to the ending point
  • Release the mouse button to complete the Annotation

oval annotation can be used instead of highlighting to draw attention to some region on the plan

Freehand (Polygons)

the polygon annotation button is a colored pentagon

  • Click the Freehand (Polygon) button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Click on each corner (vertice) to set additional points
  • Double-click to complete the Annotation

polygon annotation can be used instead of highlighting to draw attention to some region on the plan

You cannot draw an 'uncloseable' polygon or cross lines. If On-Screen Takeoff generates a 'thunk' sound, that indicates that the segment cannot be drawn or the polygon cannot be closed. Press ESC on your keyboard to back-up to a point where you have not crossed lines or drawn a polygon shape that cannot be 'closed'.

Clouds

the cloud annotation button is a colored freeform shape

  • Click the Cloud button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • Click on each corner (vertice) to set additional points
  • Double-click to complete the Annotation

cloud annotation can be used to emphasis a change in a plan or takeoff

You cannot draw an 'uncloseable' Cloud or cross lines. If On-Screen Takeoff generates a 'thunk' sound, that indicates that the segment cannot be drawn or the Cloud cannot be closed. Press ESC on your keyboard to back-up to a point where you have not crossed lines or drawn a Cloud shape that cannot be 'closed'.

Ink

the ink annotation button is two upside-down arcs

  • Click the Ink button
  • Click on the plan to set the starting point
  • While holding down the mouse (or pressing a digitizer pen to the screen)
  • Draw whatever you want on the screen
  • Double-click to complete the Annotation

ink annotation is a freeform markup you can use to call attention to something on the plan

See the next article for information on Hot Links and Named Views.

Sometimes the Annotation font is too big and may block other information/takeoff or it may be too small to read at normal zoom. Annotations such as Dimension lines, Area labels, Text Boxes, and even the dimension lines On-Screen Takeoff automatically inserts between related takeoff objects, can be formatted so the font is legible yet does not block the image.

To Format Annotation Objects

Existing Bids

  • Click on the Select tool the select tool is an upward pointing arrow that points slightly left
  • Click on the Annotation object to adjust, in the example, an Area Label

DPC Image Tab - resize annotation - before resizing it is difficult to read

The Text Format toolbar displays (it may be docked or undocked, depending on its state the last time it was shown)

use the text format toolbar to adjust the font attributes

  • Select the Font Style and Size
  • Click away from the object to apply the changes

The selected annotation adjusts to the new Font Size:

DPC Image Tab - annotation - after resizing, it is easier to read

You can adjust shape annotation by right-clicking it and changing the Color or Line Width...

You can also adjust the shape of annotations

Future Bids

To adjust Annotation font formatting for all future (new) Bids:

  • Click Tools > Options > Fonts/Colors

Set defaults for annotations in the Options dialog box's font and color tab

  • Select the Annotation type in either the Default Font or Default Color box
  • Click the Change Font or Change Color button
  • Adjust the formatting as needed
  • Click the OK

New Projects are created using these default settings - adjusting default settings does not affect existing Bids.

Shape Annotations (arrows, circles, clouds, etc.) retain their last format settings from use to use. For example, if you set a Shape annotation to Purple with a Line Depth of 6, that setting is retained until you change it again.

click here to view the previous article Viewing Comments Creating and Using Hot Links and Named Views click here to view the next article

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