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There are eight Shapes available for drawing Annotation including: Callouts, Arrows, Lines, Rectangles, Ovals, Polygons, Clouds, and Ink (Freehand).

Drawing Shapes

the shapes section of the On-Screen Takeoff annotations toolbar

To adjust line color or width before drawing a Shape Annotation, click the small downward facing arrow next to the button.

you can select the color of shape annotations you can select the line width (strength) of shape annotations

Defaults may be set under Tools > Options > Fonts and Colors (see Related Articles for more information on setting defaults for Annotation).

Once a Shape is drawn on the plan, you can adjust its size and position by using the Selection Tool ALT TEXT and then adjusting the annotation as needed, see Related Articles for more information.

Shape Annotations retain the last color and line width used. 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 set to the last color/line width you selected.

Callouts

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

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

Callouts draw extra attention to something on the plan along with an explanation of why it is being emphasized

Arrows

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

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

Arrows draw extra attention to something on the plan

Lines

the line annotation button is a red line

Click the Line button, then click on the plan to set the starting point, click again to draw the ending point.

line annotations can be used to indicate a break in a plan or to indicate a stopping point

Rectangles

the rectangle annotation button is a red box

  • Click the Rectangle button
  • Then 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 annotations draw extra attention to something on the plan

Ovals

the oval annotation button is a red circle

  • Click the Ovals button
  • Then 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 annotations can draw extra attention to something on the plan

Polygons

the polygon annotation button is a red multipoint polygon shape

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

polygon annotations draw extra attention to something on the plan

Just like Area takeoff, you cannot draw an 'uncloseable' polygon (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'.

polygon cannot be closed if the lines cross each other

Clouds

the cloud annotation button is a red box with a downward pointing arrow on its side

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

clouds draw extra attention to something on the plan that has changed (additions or subtractions, usually)

Just like Area takeoff, you cannot draw an 'uncloseable' cloud annotation (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'.

polygon cannot be closed if the lines cross each other

Ink (Freehand)

the in annotation button looks like two red arcs next to each other

  • 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 or write whatever you want on the screen
  • Double-click to complete the Annotation

freehand ink annotations draw extra attention to something on the plan

See Related Articles for information on editing Annotation after you draw it.

click here to view the previous article Highlighter Tool Named Views and Hot Links click here to view the next article

Related Articles

Adjusting Existing Annotation

 

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