Congratulations on choosing PlanSwift. Let's get started!

Here are a few important links for you:

The User Guide

Training Videos

PlanSwift Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Release Notes

Contact Us

Below, you'll find a few videos and links to key articles to help you get up-and-running quickly. The links open in a new tab or window so this article stays open, the videos are embedded in this article and should play, just click the play button . Please make sure "Pop-ups" are allowed so you can view the videos.

Overview of PlanSwift

PlanSwift is built on the familiar Microsoft Office “ribbon” interface so it’s easy to learn and a breeze to use.

PlanSwift uses twelve "Tabs", accessible at the top of the application, to provide access to different program functionality. When you first open the program, you’ll see a welcome screen on the PlanSwift Tab.

Click the New button to create a new job, or the Open button to open an existing Job.

Before we go any further, we’ll take a look at the Tabs you’ll use the most (we cover them all in the PlanSwift User Guide, below we just get you started).

The Home Tab

The two Tabs where you'll spend the most time are the Home Tab and the Estimating Tab.

Let's look at the Home Tab first - that's the main takeoff screen and what you see when you open a Job.

On the Home Tab, you view plans, draw takeoff, associate parts and assemblies with your takeoff, and draw annotations.

The Estimating Tab

Literally, this is the nuts and bolts of your jobs. This is the screen where you can review all the materials and labor required to build the items you took off.

First an Overview

And a Quick Look at Estimating Templates

Just What is Takeoff? How do I Draw Takeoff?

Takeoff is a noun meaning the visual representation of your plan measurements.

Takeoff is also a verb defining the act of drawing those measurements on your plans.

What Are Takeoff Items?

Takeoff Items are the things such as walls, doors, floors, ceilings, etc. you want to measure on your building plans. Some folks call them "assemblies", others "takeoff objects", some call them "items" - whatever the term, they are just different things on your plants you must account for.

PlanSwift makes it simple to create Takeoff Items that include various assemblies, so your parts/labor are automatically pulled in as you draw your measurements on your plans.

In the videos below, we show you how to draw takeoff using Linear, Area, and Count Conditions.

Before you do anything, it's crucial that you set and verify Page Scale.

Takeoff can be:

Linear

Linear takeoff describes using a Takeoff Item to measure things that are typically measured or priced by a lineal measurement (foot, m, inch, etc.). This doesn't mean the program cannot calculate area or volume (or even counts) off these measurements, of course, it's just that when you're looking a plan from "bird's eye view", you'd be measuring it as with a line.

Examples: walls, plumbing or electrical runs, molding, landscape edging, etc.

Area

Area takeoff describes using a Takeoff Item to measure things that are typically measured or priced by the "square" (SF, m2, etc.). This doesn't mean the program cannot calculate volume or perimeter off these measurements, of course, it's just that when you're looking a plan from "bird's eye view", you'd be measuring it as a square.

Examples: Floors, Ceilings, Concrete slab foundations, roofs, asphalt paving, etc.

Count

Count takeoff describes using a Takeoff Item to measure things that are typically measured or priced by the "each". This doesn't mean the program cannot calculate other Results. There are a wide variety of Results available including perimeter, volume, total height, etc.

Examples: ACT Ceiling lights or vents, windows and doors, columns, etc.

These videos cover just the TIP of the iceberg when it comes to taking off your project. There are numerous tools in PlanSwift you can use to speed up your takeoff process considerably.

Take a few minutes to review all our Takeoff Videos.