# Dimension Take-Off Tutorial

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### Tutorial Overview

This training guide covers the **Dimension Take Off Basic** feature in Dietrichs International's 3D building software. This powerful tool is designed for construction professionals including architects, builders, and estimators who need accurate measurements and quantity takeoffs from 3D building models.

#### What You'll Learn

* How to extract square footage, roof line lengths, and dimensional data from building models
* How to generate professional reports with calculations and documentation
* How to create material lists and export data for ordering
* How to use filters to manage large amounts of building data

#### Target Audience

* Architects and designers
* Construction estimators
* Builders and contractors
* Project managers working with 3D building models

### Software Introduction

#### Key Features of Dimension Take Off

The Dimension Take Off feature allows you to calculate and extract dimensional information from building models during initial design stages, even before adding materials to the model. This includes:

* **Floor Areas**: Calculate square footage for all floor areas
* **Wall Measurements**: Linear lengths and areas for exterior and interior walls
* **Roof Data**: Ridge lengths, eave lengths, roof areas, and slope calculations
* **Opening Schedules**: Automated window and door lists with specifications
* **Material Quantities**: Volume calculations for insulation and other materials

#### Project Data Program

A companion tool that organizes all calculated information into structured categories, generates reports, and provides export capabilities to Excel and other formats.

### Step-by-Step Instructions

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eND-kGi0AI>" %}

#### 1. Floor Plan Analysis

**Objective**: Calculate floor areas and set up basic parameters for the entire takeoff process.

**Steps**:

1. Navigate to floor plan view in your project
2. Access **menu option 1-9-4** (Dimension Take Off)
3. Configure the following settings:
   * **Minimum Area Threshold**: Set to 2 square meters (or appropriate unit) to ignore very small spaces that aren't worth including in calculations
   * **Minimum Length for Subtraction**: Set to 24 inches (or 3 feet) to ignore minor wall segments
   * **Control Pictures**: Select "Yes" to generate visual documentation of calculations
4. Click **OK** to proceed with floor calculations

**Important Notes**:

* These initial settings will affect all subsequent calculations
* Control pictures are essential for verification and professional documentation

#### 2. Floor and Ceiling Calculations

**Objective**: Generate detailed floor and ceiling area calculations with different building properties.

**Steps**:

1. Navigate to **Floor and Ceiling** section using menu **1-2-3**
2. Select **1-9-4** for dimension take off
3. Apply the same settings configured in step 1
4. Click **OK** to calculate ceiling areas and floor buildups

**What This Generates**:

* Ceiling areas organized by different properties (5½ inch buildup, 9½ inch buildup, etc.)
* True top areas (accounting for openings like skylights)
* Floor area calculations with different construction types

#### 3. Roof Calculations

**Objective**: Extract comprehensive roof measurements including linear footage and areas.

**Steps**:

1. Navigate to **Roof** section using menu **1-2-5**
2. Select **Roof Calculation 1-9-4**
3. Configure roof-specific settings:
   * **Minimum Line Lengths**: Set to 4 inches to ignore very short roof segments
   * **Minimum Area**: Set to 2 square feet for roof surface calculations
   * **Control Pictures**: Enable for documentation
4. Select **"All roof sides"** for complete roof analysis
5. Click **OK** to generate roof calculations

**Roof Data Generated**:

* Eave lengths by roof section
* Ridge and valley measurements
* Gable end calculations
* Hip line dimensions
* Roof surface areas
* Opening calculations (skylights, chimneys, etc.)

### Working with the Project Data Program

#### Accessing Your Results

**Opening the Program**:

1. Click the **Project Data Program** icon (appears as a data disc symbol)
2. Alternatively, use menu option **1-9-1**
3. Allow the program to update with your latest calculations

#### Understanding Data Organization

The Project Data Program organizes your takeoff results into logical categories:

**Wall Information Structure**

* **Exterior Walls**: Separated by wall types (e.g., "Art 30 12-inch wall", "Garage wall")
* **Interior Walls**: Organized separately from exterior walls
* **Wall Slices**: Individual components like insulation, framing, sheathing

**Data Provided for Each Wall**:

* Total linear length (e.g., 315 feet of exterior walls)
* Outer area: 2,246 square feet (with opening considerations)
* True outer area vs. calculated area (showing difference between ignored small openings and actual measurements)
* Inner area calculations
* Individual wall segment breakdowns

**Floor Information Structure**

* Organized by ceiling properties and construction types
* Different floor buildups (5½ inch, 9½ inch systems)
* Top area calculations with opening considerations

**Roof Information Structure**

* **Eave Information**: 157 feet of eave length (example from video)
* **Ridge and Valley Data**: All ridge lines with true lengths
* **Roof Surfaces**: Areas calculated for each roof plane
* **Gable and Hip Details**: Linear measurements for ordering materials
* **Opening Information**: Skylights, chimneys, and other roof penetrations

#### Using the Filter System

**Why Filters Are Critical**: The software generates enormous amounts of data. Without proper filtering, reports can become overwhelming and unusable.

**How to Use Filters**:

1. In the Project Data Program, you'll see checkboxes next to different data categories
2. **Check** boxes for information you want to include in reports
3. **Uncheck** boxes for information you want to exclude
4. **Save** your filter settings for consistency across reports
5. Use **Cancel** to exit without saving changes

**Filter Strategy**:

* Create different filter sets for different purposes (estimating vs. ordering vs. documentation)
* Turn off detailed slice information if you only need overall quantities
* Focus on specific building components (roofing, framing, etc.) as needed

### Generating Professional Reports

#### Picture Print Reports

**Purpose**: Create detailed documentation showing how calculations were performed, complete with visual verification.

**Steps**:

1. Select the information category you want to document
2. Click on the **Picture Print** option
3. Configure report settings:
   * **Logo**: Choose to include or exclude company logo
   * **Maximum Image Height**: Set size of control pictures in report
   * **Additional Information**: Select extra data to include
4. Click **Output** to generate Word document

**What You Get**:

* Professional report with calculations for every wall, floor, and roof component
* Control pictures showing exactly how each measurement was calculated
* Formulas and mathematical verification
* Ground floor and upper floor breakdowns
* Opening calculations with detailed specifications

#### Window and Door Lists

**Accessing Window/Door Schedules**:

1. From the floor area menu, access the window and door list function
2. Click **OK** to generate the schedule
3. The system will sort openings by type and location

**Information Generated**:

* **Quantity**: Total count of each window/door type
* **Opening Types**: Different window and door specifications
* **Rough Opening Dimensions**: Critical for framing
* **Wall Location**: Which walls contain each opening type
* **Detailed Specifications**: Size, operation type, and other properties

**Integration with Material Lists**:

* Window/door information can be transferred to the materials side of the program
* Generates both dimensional takeoff data and detailed material specifications
* Provides rough opening calculations for wall framing

#### Excel Export Capabilities

**Available Export Options**:

* All wall, floor, and roof calculations
* Window and door schedules
* Material quantity lists
* Custom formatted reports

**Export Process**:

1. Select the data category you want to export
2. Choose **Excel Export** option
3. Configure export settings:
   * Information fields to include
   * Sizing and formatting preferences
   * Additional specifications
4. Generate Excel file for further analysis or integration with other systems

### Advanced Features and Tips

#### Working with Different Wall Types

The software automatically recognizes and separates different wall constructions:

* **Multiple Wall Types**: Exterior walls with different thicknesses are calculated separately
* **Slice Calculations**: Individual components (insulation, framing, sheathing) can be calculated independently
* **Volume Calculations**: Insulation and other materials calculated by volume, not just area

#### Opening Threshold Management

**Small Opening Handling**:

* Openings smaller than your set threshold (e.g., 2½ square meters) are automatically ignored in area calculations
* Larger openings are properly subtracted from wall areas
* You can see both "ignored opening" calculations and "true area" calculations

**Benefits**:

* Prevents over-calculation of material waste
* Focuses on significant openings that actually affect material quantities
* Provides flexibility for different project requirements

#### Quality Control Features

**Control Pictures**:

* Visual verification of every calculation
* Shows exactly which building elements were included/excluded
* Provides audit trail for estimate verification
* Helps identify calculation errors before they become costly mistakes

**True Length Calculations**:

* All measurements are "true lengths" accounting for angles and slopes
* Critical for accurate material ordering
* Eliminates manual calculation errors

#### Best Practices for Professional Use

1. **Always Set Up Filters First**: Before generating any reports, configure your filters to show only relevant information
2. **Use Control Pictures**: Enable visual documentation for all calculations to provide verification and professional appearance
3. **Consistent Threshold Settings**: Use the same minimum area and length settings across similar projects for consistency
4. **Verify Critical Measurements**: Use the control pictures to spot-check important calculations manually
5. **Export for Integration**: Take advantage of Excel export to integrate with your existing estimating and project management systems
6. **Save Filter Templates**: Create and save different filter configurations for different types of reports (owner reports vs. subcontractor takeoffs)

### Troubleshooting and Common Issues

#### When Data Seems Overwhelming

* **Problem**: Too much information in reports
* **Solution**: Use filters more aggressively; focus on one building system at a time

#### Missing Information

* **Problem**: Expected calculations don't appear
* **Solution**: Check minimum threshold settings; verify building model completeness

#### Verification Questions

* **Problem**: Need to verify calculation accuracy
* **Solution**: Use control pictures; compare slice calculations to overall totals

### Training Summary

The Dimension Take Off feature in Dietrichs International's 3D building software provides comprehensive quantity surveying capabilities for modern construction projects. Key takeaways:

* **Efficiency**: Automates complex calculations that would take hours manually
* **Accuracy**: Provides true length measurements and accounts for all openings and angles
* **Documentation**: Generates professional reports with visual verification
* **Integration**: Exports to Excel and other systems for broader project management
* **Flexibility**: Configurable filters and thresholds adapt to different project needs

#### Next Steps for Users

1. Practice with sample projects to understand the interface
2. Develop standard filter templates for your typical project types
3. Integrate the export capabilities with your existing estimating workflows
4. Train team members on consistent threshold and reporting standards

This comprehensive approach to building takeoffs can significantly improve accuracy and efficiency in construction estimating and project planning.
