Quantity takeoff is an important part of any construction project. In order to create competitive bids, you will need to ensure that your takeoffs and estimates are accurate. In Bluebeam Revu, you can perform quantity takeoff using a wide variety of tools. For example, with the measurement tools, you can quickly take and track accurate measurements. You can then use these measurements to perform cost estimates using the Markups List. You can then even connect these estimates to a spreadsheet using the Quantity Link tool.
With Revu, you can perform takeoffs with ease – once you learn how to use the available tools. If you’re looking to create accurate and quick estimations, here are 5 ways to use Bluebeam Revu for quantity takeoff.
The following examples are from Bluebeam Revu 2019 eXtreme. However, all functions shown (with the exception of Quantity Link) are available within all versions of Bluebeam Revu. To access the Quantity Link tool, you will either need Bluebeam Revu eXtreme or a Bluebeam Revu Complete subscription.
1. Use the Measurement Tools
Revu comes with a variety of measurement markup tools for different estimating needs. Once a scale has been set for the page, you can begin taking length, area, and volume measurements with ease.
To get started with the measurement markup tools, open up the Measurements panel. From here, you can set the document’s scale by entering one in or calibrating the page. Calibrating the page will allow you to select two points on the document with a listed scale. By basing your scale off of these points, you can ensure that your measurements stay accurate. It’s often recommended to calibrate the page to get a scale, especially if the PDF has been resized.
With a scale set, you can use the measurement tools to measure anything within the PDF. For polygonal shapes, you can take length, perimeter, area, and volume measurements. For circular shapes, you can take radius, diameter, and angle measurements as well. Any measurements taken will appear on the drawing, similar to other markup tools. The Markups List will additionally track and summarize all measurements on the page.
2. Track measurements using the Markups List
The Markups List will keep track of all markups and measurements placed on the drawing. You can open the Markups List by selecting the icon in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. The Markups List features a large variety of built-in columns, allowing you to track your measurements. You can display columns to display Length, Area, Depth, Height, and other measurement values calculated. Within this list, you’ll also see totals for the document – such as the sum of all length measurements taken. The Markups List will automatically store and summarize measurement information in one place. You will not need to track your measurements and values manually – it is all done for you.
3. Create custom columns to perform takeoffs
Beyond tracking measurements, you can use the Markups List to create custom columns. Custom columns allow you to track custom data and perform more advanced workflows, such as estimation. You can create custom columns to assign responsibility, track materials, and even estimate labor costs. When creating a custom column, you can choose a column type to determine how the field will work. The Formula type is especially useful for takeoffs, as it allows you to run calculations based on the measurement data within the PDF.
There are a variety of ways that you can use custom columns for quantity takeoff. For example, let’s say that you are looking to track flooring costs. You have a few different flooring choices available, each with a different price point. First, you could create a custom Choice column where you could choose the material type to use for each measurement. Along with this column, you could create a Formula column to multiply the selected material’s base cost with the measurement taken. As you choose the flooring type for each measurement, the total cost for the flooring will be calculated.
This is just one example of the different ways you can use custom columns to speed up estimation.
4. Export Markup List data to Excel
At any time, you can export data within the Markups List for use in Excel. This is useful if you’re more accustomed to working with Excel, or need to share data with someone who doesn’t have Bluebeam Revu. Once the markup data is within Excel, you use Excel’s calculation tools to perform further takeoffs and estimations.
To export the Markup List data to Excel, you will need to create a Markups List Summary. Within the Markups List panel, select the Summary button and then CSV Summary. You can customize the summary by adjusting which columns and markup values display. Once created, the summary will automatically open up within Excel.
5. Use Quantity Link to link measurements to Excel
Quantity Link is a Bluebeam Revu tool that allows you to link markup totals to an Excel spreadsheet. The tool allows you to create live links that transfer measurement totals from the PDF directly into Excel. These totals will update in real time – if you add a measurement within Revu, it will automatically appear within Excel. In Excel, you can use your own predefined formulas to streamline bid calculations.
If you’re using Bluebeam Revu 20 or below, Quantity Link is only available within the eXtreme version. For Bluebeam Revu 21 and above, Quantity Link is available with the Complete license type.
To use Quantity Link, you will want to first create a template in Excel. Once your template is set up, you can right click on a cell to connect the template to your PDF drawing. You can choose which Revu column data to pull from for each created link. Quantity Link will pull those measurement totals from the PDF to Excel. These live links will update as you continue to perform takeoffs. With Quantity Link, you can create an ongoing template to track measurement and cost totals as the project continues.
Summary
Bluebeam Revu is a valuable tool when it comes to quantity takeoff and estimation. With the measurement tools, you can take accurate measurements within any PDF drawing. Once you take a measurement, you can track it from the Markups List. As additional measurements are added, the Markups List will give a running total of all measurements. Within the Markups List, you can create custom columns to track additional information, such as material costs. You can then transfer data from the Markups List to Excel – either through CSV summaries or Quantity Link. Within Excel, you can use formulas to perform estimation and share data with users outside of Revu. From start to finish, Bluebeam Revu provides the tools you need to efficiently perform quantity takeoff.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please use the comment section on the bottom of this page, and don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to get more Bluebeam tips & tricks directly in your inbox!
Lauren Hecker is a Bluebeam Certified Instructor and teaches onsite and virtual Bluebeam Revu training courses. To schedule an onsite or custom course, please contact us!
How do you duplicate a count onto a floor of identical information?
Hi Jody,
To duplicate a count onto another floor of identical information, first select the counts that you want to duplicate, right click on one of them, and select Copy. On the page you want to place them on, go to the Edit dropdown menu and select Paste in Place. The count markups will be placed in the same location as where they were copied.
Can you Dynamic Link Custom Columns into excel? IE Squares of Roofing after slope factor (choice column) used to a formula column of roofing SQ w/ slope factor?
Hi Jake,
Once you have created a custom column it will be available to be linked into Excel through Quantity Link. Just make sure you create the custom columns before you use Quantity Link.
Is there a training video on linking custom columns to excel?
Hi Jude,
We don’t have a training video for it but we go over both creating custom columns and linking them to Excel with Quantity Link in our Bluebeam Revu Advanced course. You can find more information about this course here, and find our next training course on our calendar here.
Is it possible to group counts and length items to create a combined kit that can be saved into my tool chest? (Similar for grouping mark ups but for measured items only)?
Hi Joel, there is unforunately no way to group measurement markups in this way. The best way to do this (or at least the closest way) would be to use a Count markup with either the Height or Depth captions displaying. This wouldn’t be able to be used to take length measurements, but if you already had the measurements, you can enter them in to the Count measurement using the Units dropdown in the Properties toolbar. You can have the length measurement (using either the Height or Width field) display along with the Count by selecting the Show Caption button in the Properties toolbar and turning on the measurement that you added.
Is there a way to add up all of your measurement takeoffs in excel
Hi Colby,
The best way to do this would be to use the Quantity Link tool, which will automatically track measurement takeoffs taken in Revu within Excel. You would then need to add a Formula column in Excel to add up all of the measurement cells. You can find more information about how to do that here: https://support.bluebeam.com/blog/quantity-link/
Is there a way to have a column in the markups that adds all the lengths together, instead of seperate?
Hi Laurice!
This can easily be done by creating a Formula type custom column, which will allow you to set the formula to calculate the sumation of other columns in the Markups List. Here’s an article that covers some of the basics of creating a custom formula column: https://www.taradigm.com/how-to-create-custom-columns-for-quantity-takeoff-in-bluebeam-revu-20/
Is there any way to group the elements?
If I have an element in two sheets, is there any way to continue counting and make a total sum and not different elements?
Also, is there a quick way to resume counting without right-clicking and resuming count?
It takes me back to where the last count ended and on large sheets, I waste time looking for where I would count the new element.
Hi Pamela,
Unfortunately, you can not group counts across multiple pages/sheets. The best way to track the total sum of these elements would be to look at the Total cell of the Count column in the Markups List (as long as the two sheets are separate pages in the same PDF).
As for your second question, I haven’t found another way to resume counting without right clicking.
is there a way to quantity link to markup legends? I use bluebeam to track work complete each week for various projects. I have built custom markup legends and saved them as toolsets. the legends show quantities of various measurement unit qtys based on current status or stage of completion assigned. I haven’t found a way to link the mark ups in the way I have them formatted and shown in the legends.
Hi Jack,
Good question. Unfortunately, there is no way to do this. Quantity Link will link to the individual columns within the Markups List – and although the Legend visually displays the markup list data, it has no measurement data associated with it within the list. The best bet to make this work is to set up a template in Excel that matches the legends you’ve created, and then link the needed columns to the PDF.
I’m happy to assist you with this further if you need more assistance, just let me know!
Is there a good way to run qto on items that are each? I have over two dozen unique each items that I would run a counting tool with. Do I need a custom tool for each item?
Hi Brian,
If each item has its own unqiue properties, you will need to use a custom count tool for them to accurately capture their data. I would recommend utilizing the Tool Chest for this – you could create one count tool, set the properties, and then simply copy/paste it and adjust the properties. Then, save each count tool to the Tool Chest for easy access. Each tool saved to the Tool Chest will save all associated properties with it.
If I want to take measurements on a drawing for siding, can I input that the siding is 5 inches wide so the calculation takes that into consideration? I want it to not just give me square feet, but give me board ft of siding.
Is there a way to count studs according the stud spacing when the lin.ft is found of a particular wall?
Hi Darrell,
You should be able to do this by creating a custom Formula column. If you set the forumla expression to be Measurement/(lin.ft per stud), you should be able to get the number of studs required based on the measurements that you have taken.
Is there a way to use quantity link and studio sessions together? My team would like to start working off of Studio sessions, but we haven’t seen a way to Quantity Link from a Studio session to Excel.
Hi Zach,
You unfortuantely can not connect a document from within the Studio Session to Quantity Link. There’s a few ways to get around this – once the session is done, you can save the session file as a PDF and then it can be connected via Quantity Link. You can also do this mid-session – simply save the PDF and use the saved version for the link. The only downside is that the document within the Session will not actively be linked, so measurements will not update in real time within the linked Excel sheet. Instead, you will need to manually save new copies of the PDF when changes are made and use Switch the Source File within Quantity Link for the updated PDF. It will be a bit of a more manual process.