In Bluebeam Revu, the Markups List tracks all markups and markup metadata from the open PDF. The Markups List features several built-in columns for sorting and filtering markups. These default columns let you track commonly needed markup data – such as the author or the date placed. In addition to the built-in columns, Revu allows you to create custom columns for the Markups List. You can use custom columns to track more specific information and streamline workflows.

Revu lets you create a variety of custom columns to perform different tasks. For example, you could create custom columns to track responsibilities, costs, and even dates. Custom columns are especially useful for performing quantity takeoff and estimation. For quantity takeoff, you may want to create both a custom Choice column and a custom Formula column. When used together, these two custom columns can calculate material costs from PDF measurements. However, this is just one example of the many ways that you can use custom columns.

This article will outline how to create custom columns for quantity takeoff using the Markups List in Bluebeam Revu. First, we will look at how to create custom columns and the column types available. Then, we will look at how to use multiple columns to perform more advanced workflows – such as estimation. The following examples are from Bluebeam Revu 20 eXtreme edition. However, these tools are available in all versions of Revu.

Opening the Markups List

The Markups List is located in the bottom panel of the Revu workspace. Select the Markups List button to open the panel.

The Markups List displays information about the markups on the open PDF. The column configuration determines what markup data displays. You can turn these built-in columns on or off and rearrange them within the list. Changes made to the Markups List columns will save to the active profile. This allows you to set up different Markups List displays for different workflows.

To adjust the Markups List columns, select Markups List > Columns. From the dropdown menu, you can select a column option to add to the list. If you want to remove a column from the list, select it again from the Columns dropdown.

To edit any existing columns or create a new custom column, select Manage Columns.

Creating Custom Columns

The Manage Columns window features two tabs: Display Order and Custom Columns.

Display Order will list all available columns and whether or not they’re displaying in the Columns dropdown. Use the checkboxes to show or hide the columns as needed.

To create a new custom column, select the Custom Column tab. From this tab, you can create new custom columns or modify existing ones. You can also choose to import and export existing custom columns into and out of Revu for sharing. To create a new custom column, select Add.

From the Add Column window, you can choose what type of column to create, give it a name, and select options for it.

Bluebeam Revu allows you to create 6 types of custom columns. The selected type will determine how the column works and what data you can enter in.

Checkmark

The Checkmark type allows you to create a column with a checkbox that you can check or uncheck. This is useful for binary values. For example, let’s say you want to track which markups are approved versus which are proposed. You could create a Checkmark column called “Received Approval” to track this. With this column, you could check the boxes for all approved markups – while leaving the proposed ones unchecked.

Date

The Date type column allows you to associate markups with a calendar date variant. This can be useful for tracking project dates, such as starts and finishes. If you needed to track the date that the work for a markup begins, you could create a Date column called “Start Date.” For each markup, you could select the date that work is set to begin to maintain a schedule.

Number

The Number type column creates a blank field where you can enter in any number, currency, or percentage values. This can be useful for tracking material amounts, costs, or percent complete. These columns will roll up and give you a total column value. For example, I could create a “Material Cost” column to track the costs for each individual markup. At the top of the column, these values will roll up to a total project cost, as well.

Text

The Text type column provides you with a blank field where you can enter any text. You can use this to track additional information about your markups, such as comments. Because this is a blank field, you can enter in any type of text – including numbers, symbols, or URLs.

Choice

The Choice type column allows you to choose from a series of user-defined choice items. You can add as many choice items as needed – but you can only select one for each markup. A common Choice column that you may want to create is a “Responsibility” column. By adding each subcontractor as a choice item, you can choose who is responsible for each markup.

Formula

The Formula type column creates a field that calculates values using a user-defined formula. The formula you set up for this column can use other available columns as variables – such as Length and Height. These columns are especially useful for quantity takeoff. With a marked up drawing, you can create a Formula column to calculate costs and units from your measurements.

In the following example, we will create both a custom Choice column and a custom Formula column. With the Choice column, we’ll enter in different material options for the markups. Each material option will have a base price per square foot. Along with this, we’ll create a Formula column to calculate the material cost. This column will use the option selected in the Choice column, along with the markup’s measurement, to calculate the total cost.

Because the Formula column will be using the Choice column as a variable, we need to create the Choice column first. Once created, we will be able to use this column within the Formula column’s expression.

Creating a Choice Column

To start with, I’ll create a custom Choice column called Material. When creating a Choice column, an Item box will appear within the Options section. Here, you can add the choice items that will appear in the column’s dropdown menu.

To create a new choice item, select Add.

For each choice item,  you can enter in an Item, Subject, and Numeric Value. The Item is simply the name of the choice item – it’s what will appear in the dropdown menu. Each choice item must be assigned a name – but the other fields are optional. Under Subject, you can assign a markup Subject to the choice item. This will only allow you to choose that choice item for markups with the assigned Subject. If you leave this blank, you can select the choice item for any markup. Assigning a Numeric Value to the choice item lets you apply a number variant to each choice. This is also optional, but can allow you to add more information – such as the base price point for a material type.

For my Choice column, I will create 3 choice items for different flooring materials: Carpet, Hardwood, and Tile. As I’m focusing on flooring materials, I will make the subject of each choice item Flooring. I’ll also assign each choice item a numeric value to represent the base material price.

Once you have added all choice items, select OK to complete the column.

Creating a Formula Column

With the Choice column created, we can now work on the Formula column. Once again, select Add to create a new column. Under Name, I’ll enter in Material Cost, and choose Formula as the Type.

Formula columns will provide you with a dynamic Expression field. Here, you can enter in the variables for the formula to calculate. As you begin typing, variables will appear as drop-down selections. For this formula, we will be multiplying the Material Type base cost with the markup’s measurement. I’ll enter in Material Type*Measurement.

The Format drop-down menu lets you choose from Normal, Currency, or Percentage. As this column will be calculating costs, I’ll select Currency. Next, you can choose settings based on your preferred currency type. I will keep Decimal Places set to 2 and the Currency Symbol set to Dollars.

Then, select OK when finished.

With both custom columns created, select OK. Both the Material and Material Cost columns will appear in the Markups List. First, we will use the Material column to choose a desired material. Because the choice items were set to the subject of Flooring, you can only make this choice for Flooring markups. After selecting a Material type, the Material Cost column will automatically fill in. The formula column is taking the base cost of the selected material and multiplying it by the markup’s measurement. As you continue to select material types, the cost totals will roll up to the top of the Material Cost column. Now, we can quickly see how much the materials for this project will cost.

Summary

Bluebeam Revu’s Markups List is a powerful feature for tracking and customizing markup data. Along with the built-in columns, you can create custom columns for sorting and filtering. Custom columns are especially useful for quantity takeoff – you can use them to track material amounts, labor units, and even costs. Custom columns can even work together, such as in the example above. By creating both a custom Choice and a custom Formula column, you can use the choice option as a variable within the formula’s calculation. With these two columns, we can see a cost estimate just by selecting a material type. Due to the flexibility of custom columns, you can create any value needed to track or calculate important project data.

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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!