Running Takeoff Boost
Set Scale
It is critical that you set your Page Scale
before running
Takeoff Boost on a Page. Incorrect Scale will cause
takeoff errors because
Takeoff Boost relies on correct Page scale to identify objects on the
Plan.
For a refresher on how to Set and Verify Scale, see Related Articles.
Start Takeoff Boost
After you set the Page Scale and verifying you have met all the requirements listed in the previous article, click the button.
The Takeoff Boost pop-up displays...
Select Results and Set Wall Type Shape
The first thing you'll want to do is decide which Results you want Takeoff Boost to return. By default, all Results are selected (Footprint Area, Net Area, Walls, and all Counts).
- Uncheck whatever you don't need (don't worry, if you change your mind, you can re-run Takeoff Boost and pull down additional Results).
- Next, if you select "Walls", you can check "Wall Types" and set the shape of the callout.
- Takeoff Boost identifies the different Wall Types (based on a shape you select), and then creates Conditions and draws takeoff objects for each different Wall Type identified on the plan - this is a huge timesaver!
If you want Takeoff Boost to identify different Wall Types, check the box and then select the symbol your plan uses to define Wall Types. If you don't check the "Wall Types" box and define the shape, all your linear takeoffs return associated with a single "Walls" Condition.
The Conditions you select are "remembered" for your next Takeoff Boost session.
Verify on the Wall or Partition schedule/detail how Wall Types are defined on your plans.
Here's another example of a plan indicating Wall Type...
Run Takeoff Boost
Next, assuming you have set and verified your Scale, click Run Takeoff Boost. If you haven't set and verified Scale, click Cancel, set and verify Page Scale, and then click the button again.
We know, it sounds like we keep harping about setting Scale. There is good reason: changing Scale after
takeoff is drawn is not a guaranteed process. Some objects may not fit on the Page, some cannot be properly re-scaled, sometimes there are unforeseen issues.
Always set and verify Scale before drawing any takeoff.
After a few moments, you'll see another Takeoff Boost notification and On-Screen Takeoff displays a blue "Processing..." banner along the top of the Image Window.
These indicate the Plan was uploaded successfully and the Takeoff Boost service is analyzing it.
While Takeoff Boost is processing a Page, a blue banner shows at the top of the Page and the "Takeoff Boost" button changes to "Stop Takeoff Boost":
You can run Takeoff Boost on up to five Pages at the same time.
It takes about 10-30 seconds or so for the Takeoff Boost Results to be returned by the service.
When Takeoff Boost returns Results, On-Screen Takeoff displays a blue banner along the top of the Image Window (on the Page that is being updated) to let you that Page is being updated with Takeoff Boost results.
This banner disappears as soon as the results are written, so if you don't see it, just check back on your Page, most likely, the results will be there.
Review Results
In the next few articles, we'll cover reviewing and manipulating the Results that Takeoff Boost returns.
Run Takeoff Boost on every Page in your Project before editing the Conditions or takeoff Takeoff Boost creates (we explain why in the next article).
Stop a Running Boost Process
You can stop a running Boost process anytime before results start to get written to database, by clicking the button (the Takeoff Boost button changes to Stop Boost during processing). You can restart Takeoff Boost anytime on any Page, as long as there is not takeoff associated with the "Boost" Conditions (next article).
If you close/exit On-Screen Takeoff or close this database, you will receive a caution message alerting you that Takeoff Boost will be canceled on whichever Page it is running. If you cancel, it's not big deal: you can always run Takeoff Boost again after you reopen On-Screen Takeoff or the database.
If Takeoff Boost was in the process of writing results to the database, those result will be saved and you'll see the Boost Conditions and takeoff on the Page next time you open On-Screen Takeoff or the database.