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    Measurements - Area
    • 22 Aug 2023
    • 3 Minutes to read
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    Contents

    Measurements - Area

    • Updated on 22 Aug 2023
    • 3 Minutes to read
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    Article Summary

    The Area Tool is used to calculate square meterage/feet on Plans which appear in the bill of materials on the Quantities tab.

    Add a New Area Measurement

    1. Within a Stage click +Area

    area-adding-a-new-area.png

    1. Complete the required details
      Unit Cost, Markup Percentage and Unit Price are optional. If using costing, please ensure the Unit Price is populated

    2. Click Create
      If additional Parts and Labour are required, click Create & Add More Parts

    area-adding-a-new-area 2.png

    Using the Area Tool to begin Measuring

    ⚠️ To measure a Length, set the Plan Scale

    1. On the Plan, click to begin an Area
    Navigation hints:
    • Click once to change direction
    • Click, hold and drag to pan around the Plan
    • Switch between Freeform or Square drawing mode
    • Hold SHIFT to draw a straight line and hold in 15-degree increments
    • Hold CTRL / Command⌘ and press Z to undo the last point
    1. Double click in Freeform Mode to complete the Area

    Using the Area Tool

    Area Cut-out Tool

    The Area Cut-Out Tool is used to subtract an Area from a Measurement. On Plans, it removes an island bench from flooring or windows from external cladding.

    Read more about it here.

    How to Edit existing Areas

    1. Press ESC, Zoom in and click the Area
    2. Click Settings to:
      • Create a Negative Measurement
      • Edit Style changing all Areas associated with this Measurement and enable/disable Show Totals
      • Add additional Parts and Labour

    area-settings.png

    1. Click +Add to:

    area-plus-add.png

    1. Click Actions to:

    area-actions.png

    1. Click Measurement Actions to:
      • Hide this Measurement from the Plan
      • Rename
      • Adjust the Measurement Value
      • Add additional Parts and Labour
      • Erase All, removing all Lengths from the Plan
      • Delete the Measurement from the whole Project Permanently

    area-measurement-actions.png

    Adjusting Area Totals

    ⚠️ Adjusting Totals will lock the value

    Adding or removing Areas after Adjusting the Plan or Project Totals will not be reflected in the Totals.
    Editing Individual Areas will not be shown when the Value is Adjusted.

    1. To Adjust Measurement Totals, click the individual Area Total ( * ), click the Plan Total ( * ) or Project Total (^)
    2. Enter new Value in Number form (e.g. 3) or via a Formula (e.g. 2*10)
    3. Click Save
    📝 Please Note:

    The asterisk (*) on the Area value means that the Total is Adjusted
    The hat (^) on the Measurement Total means that it contains an Area(s) that is Adjusted
    adjusting-area-totals

    1. To remove an Adjusted Total, click the Adjusted Total and clear the Value
      Please note: Entering 0 will give an Adjusted Total of 0

    Adjusting Area Totals

    Supported References

    Support References relate directly to elements on the Plan and can be used in conjunction with Excel-type Formula to calculate Parts and Labour. Each Formula must contain a Supported Reference/s to be accepted.

    formula-area-supported-reference.png

    The Formula follows the PMDAS Rule: Parentheses (brackets) first followed by multiplication, division, addition, then subtraction. Calculations are prioritised within the brackets. More detailed information about Formulas with examples are provided in our article Using Formulas in Groundplan.

    Frequently Asked Questions


    Is there a way to Show the Total of an Area on the Plan?

    Yes. To enable, click Show Total in the Style section when creating a new Measurement

    area-faq-show-totals.png

    Alternatively, within an existing Measurement, head to Settings then click Style to enable Show Total. Number Formats include metric (mm², cm², m²) and imperial (in², ft²).

    area-faq-show-totals-2.png


    How can I measure the same item across the Project instead of creating a new one each time?

    Selecting Link from Worksheet allows an existing Stage to be selected and used to create one Project Total for the Measurement.

    To combine marked-up Stages, please use the Transfer Tool. This moves Measurement Totals from one Stage or one Measurement to another.


    How can I work out the perimeter of an area I drew to calculate requirements for concrete boxing?

    After creating an Area, you can add a Part for Perimeter inside the Measurement. Calculate the perimeter using the Formula =Len and the Unit of Measure as m.

    This Formula measures the perimeter around the Area and the perimeter of any Area Cut-Out that has been created.

    area-faq-perimeter.png


    Is there a way to see the list of Cut-outs I made?

    No there is not.


    How do the drawing modes work?

    Square mode is used to draw boxes, and Freeform mode is used to draw unique shapes.

    area-faq-drawing-modes.png

    Freeform Mode

    • Click to start
    • Click once to change direction
      Hold SHIFT to draw a straight line and hold in 15-degree increments
      Hold CTRL/Command ⌘ and press Z to undo the last point
    • Double-click to complete

    Square Mode

    • Click on one corner to start
    • Move to the diagonal corner
    • Click once to complete

    Measuring an Area


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