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Measurements - Length
- 23 Aug 2023
- 4 Minutes to read
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Measurements - Length
- Updated on 23 Aug 2023
- 4 Minutes to read
- Print
- DarkLight
- PDF
Article Summary
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The Length Tool is used to calculate metres/feet on Plans which appear in the bill of materials on the Quantities tab.
Add a New Length Measurement
- Within a Stage click +Length
Complete the required details
Unit Cost, Markup Percentage and Unit Price are optional. If using costing, please ensure the Unit Price is populatedClick Create
If additional Parts and Labour are required, click Create & Add More Parts
Using the Length Tool to begin measuring
⚠️ To measure a Length, set the Plan Scale
- On the Plan, click to begin a Length
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 hold in 15-degree increments
- Hold CTRL / Command⌘ and press Z to undo the last point
- Double click in Freeform Mode to complete the Length
How to Edit existing Lengths
- Press ESC, Zoom in and click the Length
- Click Settings to:
- Add Drop / Wastage in metres/feet
- Edit Style changing all Lengths associated with this Measurement and turn Show Totals on/off
- Add additional Parts and Labour
- 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
Adjusting Length Totals
⚠️Adjusting Totals will lock the value
Adding or removing Lengths after Adjusting the Plan or Project Totals will not be reflected in the Totals.
Editing Individual Lengths will not be shown when the Value is Adjusted.
- To Adjust Measurement Totals, click the individual run Total ( * ), click the Plan Total ( * ) or Project Total (^)
- Enter new Value in Number form (e.g.
3) or via a Formula (e.g.2*10) - Click Save
📝 Please Note:
The asterisk (*) on the individual run means that the Total is Adjusted.
The hat (^) on the Measurement Total means it contains an Adjusted Length (s).
- To remove an Adjusted Total, click the Adjusted Total and clear the Value
Please note: Entering 0 will give an Adjusted Total of 0
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.
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 a Length on the Plan?
Yes.
Click Show Total in the Style section when creating a new Measurement.
Alternatively, within an existing Measurement, head to Settings then click Style to enable Show Total. Number Formats include Metric (mm, cm, m) and Imperial (in, ft).
Show Totals only show run Totals. Segment Totals are not displayed.
Below image Explanation:
- Point A - Show Totals will only show the run Total, not segment Totals.
- Point B - To display segment Totals on the Plan, use the Ruler Tool or Text Tool.
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.
I need to add a junction box at the start and finish of each underground cable. How can I work out the Total number of junction boxes I need?
Yes.
Add a Part of Junction inside the Measurement and use the Formula count*2 and Unit of Measure as ea. This Formula takes the Count (runs) measured on the Plan, multiplies them by two and calculates the junction boxes required for the Measurement.
I want to measure a trench and work out the volume from a Length Measurement. Can this be done?
Yes.
You can add a Part of Trench inside the Measurement and calculate the volume using Formula Len *( depth * width ) and Unit of Measure as m3. This Formula equates to Length multiplied by depth and width to calculate the trench volume.
What is the difference between the Drop/Wastage setting and Adjusting Totals?
The Drop /Wastage value can only be applied to specific runs and needs a Length Measurement to apply it to. The Adjustment can be made on individual runs, Total Length Measurement or Plan Totals when there are no Measurements on the Plan.
Please note: The Adjusted Value ignores the actual Measurement and locks the Value that has been defined at that point in time. Adding or Deleting runs will not change an Adjusted Total.
You may look at using Formula within the Measurement or Part if the same Drop or Wastage is to apply to all runs within a Measurement.
How do the drawing modes work?
Square mode is used to draw boxes, and Freeform mode is used to draw unique shapes.
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
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