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    Measurements - Length
    • 29 Apr 2025
    • 8 Minutes to read
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    Contents

    Measurements - Length

    • Updated on 29 Apr 2025
    • 8 Minutes to read
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    • PDF
    Article summary

    The Length Tool is used to calculate metres, square metres, volume or add pitch to Measurements on Plans. These appear in the bill of materials on the Quantities Tab.

    Related Articles: Length Labelling | Measurement Parts and Labour

    Add a New Length Measurement

    1. Within a Stage click +Length

    length-adding-a-new-length.png

    1. Complete the required details
      Part no, Unit Cost, Markup Percentage and Unit Price are optional. If using costing, please ensure the Unit Price is populated

    2. Select the Measurement Unit or add a Pitch degree
      This will update the Part UoM box

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

    length-adding-a-new-length-2.png

    Using the Length Tool to begin measuring

    ⚠️ To measure a Length, set the Plan Scale

    1. On the Plan, click to begin a Length
    Navigation hints:
    • Click once to change direction
    • Click, hold and drag to pan around the Plan
    • Hold SHIFT to hold in 15-degree increments
    • Hold CTRL / Command⌘ and press Z to undo the last point
    1. Double click to complete

    using-length-tool.gif


    Square Drawing Mode

    After a Length has been created, choose Square Drawing Mode to draw rectangles and squares.

    1. Click Freeform then click Square
    2. Click once to begin
    3. Move to the opposite side corner and click once to complete

    length-square-mode.png

    Curve Drawing Mode

    After a Length has been created, choose Curve Drawing Mode to draw curves.

    1. Click Curve
    2. Click once to begin
    3. Click once along the Curve
      Close to the apex / highest point for best results
    4. Click at the end of the Curve
    5. Click the Curve button again to return to Freeform or click the last point to complete

    When Curved Mode is enabled, it will not dis-engage until the button is clicked again.

    length-curve-mode.png

    To create Curves and straight lines in the same Length run

    1. In Freeform Mode, click at the beginning of the Curve
    2. Press Q
    3. Click once along the Curve
      Close to the apex / highest point for best results
    4. Continue on or click the last point to complete

    When the Curve is complete, Freeform Mode will automatically engage.

    length-curve-q.gif

    To transform the last straight segment into a Curve

    1. In Freeform Mode, click the point at the beginning of the Curve
    2. Click at the end of the Curve
    3. Press W and moving the cursor back to the apex / highest point of the Curve and click once
    4. Continue on or click the last point to complete

    When the Curve is complete, Freeform Mode will automatically engage.

    length-curve-w.gif


    Length Labelling

    Labels can be added to Lengths to further enhance designs and take-offs. Letters, numbers and special characters can be positioned within a Length on the Plan with abbreviations in the Stage and Legend. Useage examples include pipework, ducting, direction, garden edging, demolition zones, trenching and barriers.

    Find out more here.

    length-labelling-editing.png

    How to Edit an existing Length

    The Settings modal remains open during Editing and requires a click to close once editing is complete.

    1. Press ESC, Zoom in and click the Length
    2. Click Settings to:
      • Edit the Style Line Colour, Line Style and Line Width changing all Lengths associated with this Measurement
      • Add Drop / Wastage in metres/feet
      • Add or edit Parts & Settings or Labour

    length-edit-settings.png

    1. Click Total to:
      • Enable / Disable Show Totals
      • Edit Text Colour, Text Size and Number Format

    length-edit-settings-show-totals.png

    1. Click Label to
      • Add Add a Label to the Length on the Plan
      • Click Advanced to edit the Text Size, Colour or the Frequency

    length-edit-settings-lenth-label.png

    1. Click Actions to:

    length-actions-menu.png

    1. Click Measurement Actions to:

      • Hide this Measurement from the Plan
      • Select All of the Measurement
      • Rename
      • Adjust the Measurement Value
      • Add or edit Parts & Settings and Labour
      • Erase All, removing all Lengths from the Plan
      • Delete the Measurement from the whole Project Permanently
      Click here for Copy Measurement instructions


      Copy Measurements will Copy all Parts, Pricing, Formula and Labour to another Measurement in the same or another Stage.

      Measurement Unit Options and all Parts and Labour are identical when copied.


      1. Click Measurement Actions
      2. Click Copy

      stages-copy-measurement.png

      1. Type the New Measurement Name
      2. Select option of where to Copy to:
        • Current Stage: (name)
        • Another Stage (choose another existing in the Project)
      3. Click Copy Measurement

      stages-editing-copy.png

      Click here if a different Height or Width is required after Copying Measurements


      Heights / Widths will need to be adjusted

      If a Length has been copied that has additional Measurement options like m² or m³, the Height or Width will need to be adjusted.
      eg. This Measurement copied a 2.4m high wall to a 5m high, the Height MUST be changed.
      When copying a Measurement that has more than one Part, it will duplicate all Parts and Labour and create identical Parts including the Part name matching the original Description.

      Original MeasurementCopied Measurement
      100mm DWV Measurement with 100mm DWV PartUnder the 150mm DWV Measurement,
      the 100mm DWV Part is present because it was Copied
      from the original Measurement
      image.pngimage.png
      1. On the Copied Measurement, click Measurement Actions then Parts and Settings
      2. Update Measurement Unit - Height / Depth
        Type the correct value in
      3. (Recommended) Update the Style
        Style is identical to the Measurement it was copied from
      4. Click Save
      5. Click X to Close

      length-copy-measurement-edit-measurement-option.png

      Click here when a Non-Grouped Part is required after Copying Measurements


      When copying a Measurement that has more than one Part, it will duplicate all Parts and Labour and create identical Parts including the Part name matching the original Description.

      Original MeasurementCopied Measurement
      100mm DWV Measurement with 100mm DWV PartUnder the 150mm DWV Measurement,
      the 100mm DWV Part is present because it was Copied
      from the original Measurement
      image.pngimage.png


      1. On the Copied Measurement, click Measurement Actions then Parts and Settings
      2. Click Part Actions on the Part to be changed
      3. Click Edit

      length-replacing-name.png

      1. Rename the Part from the old name, update Pricing or Formula
      2. Select:
        Replace to ensure it is not Grouped / Linked with the Measurement Part it was copied from
      3. Click Save
      4. Click X to Close

      copy-measurement-edit-measurement-option.png


    length-measurement-actions.png

    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.

    1. To Adjust Measurement Totals, click the individual run 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 individual run means that the Total is Adjusted.
    The hat (^) on the Measurement Total means it contains an Adjusted Length (s).
    adjusting-length-totals.png

    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-length-total.gif

    ⚠️ Adjusting Totals will lock the value

    As seen above, adding additional Lengths after Adjusting the Plan or Project Totals will not be reflected in the Totals.

    Unit of Measure and Supported References

    There are different options for Unit of Measure when creating Lengths.

    Length Measurement Unit of Measure (UoM)Part Supported References
    image.png

    ▶
    		image.png
    image.png


    ▶
    		image.png
    image.png


    ▶
    		image.png

    Groundplan uses simple Excel-type Formula to calculate Parts and Labour. 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.

    Each Formula must contain a Supported Reference/s to be accepted and relate directly to elements on the Plan.

    The below image displays how the main Supported References correspond to a Plan:

    formula-length-supported-reference-1.png

    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.

    length-faq-show-totals.png

    Alternatively, within an existing Measurement, head to Settings then Total to adjust the Settings. Number Formats include no format, 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.

    length-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.


    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.

    length-faq-junction-box.gif


    I want to measure a trench for one of my cables and work out the volume. Can this be done?

    Yes.

    1. Click Measurement Actions then select Parts and Settings
    2. Click +Part and select Part
    3. Populate the Description with Trench
    4. Adjust the Part UoM to m3
    5. Use the Formula Len *( depth * width ). This Formula equates to Length multiplied by depth and width to calculate the trench volume.
    6. Click Save

    length-faqs-volume.png


    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.




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