Annotations

Overview

Annotation tools enhance your markups with visual information and documentation. Unlike measurement tools, annotations do not calculate quantities or appear in BOQ exports (except Legend, which can reference BOQ items). They're essential for clarifying details, marking dimensions for verification, and communicating with project teams.

Dimension Tool

The dimension tool allows you to mark dimensions directly on your drawings. This is particularly useful for verifying scale accuracy, measuring door/window heights, or documenting specific measurements without adding them to your BOQ.

Common Uses:

• Verifying drawing scale accuracy
• Measuring door and window heights
• Documenting ceiling heights
• Checking wall thicknesses
• Confirming dimensions shown on drawings
• Adding reference measurements for coordination

How to Use:

1. Select the Dimension tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. Click the first point of the dimension line.
3. Click the second point to complete the dimension.
4. The measured distance is automatically displayed along the dimension line.

Text Box

Add text annotations to document notes, assumptions, clarifications, or any written information that supports your takeoff. Text boxes support multiline text for detailed notes.

Common Uses:

• Documenting measurement assumptions
• Noting specification details
• Adding clarification requests
• Recording material specifications
• Marking areas requiring attention
• Adding reference notes for team members
• Documenting scope exclusions or inclusions

How to Use:

1. Select the Text Box tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. Click on the location where you want to add text.
3. Type your text in the input box that appears.
4. Press Enter to create line breaks for multiline text.
5. Click outside the text box or press Escape to finish.

Text Properties:

Customize your text boxes using the Element Properties panel:

• Font Size – Adjust for readability
• Text Color – Use colors to categorize notes
• Background – Add a background for better contrast
• Alignment – Left, center, or right alignment

Callout

Callouts are text annotations with leader lines that point to specific elements or areas on your drawing. Currently, each callout supports one leader line per callout box, making them perfect for highlighting specific details or adding focused context.

Common Uses:

• Pointing out specific details or features
• Identifying elements that need attention
• Noting exceptions or special conditions
• Highlighting conflicts or issues
• Adding dimensional notes with references
• Referencing detail drawings or specifications
• Marking items for RFIs (Requests for Information)

How to Use:

1. Select the Callout tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. Click on the element or area you want to point to (this creates the leader line endpoint).
3. Drag to position where the callout text box should appear.
4. Type your callout text.
5. Adjust the callout box and leader line properties as needed.

Cloud Annotation

Cloud annotations use a cloud-shaped outline to highlight areas, changes, or issues on your drawings. They're commonly used in construction documentation to mark revisions, conflicts, or areas requiring attention.

Common Uses:

• Marking revision zones on drawings
• Highlighting problem areas or conflicts
• Identifying areas requiring clarification
• Noting discrepancies between drawings
• Marking scope changes or additions
• Highlighting coordination issues between trades
• Drawing attention to critical areas

How to Use:

1. Select the Cloud tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. Click to define the boundary of the area you want to highlight.
3. Continue clicking to create the cloud outline around the region.
4. Double-click to close the cloud shape.
5. The cloud outline is automatically styled with a revision cloud appearance.

Legend

The Legend tool creates organized annotations for measured items in your drawing. Unlike other annotation tools, legends support the BOQ structure and can display labels and properties of your measurements, providing a visual key to your takeoff work.

Key Features:

• BOQ Structure Support – Integrates with your bill of quantities
• Label Display – Shows measurement labels and descriptions
• Property Display – Can show measurement properties and attributes
• Visual Organization – Provides a clear legend for color-coded measurements

Common Uses:

• Creating a key for color-coded measurements
• Documenting measurement categories and types
• Showing which colors represent which finishes or materials
• Providing a reference for measurement collections
• Displaying BOQ item references on drawings
• Creating an index of measured elements

How to Use:

1. Select the Legend tool from the annotation toolbar.
2. Click on the location where you want to place the legend.
3. Configure legend options:
   • Select which measurements to include
   • Choose which labels to display
   • Enable/disable property display
   • Configure the legend layout
4. The legend automatically updates as you modify measurements.

Working with Annotations

Selection and Editing

• Click any annotation to select it
• Double-click text elements (text boxes, callouts) to edit content
• Drag selected annotations to reposition them
• Use the Element Properties panel to modify appearance and behavior
• Press Delete or Backspace to remove selected annotations

Element Properties

After selecting an annotation, use the Element Properties panel to customize:

• Color – Change text, stroke, or fill colors
• Stroke Width – Adjust line thickness for dimensions, callouts, and clouds
• Font Settings – Modify size, style, and weight for text
• Opacity – Set transparency levels
• Background – Add or remove backgrounds for text elements

Organization Tips

• Use consistent colors for similar types of annotations (e.g., all callouts in blue)
• Position annotations to avoid obscuring critical drawing details
• Keep text concise and professional
• Use collections to organize and manage groups of annotations
• Place legends in consistent locations across pages

Using Annotations for Collaboration

Annotations are powerful tools for team communication and project coordination:

• Document Questions – Use text boxes and callouts to note items needing clarification
• Highlight Issues – Use clouds to mark conflicts, discrepancies, or problem areas
• Mark RFIs – Annotate areas requiring Requests for Information with specific details
• Track Assumptions – Document measurement assumptions for review and approval
• Coordinate Trades – Note coordination issues between different disciplines
• Reference Details – Use callouts to reference specification sections or detail drawings

Best Practices

Related

• Measurements & Elements
• Length Tools
• Area & Volumes
• Count Tools
• Drawings & Markups