DataRocket
4 Easy Steps to Quantities
DataRocket is a straight forward no nonsense CAD module that will create and export data from your Drawings. This can be used by both Drafters when they create their documents and then by the builder, estimator, or scheduler to finalise the data and produce the export document for inserting into building system software such as Databuild.
The
following four steps are the foundations to this easy to use system, where
you are in control of the decision making, and formatting of the data
to your own personal needs.
1. SetUp Values
Once you have created your Quantity settings, these are saved to a database and will not need changing. You can create what ever descriptions and values that you need for any product that requires Length and/or Area calculations. These values can be added to existing settings that your drafter already uses.
Values can be added for Waste, Increments (300mm, 100mm ETC…), Maximum Lengths. A pitch Value can also be added to Area calculations for Roofs ETC…
2. Draw Entities
After the Items have been set up, all the Drafter needs to do is to make selection from the list you have created and the CAD Property Values will be set, including Layer and Poly Width.
Values can be added to Lines, Polylines, Polygons, Circles and Symbols, so virtually anything you draw can be used for creating the Quantities from your drawings.
You can even draw over a scanned or faxed image, to create quick quantity takeoff from a customers sketch.
3. Run Quantities
To add Quantities to your drawing entities, select the item to be calculated, specify a material, code, and the necessary numbers. The system will then search for your items and add the values to the entities on the drawing.
Because the values are stored within the drawing entities themselves, this procedure can repeated over and over again if additional items are added at a later time.
At any time a Totals check can be created and this will add up all the totals into a quick summary that can be copied on to your document.
4. Export Data
Once the Quantity Database values have all been added to your drawing, an Export routine can be run and this will create an Export File in CSV format (Comma Separated Value text file).
CSV files can then be imported into your estimating system, whether this is a custom application such as Databuild, or even your own spreadsheet on Excel or other software of this nature.
We have also created a Databuild specific module that will create a file ready to be imported directly into Databuild.
DataRocket can be modified to create quantities for any type of project or drawing. The quantities produced are lengths, areas and numbers of units, and are what we refer to as primary quantities, which are then passed to alternative software modules to further process the data.
DataRocket will reduce the time spent measuring and scaling plans but leave the important decision making to you. You are free to create your own codes and item specifications, you will not need to re invent the wheel, and you can leave your existing drawings as they are.
DataRocket requires AutoSketch V6 with the PowerTools enhancements.
