Measurements & calibration

Takeoffs in Notch are measurements drawn straight on the sheet: lengths, perimeters, areas, volumes and counts that read in real-world units once the page is calibrated.

Calibrate the page first#

Measurements are only as good as the page scale. Click the scale in the status strip (Set scale on an uncalibrated page) and either:

1. Pick a standard scale — architectural, engineering and metric presets (for example 1/4″ = 1′-0″ or 1:100), or Custom… for your own; or
2. Calibrate by drawing a line… — click two points on something with a known length (a dimension string, a grid spacing) and type the real distance. In feet you can add inches too, like 10′ 6″.

Notch often fills the scale in for you, with a small badge on the scale: PDF when it came from the file's own page scale (set in Bluebeam or Acrobat), AI when Notch read it from the title block. Always confirm it against a known dimension before you rely on quantities.

The status strip shows the scale in green once a page is calibrated. Calibration is per page, so a mixed set (plans at one scale, details at another) works fine. Changing a page's scale updates every measurement on it.

The measure tools#

The Measurements flyout on the tool rail holds:

• Linear (M) — length and perimeter in one tool: two clicks for a single length, keep clicking to trace a running length, or close the loop for a perimeter.
• Area — click the corners of a region; the area shades in and shows its quantity.
• Cutout — punches an opening out of an existing area, and the net quantity updates.
• Volume — an area with a depth (set in Properties), for cubic quantities like concrete or excavation.
• Diameter — drag across a circle; the length is its diameter and the circle is drawn with it. Press Tab while drawing to measure a radius from the centre instead.
• Angle — measures the angle between two segments.
• Count — click once per item. Counts belong to a count group ("Duplex receptacle") that spans every sheet, so marks on sheet 3 add to the same tally as sheet 1; the status strip shows the running total while you count. Set the group's name, symbol and colour in Properties.
• Calibrate scale — the same line calibration as above.

Each measurement carries the same appearance controls as markups (stroke, fill, opacity, label visibility), and you can rename it in Properties.

Units#

Values display in the calibration unit by default. Each measurement can override its own display unit in Properties — measure a run in feet and show it in meters. Group totals stay in the calibration unit so mixed displays still sum.

The takeoff panel#

The Measurements panel in the right sidebar is your takeoff roll-up: every measurement on the document in one list. Group & sort groups it by layer, name, type, page or cost code — grouping levels stack, so "cost code, then page" gives you nested subtotals — and sets the precision (decimal places, inch fractions or whole inches). Assign a cost code and division to any measurement in its Properties to make that grouping useful.

• New take-off arms any measure tool from the panel, with Properties open so you can name the take-off before the first click — or adds a New layer for it.
• Export CSV saves the takeoff as a spreadsheet.
• For a full table with filters and custom columns, open the worksheet.

Put the totals on the sheet#

The Legend tool (in the Text flyout) draws a key of the measurements on the sheet — colour, name and total — that exports with the drawing. In Properties choose whether it lists this page or all pages, and whether it lists markups and symbols too.

Tips#

• Snapping picks up line work on the drawing as you measure — corners and intersections pull the cursor in.
• Put each trade's takeoff on its own layer, then group the panel by layer for per-trade totals.
• Save a styled measurement with Save as tool… — the tool keeps its cost code, division and display unit, so the next takeoff starts filled in.