No.1 Freedraw:

·        to draw straight lines or 45 degree lines, toggle down  on toolbar (toggle off to draw in any angle);

·        Ctrl+z to go back one step to re-enter size

·        Length can be entered into lower right-corner field, then hit Enter

·        Double-click or Space Key to close the shape

 

  No.2 Save Project with Version Names at Different Stages: save project as different version names at each major stages of takeoff, estimating and quotation preparation, so you may always go back to an earlier version when needed. Also save project periodically to avoid lost of work due to power outage, viruses, disk failure, software or operation system failure, etc.

 

  No 3. What-if Estimating Analysis with Selected Rooms On/Off. Use Shape Edit/Deactivate can be used to temporarily set the room off from estimating calculation (without deleting the room), so as to conduct What-If analysis on material estimating without applying material on this room. To turn the room back on, right-click on the room, then Shape Edit/Activate.

 

 No 4. Material Assignment to Multiple Rooms: Press down Ctrl key, left-click to pick multiple rooms (or Ctrl-a to select all rooms, or use rubber-band to select rooms in the rectangular area), drag-and-drop to the selected rooms.

 

 No 5. Re-allocate Stock Cut Sheet while Keeping Present Seam Locations: When working on bigger projects, turn  off (so as to avoid re-estimating upon each seam adjustment), make all necessary seam adjustments, then click on  Button to re-allocate stock cut sheet so to keep all current changes (instead of using three layout buttons ,  ,  that lay out without keeping current changes).

 

 No 6. How to Accommodate Trimming and Cut Margin? At material spec tab, set width of roll goods (carpet/vinyl) to smaller number than its nominal width (for example, 11’9” for 12’ carpet); secondly, set cut margin field to add the margin to each roll stock cuts. Refer to this section for detail.

 

 

 No 7. How to Reduce Carpet Waste Ratio? there are five alternative approaches: changing layout direction at room level, add or relocate seams, use butt seam to divide complicated areas, breakdown stairway into individual steps, shift and regroup cuts manually in cut sheet window, etc. Refer to this section for detail.