# Run a takeoff

> Measure areas, lengths and counts by hand, with the fast tools that trace rooms and find symbols for you.

Source: https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-a-takeoff
Section: How to use Tidy

## 1. Set the scale

1. Open a sheet in your workspace.
2. Click **Scale** in the tool bar, or the **No scale** badge.
3. Pick the preset printed on the sheet, or click **Detected on sheet** if Tidy found it.
4. Check it: draw a **Length** along a dimension you know. If it is off, use **Calibrate**.

## 2. Name what you measure

Arm a tool. In the **Next area** bar that appears, type a **Subject**, such as "ACT-1". Pick a colour. Click **Set as default** to keep these settings for that tool.

Use the same subject names your budget assemblies will use. That is how quantities find their way into pricing.

## 3. Measure

| Job | Tool | How |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A room with clear walls | **Magic Fill** | Click inside the room |
| Every tagged room on the sheet | **Detect rooms** | Run it once, then check the result |
| An odd shape | **Area** | Click each corner, then [[Enter]] |
| A quick rectangle | **Area** | Press and drag on empty space |
| A run of wall or pipe | **Length** | Click along it, then [[Enter]] |
| Fixtures or devices | **Count** | Click each one |
| Many of the same symbol | **Symbol Sweep** | Box one clean example, review the matches, click **Commit** |
| A hole in an area | **Cut Out** | Draw it over the area |

## 4. Add height or depth

Select a measurement and add **Dimensions**. A wall length with a height gives you wall area. An area with a depth gives you volume.

## 5. Check your totals

Open the **Markups List** at the bottom. Totals are grouped by subject. Click a row to jump to the shape and fix it.

## 6. Hand it to the budget

Click **Budget** in the top bar. Link each assembly to the right subject. See [Build a budget](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/build-a-budget).

## Tips

- Everything saves as you go. If you lose your connection, edits wait and sync when you are back.
- [[Ctrl]] + [[2]] splits the screen so you can keep a schedule open beside the plan.
- **Download > Takeoff & Markups (Excel)** gives you every measurement by subject.
- Open a PDF saved from Bluebeam and its markups come in automatically.

## Related

- [Takeoff tools](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/features/takeoff-tools)
- [Run an AI takeoff](https://automatedconstruction.io/tidy/docs/guides/run-an-ai-takeoff)