Autodesk® Quantity Takeoff 2010Publishing QTO-Compatible DWF Files from Civil 3D

Autodesk®Quantity Takeoff 2010

Publishing QTO-Compatible DWF Files from AutoCAD Civil 3D

Purpose

Thisdocument presents procedures and recommendations for publishing DWF™ files from AutoCAD® Civil 3D®. For Civil 3D 2010, this document also includes procedures for importing a pay item file, assigning pay item values to drawing objects,and exportingthe pay item information for use in QTO 2010. When you run a model takeoff on a Civil 3D 2010 model with an imported pay item catalog, QTO automatically assigns the pay items to corresponding catalog items and quantities display immediately.

Rationale

QTO can perform quantity takeoff on models created in Civil 3D. To take advantage of this functionality, you must export models from Civil 3D to the Autodesk DWF file format, as QTO does not support model takeoff on Civil 3D files that are imported in their native format (DWG).

About DWF

DWF (or Design Web Format™) is an open, secure file format developed by Autodesk. Using DWF, you can combine 2D and 3D design data, as well as other project-related files, into a single, highly compressed file. Each DWF file contains one or more pages, called sheets, which retain their design information (scale, measurements, and assemblies). The content of each sheet can be viewed, marked up, measured, and printed; however, the design data cannot be altered.

DWF provides the following benefits forQTO users:

  • Secure.DWF filesare “read only”. Both 2D and 3D model data can be shared freely without exposing design content to changes.
  • Lightweight.DWF files are typically much smaller than PDF files, making them convenient and portable. Send DWF filesas e-mail attachments, share them using a project collaboration site, such as Autodesk® Buzzsaw®, or post them to a company website.
  • Metadata.DWF files contain all of the object properties (family, type, dimensions) that are associated with the objects in the building information model. When you import DWF files into QTO, you can use this embedded design data to quantify objects with a single click, rather than laboriously measuring drawing geometry as required with on-screen takeoff methods.

Note: DWFx files can also be used; however, DWF files are generally preferred because they are smaller and load faster.

Most DWF files begin as drawings created in Autodesk, Inc. design applications, such as AutoCAD®, AutoCAD-based products (such as Civil 3D), and Revit®. Before publishing a DWF file, the architect, engineer, or other designer, determines which features (model, views, layers) to include in the DWF file. After specifying the content, the designer publishes the drawing from its original format to the DWF format and sends the DWF file to the cost estimator.

DWF Publishing Procedures

Use the procedures in this section to create DWF files that can be used effectively by QTO.

For advanced publishing tips, see Best Practice Recommendations.

To publish from Civil 3D 2010:

  1. Open a drawing.

Note: If you assigned pay items to model geometry, export the pay item list to a QTO catalog to take advantage of automatic pay item mapping during model takeoff in QTO. For more information, see Exporting Pay Item Information to QTO.

  1. On the command line, enter publish, and press ENTER.
  2. In the Publish dialog, for Publish to, select DWF.
    DWFx files can also be used in QTO; however, DWF files are generally preferred because they are smaller and load faster.
  3. Modify the list of sheets as needed. For information about modifying the list, including adding, removing, reordering, and renaming sheets, see the AutoCAD online help.
  4. If your files include a model that you want to publish as a 3D DWF file, in the 3D DWF column, select the appropriate check box.
  5. When your list of drawing sheets is assembled and configured the way you want for your drawing set, click the Save Sheet List button.
  6. In the Save List As dialog, for File name, enter a name for the list, and click Save.
    The drawing set list is saved as a drawing set descriptions (DSD) file.
  7. In the Publish dialog, click Publish.
  8. In the Specify DWF File dialog, specify a location for the file, enter a file name, and click Select.

The DWF file is created in the specified location.

If you have background publishing enabled, the animated plotter icon on the right side of the status bar indicates that the publishing job is in progress.

  1. To view information about the completed publishing job, right-click the plotter icon on the right side of the status bar, and click View Plot and Publish Details.

To publish from Civil 3D 2008 or 2009:

  1. Open a drawing file.
  2. Click File menu➤Publish.
  3. In the Publish dialog, under Publish To, select DWF File.
  4. If your file includes a model that you want to publish as a 3D DWF, under Page Setup/3D DWF, select <3D DWF>.
  5. Under Publish Controls, select Publish in background.
  6. Click Publish.
  7. In the Specify DWF File dialog, enter a file name, and click Select.
    To view the published DWF file, right-click the Plot/Publishing icon in the bottom menu tray, and select View DWF File.

Best Practice Recommendations

Optimize DWF files for use in QTO by following these recommendations:

  1. Simplify views.Hide unnecessary drawing details before publishing sheets to DWF. For example, if takeoff will be performed on only one system, hide all non-system items.
  2. Include 2D views.With DWF files published from Civil 3D 2010, you can perform a model takeoff using only a 3D model.However, in many cases, it is beneficial to include 2D sheets/views to supplement 3D models.This allows the estimator to locate objects in 2D views (such as plans, sections, and elevations) as well as the 3D model.
  3. Streamline sheet sets.When assembling a sheet set, select only the sheets that are required to produce complete takeoff data.
  4. Avoid wireframe views.Pay special attention to selecting 2D views of a 3D model, such as wireframe views. These sheets, which can potentially require many thousands of takeoff markups, can cause slow performance in QTO.
  5. Refine graphics. For 3D views, use wireframe hidden lines for best performance. For 2D views, avoid applying shadows or shading as this causes views to be exported as raster images, which cannot take advantage of QTO’s search takeoff and single-click takeoff tools.

Civil 3D 2010 to QTO 2010 Workflow

The Civil 3D to QTO workflow involves three main steps. Click the steps to link to the related procedures.

  1. Import a pay item file into a drawing.

A pay item file contains the pay item codes, descriptions, and units of measure for the master pay item list. It serves as a catalog of pay items, which can be exported for use in QTO.

  1. Assign pay items to objects in the drawing.

Pay items can be associated with AutoCAD lines, open or closed polygons, blocks, or any AutoCAD or Civil3D entity after they have been created. When pay items are assigned to an AutoCAD Civil 3D code set style, corridor objects that use the code set style are automatically tagged with the specified pay items. When pay items are assigned to an AutoCAD Civil 3D pipe network parts list, any new pipes or structures are automatically tagged with thespecified pay items.

  1. Export pay item information to QTO.

Saving pay item information to an Autodesk Takeoff catalog lets QTO users apply pay item data to imported drawings.For example, when you run a model takeoff on a Civil 3D 2010 model with an imported pay item catalog, QTO automatically assigns the pay items to corresponding catalog items and quantities display immediately.

Importing a Pay Item File

A pay item file contains the pay item codes, descriptions, and units of measure for the master pay item list. The pay item file is formatted as either a Comma Separated Variable (CSV) file or an eXtensibleMarkup Language (XML) file.

An optional pay item categorization file groups similar pay items by common pay item code prefixes. The categorization file isalways formatted as an XML file.

To import pay item and categorization files:

  1. Open a drawing containing objects to which you want to attach pay items.
  2. Click Analyze tab ➤ QTO panel ➤ QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  3. In the QTO Manager vista, click (Open Master Pay Item File).
  4. In the Open Pay Item File dialog box, for Pay Item File Format, select either:
  5. CSV (Comma Delimited)
  6. AASHTO TransXML
  7. Florida DOT
  8. To select a pay item file to open:
  9. Next to the Pay Item File field, click (Open Pay Item File).
  10. In the Open dialog box, select a pay item file.
  11. Click Open.
  12. Optionally, to select a pay item categorization file to open:
  13. Next to the Pay Item Categorization File field, click (Open Categorization File).
  14. In the Open dialog box, select a pay item categorization file.
  15. Click Open.
  16. In the Open Pay Item File dialog box, click OK.
  17. In the QTO Manager vista:
  18. Click (Turn On Categorization) to view the categories on the categorized pay item list.
  19. Click (Turn Off Categorization) to view all pay items on the uncategorized pay item list.

Note:For information about creating and editing pay item and categorization files, see the Creating a Pay Item List tutorial, available from the Autodesk Civil 3D 2010 Help menu.

Assigning Pay Items to Objects

You can manually assign pay items to individual objects orto groups of objects inclosed areas of a drawing. You can automatically assign pay items to corridors and pipe networks after you have modified codeset styles (corridors) or parts lists(pipe networks).

To assign a pay item to an object:

  1. Open a drawing in which a pay item file is open.
  2. Click Analyze tab ➤ QTO panel ➤ QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  3. In the QTO Manager vista, click (Assign Pay Item).
  4. In the pay item list, select a pay item, and press Enter.
  5. Select an object in the drawing.
  6. Right-click or press Esc to end the selection process.

To assign multiple pay items to a closed area:

  1. Open a drawing in which a pay item file is open.
  2. Click Analyze tab ➤QTO panel ➤QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  3. In the QTO Manager vista, click (Assign Pay Item to Area).
  4. Press Ctrl+click to select each pay item you want to assign from the pay item list, and press Enter.
  5. On the Command line, enter O to select objects rather than points.
  6. Select one or more closed areas in the drawing.
    Note: To select all closed areas of a single type, right-click the area, and click Select Similar.
  7. Press Esc to end the command.

Note:As a project progresses, you may need to add multiple pay items to an object or remove pay items from the objects youhave tagged. For more information, see Editing Pay Items on Objects in the Civil 3D 2010 Help.

To assign pay items to corridors:

  1. Create a pay item code set style:
  2. Open a drawing in which a pay item file is open.
  3. In Toolspace, on the Settings tab, expand General➤Multipurpose Styles➤Code Set Styles.
  4. Right-click, select All Codes, and click Copy.
  5. In the Code Set Style dialog, on the Information tab, enter a name.
  6. On the Codes tab, expand Link and click (Assign Pay Item) in the Pay Item cells for the links to which pay items will be attached.
  7. Expand Point and click (Assign Pay Item) in the Pay Item cells for the points to which pay items will be attached.
  8. Click OK.
  9. In a drawing with pay item code set styles you created, select a corridor.
  10. Right-click, and click Properties.
  11. On the Properties palette, under Data, for Code Set Style Name, select a pay item code set style youcreated.
  12. Press Esc.
  13. In the drawing, select the baseline of the corridor assembly.
  14. Right-click, and click Properties.
  15. On the Properties palette, under Data, for Code Set Style Name, select a pay item code set style you created.
  16. Press Esc.

To assign pay items to pipe networks:

  1. Specify command settings for pipe networks:
  2. Open a drawing that has both a pipe network and an open pay item file.
  3. Click Analyze tab ➤QTO panel ➤QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  4. In the QTO Manager vista, click (Edit Command Settings).
  5. In the Quantity Takeoff Command Settings dialog box, under Compute Takeoff Options, for Length Computation Type, select 3D.
  6. For Pipe Length Type, select To Inside Edges.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Assign pay item codes to a parts list:
  9. Open a drawing in which you set the QTO command settings for pipes.
  10. Select a pipe network part.
  11. Click Pipe Networks tab ➤Modify panel ➤Network Properties (Edit Network Properties).
  12. In the Pipe Network Properties dialog, on the Layout Settings tab, next to Network Parts List forthe network part you selected, click(Edit Current Selection).
  13. In the Network Parts List dialog, on the Pipes tab, expand the list to the desired part family or partsize.
  14. In the Pay Item cell for the part family or part size you selected, click(Assign Pay Item).
  15. In the Pay Item List dialog:
  16. Click (Turn Off Categorization).
  17. Filter to select a pay item to apply to the part family or part size.
  18. Click OK to apply the pay item
  19. Repeat steps f and g for other part families or part sizes, as needed.
  20. Add parts with pay items to a network:
  21. Open a drawing in which you set the QTO command settings for pipes.
  22. In the drawing, select a network part.
  23. Click Pipe Networks tab ➤Modify panel ➤Edit Pipe Network .
  24. In the Select Pipe Network dialog, click OK to select the highlighted network.
  25. On the Network Layout Tools toolbar, select the appropriate Structure and Pipe from the drop-down lists.
  26. Next to the Pipe drop-down list, click (Pipes And Structures).
  27. In the drawing, click two points to place a pipe and two structures, as selected on the toolbar, and press Enter.
    The pipe and structures are placed in the drawing.
  28. Assign pay items to network parts:
  29. Open a drawing in which you set the QTO command settings for pipes.
  30. In the drawing, select a network part or several identical parts.
  31. Click Analyze tab ➤QTO panel ➤QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  32. In the QTO Manager vista, click (Assign Pay Item).
  33. In the Pay Item list, select an appropriate pay item to attach to the selected pipe network part(s).
  34. Press Enter to attach the pay items to the network parts.

Exporting Pay Item Information to QTO

To export a catalog and DWFs for use in QTO:

  1. Open a drawing in which pay items have been attached to objects.
  2. Click Analyze tab ➤ QTO panel ➤ QTO Manager (Open QTO Manager).
  3. In the QTO Manager vista, click ➤ Save As ➤ Autodesk Takeoff Catalog.
  4. Save the ATT file to the same folder as the drawing.
  5. Save a 2D and 3D DWF from the drawing to the same folder.
  6. Export the DWFs and ATT for use in QTO.

Note:Exported pay item catalogs contain quantities associated with counts and linear and area measurements. Volumes are not exported. If you want to include volumes, add formulas to pay items associated with volume objects. For more information, see Using Formulas with Pay Item Lists in the Civil 3D 2010 Help.

Tip:When you import the catalog into QTO, the Select Items to Import dialog lets you specify pay items to exclude from your project. It is generally advantageous to exclude pay items you do not intend to use. You can save your selections as catalog preferences to be applied if you import the same catalog in the future. If you do not save your selections with the catalog, during future imports all items will be selected by default; however, you can still choose to include or exclude individual items as needed.

Autodesk, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, DWF,and Revit are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2009 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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