I want to organize my measurements in the best possible way. What can I do?
Create more than one measurement sheet with the “New measurement sheet” button. This feature enables you to divide the measurements into categories such as A/C, flooring, electrical etc. and keep each category in a different sheet.
I want to count many different types of items on the drawing but I have trouble distinguishing them. What can I do?
You can select the shape with which the items will be highlighted. Besides using a different color, you can select between different shapes such as circle, diamond, square etc. This makes the distinction between different types of items easier.
I have copied a drawing’s measurements and have tried to paste them to another drawing but I can’t see them. Why is that?
Click on the ‘Zoom extents’ button to see the whole drawing and locate where the measurements have been copied. Pay attention to the location of the reference point (0,0). If the reference points of the two drawings are different, you should first relocate the reference point of the destination drawing before copying.
While connecting a measurement with a work item I inserted in the Formula field “R+1.2” but the result shown in the WBS was equal to R+2,4. What happened?
It is possible that you continued a measurement with (+) and you created two sub-measurements. Then, as the formula is applied to each sub-measurement separately the quantity 1.2 is added twice. In case you have continued a measurement with (-) it seems like the 1.2 is not taken into account but in reality: (R1-1.2)-(R2-1.2)=R1-R2 where Ri the result of each sub-measurement.
A WBS measurement has the negative value -1. Why is that?
In case of an error at the function you entered to relate the measurement to a particular work item, then the WBS measurement has the value -1.
Is it possible to measure not only flooring area but also floor tiles for orders by using the flooring measurement?
You can add a new WBS work item called ‘number of floor tiles’ and enter pieces for items at the unit field. Then, relate the measurement with this work item by using the appropriate factor to convert the area units to item units. At the price field of this work item enter zero so the total project budget will not be affected.
How can I measure lengths that aren’t visible on the floor plan but need to be included in the measurement, such as vertical pipe routing to bypass beams?
You can check the ‘extra length’ option to add extra length to the distance you are measuring. While measuring with the ‘extra length’ option checked, every time you click on a node of the distance you are trying to measure ,a window appears where you may enter the extra length you want to include to the specified node, which can’t be seen on the drawing.
I wish to measure many non-continuous line segments. How can I avoid stopping and then each time resuming the measurement?
By pressing the Esc button just once, the measurement is postponed temporarily so you can then go to another part of your drawing and continue it. In order to terminate your measurement press the Esc button twice.
I stopped a measurement by accident before even starting it. Is it necessary to erase it?
No, you don’t have to delete it. Click “Continue measurement (+)” and measure whatever you want.
I have measured a large and complex-shaped room and I realize I have made a mistake. How can I avoid re-measuring from the beginning?
Select the polyline and move its nodes. You can also right click and a menu appears with 2 options: Add node, Delete node. By clicking on a point in the polygon’s or polyline’s perimeter, you enter a node in this position. Then, you can move the node and note the difference. You can delete a node likewise.
Is it possible to subtract areas from a ground plan?
Press the ‘continue measurement (subtract)’ button in case you wish to subtract surface areas from areas you have already measured. The surfaces subtracted from your measurement are marked on the drawing whereas the perimeter of the subtracted areas is highlighted with dashed lines.
How can I measure a wall surface with sloping ends on a ground plan?
Select ‘vertically to drawing’ when you wish to measure an area which is vertical to the drawing’s level. If the height is variable, leave the ‘common height’ space blank and press OK. Every time you click on a node, a window appears on screen where you can specify the area‘s height you want to measure in this particular point.
I have measured flooring and I don’t want to do the same for the ceilings. What can I do?
Pro version of ExtrAXION enables you to relate a measurement to two WBS work items. At the Standard version of ExtrAXION, each measurement can be related to a single WBS work item, so you cannot use this method. In this case, you can duplicate the flooring measurement and then change the duplicate’s details such as the description to ‘Ceiling’, the layer color etc. You may also use the ‘factor’ tool to increase or decrease the result in comparison with the initial measurement.
Can I start measurements right from the WBS?
While at the work item of the WBS you wish to measure, press the ‘M’ button for a new measurement. Choose from the left side of the window that appears the drawing from the list of drawings you have added and from the right side the type of measurement you wish to make and then press OK. The drawing you have chosen automatically opens as well as the respective window for starting your measurement.
How can I check what I have measured and if I have forgotten to include anything in a work item?
By double clicking on a work item’s measurement the origin drawing automatically opens and all the measurement layers relating to this particular work item are activated. Alternatively, you could use the helping tool ‘Draw Measurement Region’ which enables you to mark on your drawing the regions where the measurements are completed.
When should I specify the scale in a drawing?
You must set the scale before starting the measuring procedure and you should do it in each drawing. Specifying the scale only has meaning in case of image files or vector files that have been designed (not printed) in a different scale than 1:1.
I have specified the scale, have rotated and leveled the drawing but the results of my measurements seem to be wrong. Why is that?
You should rotate the drawing before specifying the scale. Rotation and leveling are not allowed afterwards.
A drawing was stretched during the scanning process. What can I do?
You should set the scale in both axis x and y. First set the scale by the horizontal axis and then re-open the window to calibrate vertically (or vice versa).
What types of measurement can I include in the library’s Custom measurements?
The Custom types of measurement can be used for special occasions that cannot be dealt with the four basic types of measurement, by setting the appropriate parameters and functions that alter the initial measurements. Note that the parameters that are used for the Extra measurements can also be marked on the drawing. For instance, an Extra measurement may be the reinforcing steel bars where the slab width -measured on the drawing- and their distance in between are required.
The program does not allow me to use the R symbol as a parameter for a Special measurement. Why is that?
The characters R,L,A and P1,P2,…Pv are not allowed as parameter codes because they are already used by the program to represent results or the general parameters.
I want to be able to create different WBS scenarios by simply modifying some constants. Can ExtrAXION be of any help?
Define first the library parameters in case there are some constants that should be easily modified. In every project, the constant values can be altered by pressing the button ‘Project’s parameter values’. Therefore, it is possible by simply altering the value of a general parameter such as the floor height and pressing ‘Recalculate’ to create different WBS scenarios.
What are the limitations of the trial version?
The only functionality limitation of the trial version is that it can only open dxf vector files and image files. You can use the 30-day trial version as long as you are connected online.
I have a dwg file with multiple regions (floor plans, side elevations) but it’s difficult to handle it. What can I do?
Before adding the drawing in ExtrAXION press Preview Current button. Then press Define region button to mark the part of the drawing you want to be imported as a different one in the project. You can repeat the proccess for all other parts. This option is also available in pdf drawings that are converted to vector. With this method you don’t have to zoom in-out all the time and you also have a better overview of the measurement analysis thumbnail.
I erased the measurement sheet of a drawing and it vanished. How can I open it again?
The drawing may not be visible in the “Drawings” tab but it is not deleted from the drawings’ database. Therefore, click “New measurement sheet” and select from the shown list the drawing that you want to re-open.
How can I export only some of the columns of the WBS to Excel?
First of all, press ‘Remove this Column’ or drag the title of the column downwards to hide the selected column. In case you wish a column to reappear select ‘Column Chooser’ by right clicking on whichever title of WBS. On the bottom right side of your list a space appears which includes all the hidden columns. By dragging the one you wish at the title menu the column reappears. You can also filter the columns’ content and sort them. Select ‘Export to Excel’ and WBS is exported exactly in the form visible on screen.
The XREF drawings are saved in more than one folder. What should I select at the respective field of the ‘Drawing details’ window?
In case there are more than one XREF files, select them all. To separate them, use the ‘;’ symbol.
I want to create a project’s WBS but I can’t (or I don’t want) to measure everything on the drawing. What can I do?
With the’ Add non-drawing measurement’ button you can enter a measurement that does not belong to any of the project’s drawings but it will be considered at the WBS quantities. Define the Description, Category, Color, Unit and Quantity you wish and relate them with the respective WBS work item.
When I import WBS from Excel all the groups imported are on the same hierarchical level?
The hierarchy of different WBS groups is defined afterwards by using the special buttons ‘move right’, ‘move left’. Furthermore, the program allows you to change the order of the groups and the work items after entering them with the drag & drop functionality.
In case I don’t have at my disposal a scanner machine how can I add a drawing in the program for measurements?
Use a digital camera. Take a picture of the drawing with as little perspective as possible for greater accuracy. Import the photo to your PC and open it from the program. Rotate or/and level the drawing if needed, specify the scale according to a dimension and start measuring.
I try to open a drawing but I get a message that it is locked by another user. Can’t we work simultaneously?
I work in the same project with another user but I can’t see the changes that he makes. Why?
Click the “Refresh project” button and then all the changes are shown. In some cases the project is automatically updated e.g. by clicking the “WBS”/“Recalculate” buttons or by adding a new measurement sheet.