Uploading Drawings into the Takeoff Tool

In this article, you’ll learn how to upload your construction drawings into Contractor Foreman so they are fully prepared for use with the takeoff tool.

Uploading plans correctly is the foundation of accurate takeoffs. Once completed, your drawings will be organized, processed, and ready for quantity measurement.

Step 1: Access the Takeoffs Module

Begin by opening the main menu and selecting Takeoffs.
This will take you directly into the takeoffs module, where all existing takeoff projects and drawings are managed.

Step 2: Create a New Takeoff Project

Inside the Takeoffs module, you may see drawings from other projects.
To upload a new set of plans:

1. Click the Create button in the top-right corner.

2. Enter a project name (for example, Southern Farmhouse).

3. Add a short description, such as Residential project for a Customer...

4. Click Save.

This creates a dedicated space for your drawings and takeoff work.

Step 3: Upload Your Plans

Once the project is created, upload your plans by simply dragging and dropping your drawing files into the upload area.

As the files upload, the takeoff tool automatically begins processing each sheet in the background—no manual setup required.

Step 4: Automatic Sheet Recognition and Organization

During upload, the system analyzes your plan set and:

• Detects the total number of drawing sheets

• Assigns a processing status to each sheet

• Automatically identifies drawing types

For example, architectural drawings are tagged as Architectural and further organized into subcategories such as:

• General plans

• Plan views

• Elevations

• Sections

• Large-scale views

This structured organization gives you a clear overview of your drawings before starting any takeoffs.

Step 5: File Processing Status

At the bottom of each drawing sheet, you’ll see status indicators confirming that key elements have been processed, including:

• PDF file

• Preview image

• Vector data

• Regions

Once all indicators show complete, the drawings are fully processed and ready for takeoff work.

Step 6: Filtering and Navigation

You can filter drawings using the automatically assigned categories.
For example:

• Selecting General displays only general drawings

• Selecting Architectural shows only architectural sheets

This is especially helpful on larger projects that include structural, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, or fire protection drawings, allowing you to stay focused and organized.

What’s Next

That’s how you upload and organize plans in the takeoff tool.
In the next article, we’ll review the drawings and prepare them for your first takeoff.

Let’s keep going.