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Using the Legend Panel, Managing Folders & Subfolders, and Using Chat & Prompts

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The takeoff workflow is driven by three connected components: the Legend, the Chat, and the Prompts Library. Together, they transform drawing-based takeoffs into structured, queryable estimating data. Understanding how these pieces work together is essential for accuracy, speed, and repeatability.

This article explains how to manage folders and subfolders in the Legend, how the Chat uses that data, and how Prompts streamline common takeoff requests in Contractor Foreman.

The Legend Panel: The Foundation

The Legend tab on the left panel is the central repository for all takeoff data.

It contains:

  • Automatically generated folders created during drawing upload
  • Manually created folders and subfolders from user-driven takeoffs

Whether you:

  • Review and modify auto-generated takeoffs, or
  • Build takeoffs manually from scratch

All areas, lines, counts, and objects ultimately live inside the Legend.

Why the Legend Is Critical

The Legend is more than an organizational tool, it is the data source used by the AI.

Every element stored in the Legend becomes reference material for:

  • Chat-based questions
  • Prompt-based takeoff generation
  • Calculations and summaries

The accuracy and structure of the Legend directly affect the quality of results returned by the Chat. A well-organized Legend leads to clear, reliable outputs. A poorly organized Legend leads to inconsistent or incomplete results.

Think of the Legend as the backend database for the AI-driven takeoff process.

Managing Folders and Subfolders

Folders and subfolders are used to group takeoffs logically by trade, material, or location.

Common organization strategies include:

  • Trade-based folders (Flooring, Electrical, Plumbing)
  • Material-based folders (Tile, Hardwood, Concrete)
  • Location-based subfolders (Bathroom, Dressing Room, Level 1)

Organizing takeoffs before extracting data:

  • Improves clarity
  • Simplifies review
  • Makes exporting and estimating more reliable

Prompts Library Overview

The Prompts Library stores reusable instructions that can be executed instantly through the Chat.

By default, the library includes prompts such as:

  • Flooring takeoff
  • Sheetrock
  • Paint
  • Windows
  • Sinks
  • Objects

These serve as starting points and demonstrate how prompts can extract structured data from the Legend.

Creating Custom Prompts for Different Trades

Not every trade requires the same information. For example:

  • Flooring contractors may focus on areas and waste
  • Electrical contractors may need counts, cable lengths, or device locations

Custom prompts can be created to match specific workflows, such as:

  • Electrical panels
  • Low-voltage wiring
  • Fire alarm devices
  • CCTV equipment

Creating a Custom Prompt

To create a custom prompt:

  1. Enter a Prompt Title (for example, Electrical Panels).

  2. Enter the Prompt Content, such as:
    “I want a total count of electrical panels on this plan.”

  3. Click Add to save the prompt.

Once saved, the prompt becomes available in the Chat and can be reused across projects.

Using the Chat

The Chat tab is where takeoff data is queried and transformed into tables and calculations.

At the bottom of the Chat:

  • Saved prompts are available for one-click execution
  • Custom questions can be typed manually

Selecting a prompt, such as Flooring Takeoff, automatically generates a table showing:

  • Area name
  • Square footage
  • Square footage including waste

All results are generated from the data stored in the Legend.

Asking Advanced Questions

The Chat can also handle multi-step calculations.

For example, you can ask:

  • If room height is 8 feet
  • What the total wall area is
  • How much paint is required, including primer and finish coats

The system processes:

  • Room perimeters
  • Heights
  • Wall areas
  • Coverage rates

It then returns:

  • Total wall area
  • Required gallons
  • Bucket quantities

Complex calculations are reduced to clear, structured outputs.

Combining Manual Takeoffs with Chat

Manual takeoffs created in the Legend work seamlessly with the Chat.

For example, asking:

  • Total square footage of tile flooring
  • Total square footage of hardwood flooring

Returns results based entirely on the manually drawn areas. This demonstrates how manual input and AI-driven extraction work together in a single workflow.

Saving and Managing Tables

Any generated table can be saved.

Saved tables are stored in the Table Takeoffs tab, allowing you to:

  • Keep results organized
  • Revisit calculations later
  • Export data when ready for estimating

Summary

  • Legend: Stores all takeoff data and serves as the foundation for AI interaction
  • Prompts Library: Saves reusable questions and templates
  • Chat: Extracts quantities, calculations, and summaries from the Legend
  • Table Takeoffs: Stores all saved outputs in one place

Together, these tools convert drawings and takeoffs into structured, actionable estimating data and form the backbone of an efficient takeoff workflow.

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