07.05.01 Drawing Polygon Area Takeoff (Complex Shapes)

Last Updated: 2022-02-22 08:02

There are three tools available for drawing Area takeoff, the most common is the Polygon (complex shape) tool ( Polygon Area Takeoff tool ). A complex shape does not need to be very complex - anything that is not a rectangle or an oval is "complex".

To draw a complex area such as the one shown below:

Click the button

Click the first point (vertex) to anchor the takeoff object
Click each point (vertex) or corner
Proceed until you reach the last point
When you get to that last point, double-click

Caution

Do not draw the last segment and try to double-click on the starting point (anchor) because you may create an "uncloseable area" (see Related Articles). When you double-click on the last point, the program completes the last segment for you, automatically, connecting it to the first (anchor) point.

Once drawn, each clicked point becomes a move handle, if it can be moved, of course. There are some program rules that prevent moving a vertex, specifically, if grab the move handle in the middle of a segment, you may not be able to move the segment if the program cannot correctly move connected segments.

drawing a polygon area

Note

If you try to complete (or close) an area takeoff and nothing seems to happen when you double-click, or the object turns yellow with a bold red outline, that means you inadvertently created an "uncloseable" object.

You need to back out the takeoff object by pressing the ESC key until you find the point where you crossed lines and try again. See Related Articles for more information on Uncloseable Areas.

Warning

Before drawing any takeoff, you must set and verify Scale, see Related Articles

Area Takeoff Tools Toolbar

Drawing Polygon Areas with Curved Segments

07.05.03 Why Can't I Complete My Takeoff Object? (Creating an Uncloseable Polygon Areas)