About Backouts

Cut out pieces of geometry using the Backout feature. By drawing a Backout, you exclude a piece of an existing Area takeoff. Backouts are useful when, for example, you have marked up a floor area for takeoff, but want to exclude a section of that area, such as a corridor, from the takeoff. The corridor Backout area is then "subtracted" from the floor area in the Quantification workbook.

You can draw one or more Backouts within a single Area takeoff. A Backout can either be drawn within an existing Area takeoff, or it can intersect the geometry of one or more Area takeoffs. A Backout is always a closed polygon, that appears as a white area on the worksheet.

Draw a Backout

1. On the 2D Sheet, select a Markup.

2. On the 2D Takeoff toolbar, click Backout .

3. On the 2D sheet, click the position you want to start.

   Note: Notice the cursor changes to a green snap vertex when it intersects geometry.

4. Continue clicking and moving to add vertices, then right-click over your final vertex to create a closed polygon.

   Notice that the original Markup Area in the Quantification workbook is reduced to reflect the Backout.

Draw a Rectangle Backout

1. On the 2D Sheet, select a Markup.

2. On the 2D Takeoff toolbar, click Rectangle Backout.

3. On the 2D sheet, move your cursor to the position you want to start.

   Note: Notice the cursor changes to a green snap vertex when it intersects geometry.

4. Click and hold, then drag to create a rectangle within the selected Markup, or intersecting the Markup.

   Notice that the original Markup Area in the Quantification workbook is reduced to reflect the Backout.