TradeTek Markups Question & Answer

How can I create or edit images for Page markups, Property Images or Pattern Images?

Images created in other tools can be copied and pasted through the clipboard or from an image file on disk.
These images can be used and manipulated in the Property Images or Pattern Images dialogs from the Templates panel.
An image markup can be added to a job page. TradeTek has a builtin Image Editor to create or manipulate bitmap images.

To demonstrate the Image Editor, click on a plan page with the Markup Image from the Page panel.
Click New, assign the image Height and Width, then draw a selection rectangle on the page.
The Image Editor dialog is presented showing a empty drawing area and set of editing tools across the bottom.

Tools include Draw, Line, Box, Circle, Rounded Box, Fill, Syringe, Text, Selection, Erase, Copy, Paste, Rotate,
Undo, Resize, Crop, Scale, Stroke, Color and Transparent.

How do I handle Back of a Napkin plans in TradeTek?

While most jobs draw Takeoff on existing plans, TradeTek 2.0 allows new Plan pages to be created using Markup tools.
From the Pages side panel, click Add Page and select the Blank radio button to create a new empty page in the job.
Name and scale the page to be used for drawing the floor plan from your Back of a Napkin sketch.
Locate the Markup tools in the Page panel, then click the Grid Layers button. Assign a grid and use Layers to organize work.
From the Markup Layers dialog, name a layer something like FloorPlan and set the Plan checkbox for that layer.
Now use the Pen and Area markup tools to draw the floor plan. Use the Grid, Ortho mode and distance feedback as a guide.
The Pattern library contains categories like plumbing, electrical, etc with images that can be added to the floor plan.
Once the floor plan is completed, disable editing of Markups on that layer before drawing takeoffs.

What guiding principles should I consider when creating a custom Pattern image library in TradeTek?

Patterns are named PNG image files stored in a Patterns folder within your TradeTek preferences folder.
When you export, import or share preferences through TradeTek Cloud or TradeTek Shared, patterns are included.
Pattern images supplied with TradeTek may be extended over time and are intended as a starting point.
Create your own Categories and image names to fit your specific trade and usage.
Delete or edit supplied images, but give them a unique name so future TradeTek updates don’t affect your custom images.
Depending on your usage, the height, width and transparency of your custom images may be important.
After adding a Pattern image to a Job page, any size, rotation or editing changes have no affect on the original image.

How are Patterns used in TradeTek to paint markup areas, annotate blue prints or display product samples?

From the Templates panel, choose Select Default Properties panel and click Pattern Images to present a dialog.
From the Pattern Images dialog, add, copy, paste, edit or name images and organize them into Categories.
Add images from photographs, clipart, graphics applications or the inventory of products you sell.
Shared images through the clipboard as PNG, JPG or PDF files. Use the Image Editor to construct or modify images.

Here a some of the ways Pattern images can be used.

- Add a Box or Circle markup that displays product sample patterns (tile, stone, brick, carpet, wood, etc.) adjacent to takeoff.
- Draw floor or elevation plans with Pen and Area markup tools, than paint the areas with pattern images.
- Add sinks, bath tubs, toilets, washer, dryer, furniture or other annotations on floor plans.
- Pattern images added to a plan page can be resized, moved, flipped or rotated as needed to fit the room.

How can I control the back to front drawing order of plans, takeoff and markup objects?

Objects are drawn on a page in the following order, Plan image, Plan markups, takeoffs and other markups.
Each markup object has assigned layer. A layers can be designated as Plan to draw under the takeoffs.
Markup objects are drawn from bottom to top as they are created. The order can be changed using Markup tools.
Opaque objects cover objects below them. Transparent objects allow underlying objects to show through.
Layers can be hidden thus making all Markup objects on that layer invisible.

How are Layers used for Markup objects?

Each Markup object presents a dialog to control color, transparency, pattern or to assigned it to a Layer.
All Markup objects on an assigned Layer can be drawn under or above the Takeoff.
The assigned Layer determines whether Markup objects are visible or editable on the page.
Click on the Grid Layers tool and then click the Layers button to access the Layers dialog.