Organize and Export Measurements Easily with Comment Categories in CAD Reader

Quantity surveyors, engineers, and construction specialists often find it challenging to perform quantity takeoffs using 2D CAD drawings in AutoCAD. One common issue is that measurement data such as lengths, areas, and quantities are not automatically tabulated, and cannot be easily exported to Excel for further processing.

The Comment Category feature in CAD Reader addresses this pain point by acting as a dedicated layer for measurement data. All measurements taken from the drawing, whether it's length, area, or unit quantity, are automatically organized and can be exported directly to Excel, streamlining the workflow and saving valuable time.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download and launch the CAD Reader software on your device.

2. Click on the ‘Comment Category’ function to manage measurement categories.

3. Select ‘Add Category’ and assign a specific name and color to each category. Examples include:

• Tile for bathroom
• Tile for car porch
• Cold water pipe (20mm diameter)
• Sanitary pipe (50mm diameter)

These categories help organize measurement data during quantity takeoff.

4. Switch categories using the category toolbar before starting each measurement.

• Be sure to change the category whenever you begin measuring a new object or material.
• This ensures all measurement data is correctly assigned before exporting to Excel.

5. Begin your quantity takeoff using the available measurement tools in the toolbar.

6. Once all measurements are complete, click on the ‘Tabulate’ function in the toolbar.

7. All categorized data for length and area will be automatically tabulated.

8. Use the filter function to refine the results, then click ‘Export to Excel’ for further processing or reporting.