The document discusses how to use vector PDF files to create faster and more accurate earthwork estimates in a software program. Key points include: - Vector PDF files contain lines and curves that can be selected instead of traced to create annotations. - Not all PDF files contain vectors, and some may contain both vectors and images. - Vectors are automatically imported if available when adding a PDF file. - Tools are provided to select, join, and create annotations from vectors to estimate quantities. - Suggested workflow involves preparing vectors, creating annotations using different selection tools, and finishing with non-vector tools as needed.

1. Vector PDF
Overview
The VectorPDF functionsoutlinedinthisdocumentallow fastercreationof more accurate Earthwork
estimates.
What is a vector?
Imagesare typicallymade of a bunchof dots withdifferentcolorsorshadesof grey. Vectorsina PDF
filesare linesandcurves. Estimators cancreate annotationoutof vectorsbyselectingtheminsteadof
tracing them.
Is my file a vector PDF?
OnlyPDFfileshave vectors. Notall PDFfileshave anyvectors.Some PDFfiles have bothvectorsand
imagesthatare not vectors. If the Vectormode buttonis disabledforanimage,thatimage doesnot
have any vectorsonit.
Importing Vectors
If available,vectorsare importedautomaticallywhenyouadda PDF file toyourEarthwork job.
Speedbar Buttons
1. Vector:The Vectormode buttonchangesthe functionof the followingSpeedbarButtonsand
The All Tasks MenuItemJoinand Multiple Join.
2. Select:Whenyouleftclickona vectorit will become selectedandpreviouslyselectedvectors
will be deselected. Rightclickingwhenvector(s) are selectedisthe same asclickingthe Finished
button,see below. Rightclickingwhennovectorsare selected selectsthe closestvectorand
pressesthe Finishedbutton.
3. Multi-Select(OrSelectwiththe shiftkeydown):Multi-Selectallowsselectingmultiple vectorsby
clickingoneachvector. The vectorcan be deselectedbyclickingitasecondtime Rightclicking
whenvector(s) are selectedisthe same asclickingthe Finishedbutton,see below. Rightclicking
whennovectorsare selectedselectsthe closestvectorandpressesthe Finishedbuttonto
create an annotationinone step.
4. Finished(HotKeyF):Create anannotationoutof the currentlyselectedVector(s). If multiple
vectorsare selectedtheywill be joinedtogethertocreate a single annotation. Specialbehavior
existsforthe AreaWindow,see below. If onthe takeoff windows,incrementthe elevationby
the value inthe interval editonthe main window. Finishedcanalsobe calledinvectormode by
rightclicking.

2. 5. Continue (HotKeyC): Takeoff window only. If multiple vectorsare selectedtheywillbe joined
togethertocreate a single annotation. Create anannotationoutof the currentlyselected
Vector(s). Donotincrementthe elevationbythe increment.
6. Single El:Takeoff windowonly. Create anew annotationoutof the vectoryouclick on.
Incrementthe elevationbythe incrementif onthe Takeoff Window. Tocreate a new
annotationwithoutincrementingthe elevation,holddownthe shiftkeywhenyouclick.
7. Multi El (SetElevations): Takeoff window only. Thisfunctionallows youtoclickontwo
locationsto create a line acrossmultiplevectorsandcreate multiple annotationwithdifferent
elevationsfromeachof the crossed vectors.
a. Start Elevation:The elevationof the fistvectorcrossedbythe line. Thisdefaultstothe
value inthe elevationeditonthe mainform.
b. Interval:Addthe interval tothe elevationof the previousvector andassigntothe
currentannotation. Thisdefaultstothe value inthe interval editonthe mainform.
c. Note:if you RightClick the secondpointwhencreatingthe line thatcrossesthe vectors
the Set Elevationformwillnotappear. Annotationswill be createdusingthe default
valuesforStart ElevationandInterval.
All Tasks Menu Items
1. Join(HotkeyJ):Joinsmultiple vectorsegmentsintoasingle vector.

3. 2. Multiple Join:Joinsvectorsegmentstogethertocreate multiple vectors. If more thanone
vectoris selectedMultipleJoinwill onlyjointhe selectedvectors. If one or novectorsare
selectedMultiple Joinwilljoinvectorsfromall of the selectedlayers. Note:Multiplejoinwill
sometimesjoinsegmentsincorrectly. Thingsthatare obviousto humansare sometimesvery
hard for computers. If Multiple Joindoesnotworkwell onaparticularPDFlayeryoumay want
to create the annotationsforthat layerusingAligntoImage.
a. JoinDistance:The maximumdistance betweenvectorsegmentswhere theycanbe
joinedtogetherintoone vector.
b. Note:Use The Len/EA Window tomeasure the maximumdistance betweenline
segments.
Non-vector functions available in Vector Mode
1. Point,Trace,Snap: Youcan create an annotationusingPoint,Trace,orSnap anda vector. Start
the annotationwithPoint,Trace,orSnap, thenselectasingle vector,ormultiple vectors. You
can finishthe annotationatthispoint,oryou can switchback to Point,Trace,or Snapmode to
continue the annotation.
2. Properties:Aftercreatinganannotationyoucan accessthe propertiesforthatannotation
withoutturningoff vectormode. Justclickthe Propbuttonor use the hotkey.
3. Len/EA window Prop: Thisallowsyoutochange the type of lengthforthe currentlyselected
annotations.
4. Len/EA windowLine: Thisallowsyoutochange the type of lengthforfuture Length
annotations.

4. Preferences
1. Tools – Preferences –Digital Tab:Disable VectorImport. If checked,treatVectorPDFfileslike
theydon’thave any vectors.

5. Vector Layers Control
1. Navigation
a. Click:If the layeris notselecteditbecomesselectedandgetsfocus. If the layeris
selecteditbecomesdeselectedandlosesfocus. If youwantto deselectalayer,and
retainfocususe the space bar key.
b. ArrowKeys:If one of the layershasfocus youcan move up and downthe layersusing
the arrow keys
c. Space bar: Toggle selection of the active layer.
2. All Button:Turn on all VectorPDFlayers
3. None:Turnoff all VectorPDFlayers
4. Current:Turn off all VectorPDF layersexceptfor the layerof the currentlyselectedvector
5. Edit:Edit the VectorLayer withthe “EditVectorPDF Layer” form.
6. Minimize /Restore:The circledcontrol allowsminimizingandrestoringthe VectorLayers
Control.

6. Edit Vector PDFLayer Form
1. Name:Change the name of the layertoidentifythe content. Geeknote:The defaultlayer
namesare basedonthe color of the vectorsbrokendownintoredgreenandblue intensities.
Black isR0G0B0. White isR255G255B255.
2. Color:The currentcolorof all the vectors on the current layer
3. Change Button:Showa color pickertochoose a new colorfor the vectorson the currentlayer.
Copy / Paste
1. Copy:CTRL – C
2. Paste:CTRL – V
3. You cannot copyvectorsto annotations,butyoucannotcopy annotationstovectors.
4. Copy/ Paste to the Area window allowsyoutocreate multiple areasoutof multipleselected
unclosedvectors.

7. Image Layer
1. From the bottomtoolbarpressthe LayersButton
2. From the SelectLayerstoViewformyoucan enable ordisable the image of the PDF. If you add
or switchto an image thatdoesnot have vectorsthe image layerwill be enabledautomatically.
Vector Windows
1. Takeoff
a. Single El.andMulti El. Are onlyavailable inthe Takeoff Window
b. Whenan annotationiscreatedonthe Takeoff window the line properties formdoesnot
show.
2. Area
a. Whenan annotationiscreatedonthe Areawindow the areaproperties formwill
appear.
b. If you selectmultiple closed vectorsmultiple areaswillbe createdwiththe same
properties.
c. See Copy/Paste
3. Trench
a. Whenan annotationiscreatedonthe Areawindow the trenchproperties formwill
appear.
4. Len/EA
a. Whenan annotationiscreatedonthe Len/ EA window the line propertiesformdoes
not show.

8. b. Unlike otherwindowsLengthswillremainselectedasmore lengthsare added.
c. Whenthe line style ischangedwiththe Line speedbarbuttonsall lengthswill become
deselected. The nextannotationsyoucreate will have the line styleyouselected.
d. Whenthe line style ischangedwiththe Prop.Speedbarbuttons the linestyleyou
selectedisappliedto all currentlyselectedlengthsandall lengthsare deselected.
SuggestedWorkflow
1. Create a newjobusing“Plansinan Image File (the same workflow asanon-vectorImage jobs)
a. SelectThe PDF(fromthe “Extract Sheets”Tab,Click the Ellipsis…button)
b. Clickthe “Extract Sheets”Button
c. Choose the page
d. ClickOK
e. Setthe scale andclose the scale dialog
2. Surveythe image
a. Considerturningoff the “Image”layerusingthe “Layers”button
b. Findthe layersfromwhichto create annotations
i. Rename them
ii. Change theircoloras needed
3. Prepthe vectorsfor Import
a. Use Takeoff – Multiple Jointojoinvectorsegmentsintomore usable vectors
b. Use Takeoff – Jointojoinindividualvectorsthatwere missedbyMultiple Join
4. Create Annotations
a. On the Takeoff window
i. start withMulti El
ii. use Single El where Multi El isnot quicker
iii. Or if you preferuse Select,andFinish/Continue
b. On otherwindowsuse
i. SelectandFinish
ii. RightClick
iii. Copy/ Paste (Mostlyforthe areawindow)
5. Finishthe jobwithnon-vectorfunctionality
a. For some annotationsAligntoImage,Trace,orPointmode will be abetterchoice.
b. Vectormode doesnotsupportSpot Elevationsandcountitems
6. Adda newImage using“AddNew Digital PlanusingMatchlines (the same workflow asanon-
vectorPDF job)
7. Repeatsteps2 - 5
Glossary
Closed Vector:The start pointand end point of the vectorare the same.