Autodesk QTO Users Group - Enhancing Estimating Productivity with Autodesk Quantity Takeoff

Enhancing Estimating Productivity with Autodesk Quantity Takeoff

A users group for those utilizing and interested in enhancing construction estimating processes on 2D and 3D plans and models.

Latest Activity

Kevin Miller replied to Michael Walker's discussion 'This Site to be Discontinued on August 20th'

I have a website that I'm managing that doesn't look as nice as this one but could be used to continue the QTO forums etc. Let me know what you think. The url is kmiller.ws I will work on trying to make it look nicer. Kevin

Aug 10, 2010

This Site to be Discontinued on August 20th

Dear Users, It has been great to be able to provide a benefit to all the QTO Users out there. Unfortunately, this site will be discontinued after August 20th, 2010 due to a change in Ning platform policies and my inability to further support the site. No new members are being accepted at this time. Regards, The ModeratorSee More

A discussion started by Michael Walker was featured Aug 9, 2010

1 Comment

This Site to be Discontinued on August 20th

Discussion posted by Michael Walker Aug 9, 2010

1 Comment

George Aucamp replied to Ian Michael Wilson's discussion 'Drawing meta-data'

It sounds like you might be using .dwg files instead of .dwf files. QTO will only function with .dwf files. True view should be used to convert the .dwg to a .dwf file. You can then use that in QTO. Hope this helps a bit!

Aug 6, 2010

Tanner Clark updated their profile photo Aug 5, 2010

Ian Michael Wilson replied to Ian Michael Wilson's discussion 'Drawing meta-data'

Thanks Tobias but I'm not sure about what version of Revit has been used or what export, publishing process was used. May have to give up on that line of questioning. I do have another problem that you may be able to help me with however. When…

Aug 5, 2010

Jason Pratt commented on Jason Pratt's video

Thanks Pete, Would love to learn more about how pros do carpet takeoffs. I am not an expert by any stretch, but it sounds like you are. Posting something here to help others learn would be a great use of this site and I for one would appreciate it.…

Carpet in QTO

Aug 2, 2010

pete pagan commented on Jason Pratt's video

Michael, Great point.. Generally speaking, those of us in the flooring trade could estimate carpet in our heads. And if you are an installer (as I was) it comes second nature. But for those estimators out there with no field experience I can show…

Carpet in QTO

Aug 2, 2010

Tobias Kelly replied to Ian Michael Wilson's discussion 'Drawing meta-data'

To help better understand the issue, what version of Revit was used to create the .dwf file and what was the export or publishing process used? Sorry to answer a question with a question its important to know these things in order to pin-point the…

Jul 30, 2010

Drawing meta-data

When bringing in project information in QTO in order to attempt to take off a 3D model, the meta-data for a whole range of model items such as walls and floor is seemingly not there making the 3D model take off redundant to a larger degree. Is this an issue of the meta-data not being attached along with the rest of the project documents that I am bringing into the project (3D drawings, 2D plans, schedules etc) or am I completely missing something here? Any help will be greatly…See More

Discussion posted by Ian Michael Wilson Jul 30, 2010

3 Comments

Assembly formula %ERROR%

We're having an issue with assemblies being saved after we save, export and import the catalog, and redo model takeoff. We're essentially trying to set up assemblies that can be reused. What happens though, is that after we setup the formula for each item in the assembly and we see that it gives the quantities that we want, when we try to do a model takeoff again after exporting and importing a catalog, many of our items created using a formula evaluate to "%ERROR%" in the quantity field. It…See More

Discussion posted by Tobias Kelly Jul 29, 2010

0 Comments

Arthur Garcia commented on Vicki Yonke's blog post 'Estimating'

I suppose if this is a poll, our company uses it just for takeoff only. We also have an internal database. I agree with Kevin that it would be a lot of wasted effort maintaining another one within QTO. Our costing database also goes into a lot more…

Jul 27, 2010

Sharing Catalogs

Recently we've been attempting to share a catalog between one computer and another. The basis of this is that I worked on setting up a catalog, generating all the assignments needed for the takeoff, and from here on out, my colleague is going to continue working on that job. I save him the .QTO file as well as the ATT file and he puts them back together on his machine almost all the way. After importing the catalog over, the catalog items are there and seem to be correctly imported, but no item…See More

Discussion posted by Arthur Garcia Jul 27, 2010

0 Comments

Vicki Yonke commented on Vicki Yonke's blog post 'Estimating'

Thank you for your response. Our company currently uses Excel, but we want to get away from spreadsheets (too much room for error), and button down our costs in a database. Was just wondering if anyone does use it for Estimates.

Jul 20, 2010

Kevin Miller commented on Vicki Yonke's blog post 'Estimating'

I'm a professor at a university and I'm teaching it more as a takeoff software because I think that most companies already have a database or spreadsheet setup that contains their costs. If QTO is setup to contain costs as well, that would…

Jul 20, 2010

Estimating

Is there anyone out there using QTO as an "Estimating Software"...used for takeoffs only? we are trying to use for custom commercial curtain walls....not sure if this is the product for us

Blog post by Vicki Yonke Jul 19, 2010

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Estimating

Is there anyone out there using QTO as an "Estimating Software"...used for takeoffs only? we are trying to use for custom commercial curtain walls....not sure if this is the product for us

Posted by Vicki Yonke on July 19, 2010 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments

Adapting to Change

I was handed a book recently that I hadn't looked at in over 10 years, but whose message may be very pertinent to today's challenges. I think "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson, first published in 1998 by Putnam, is good for a second look in these times of production homebuilders re-strategizing their product, architects, contractors, and engineers still wondering where the work went, and us as worker bees not being left in the dustpile.…

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Posted by Michael Walker on November 11, 2009 at 7:00am

Jing & Screencast to Improve Communicating

A great way to communicate screen based snippets back and forth on this group or any other web group you are a part of is Techsmith's Jing application. It is a simple free download and allows you to do screen captures with narration up to 5 min in length. Then at click of a button you can upload your video to Screencast. You can then paste the link in an email or forum post and colleagues can view your discussion and question at any time.

Great for demonstrating problems you… Continue

Posted by Michael Walker on July 28, 2009 at 5:44pm

User Group Videos

Dear Members,

Make sure you frequently check up on TIPS and SHORTCUT videos in the Video Section. New content will be added frequently.

We have also posted a short video on Training Options we provide at Orange Blade.

If you have discovered a tip or cool feature or unique way at getting a solution to a… Continue

Posted by Michael Walker on July 2, 2009 at 5:30pm