Explode Area

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Applying horizontal and/or vertical grid pattern lines to an area takeoff type measurement is a great way to help visualize linear components associated with takeoffs for joists, concrete cuts, carpet seams, ceiling or floor tiles, metal roof panels, etc.

STACK’s Explode Area tool gives you the ability to get quantifiable data from those lines by "exploding" the original measurement perimeter and gridlines to create individual line measurements, area measurements, and/or counts.

The Explode Area tool lets you:

• Create individual linear measurements from the Perimeter and any Horizontal Grid Pattern and/or Vertical Grid Pattern lines applied to the measurement.
• Create individual area measurements or counts for the Tiles (spaces) between the gridlines.
• Create Intersection Counts for each corner point of the perimeter, each point where the gridlines intersect, and each point where the gridlines touch the perimeter.

You can associate the measurements/counts created with any compatible takeoff on the project you choose to provide quantities and costs on your estimate.*

*You must have items and/or assemblies added to the takeoff in order for data to be included on the Material and Labor Estimate or Estimate Worksheet.

What to Know

• Explode Area only works on Area takeoff type measurements.
• You can choose to create linear measurements from the perimeter lines of the original area takeoff measurement, as well as any horizontal and/or vertical grid pattern lines that have been applied.
• You can choose to create area measurements or counts for the Tiles  (spaces) between the gridlines, depending on the type of takeoff you choose.
• You can choose to create counts for all the points where lines intersect on the original measurement. This includes points where perimeter lines connect (corners), as well as where horizontal and vertical grid pattern lines intersect each other and touch the perimeter lines.
• You can create linear measurements, area measurements, and counts at the same time, from the same source measurement. 
• You get to choose the takeoff on the project where the measurement/counts are created.
• The takeoff you choose must have a compatible Takeoff Measurement Type for the type of measurement/count that is created. For linear measurements (Perimeter, Horizontal Grid Pattern, and Vertical Grid Pattern), the Takeoff Measurement Type must be Linear; for counts (Intersections Counts and Tiles), it is Count; and for area measurements (Tiles) it can be Area, Pitched Area, or Vol 2D.
• You can choose to keep or delete the original area measurement.
• The individual line measurements and counts that are created will function like any other measurement/count and can be edited or deleted.

See below for instructions to:
Explode an Area Measurement

If you need instructions on how to apply a grid pattern to your area measurements, see Choose Takeoff Color and Line Size.

Explode an Area Measurement

1. Select the area measurement that you want to “Explode” into individual measurements and/or counts.
2. Click Edit on the right-side tool bar and select Explode Area.
   TIP: You can use keyboard shortcut X to accomplish this step.
3. Click the dropdown for each part of the original measurement you want to convert to individual measurements/counts to select a takeoff for the measurements/counts that will be created.
   (Select/leave Do not explode if you do not want to create individual measurements/counts.)
   • To select an existing takeoff, Search or scroll through the dropdown list to locate the takeoff you want and click the takeoff name to select it.
     OR 
   • Click + New Takeoff at the top of the list and create a new takeoff for the measurements/counts.
     • Type in the new Takeoff Name and select the Takeoff Type from the dropdown.
     • Enter any additional data as required for the selected Takeoff Type.
       
       NOTE: You are only able to select/create takeoffs with a Takeoff Measurement Type that is compatible with the measurements/counts that will be created. (See What to Know section above.)
4. If you want to delete the original area measurement, click the toggle next to Delete Original Measurement so it moves to the right and turns green. 
5. Click Explode.

Related Articles

Choose Takeoff Color and Line Size
Takeoff Library
Add or Remove Items from a Takeoff
Add, Edit, or Remove an Assembly on a Takeoff
Estimate Overview
Unit Cost Estimate Material and Labor Estimate Overview

If you need additional assistance, please Contact Us.