Plans in Takeoff & Estimate (TE)

Wanita Grenier
Updated

Plans are where work begins in STACK. They contain the drawings used to create takeoffs and organize the information needed to build an estimate.

Understanding how to upload, organize, and navigate plans helps teams work faster and maintain clear, consistent project files.

Key Information

  • Plans are uploaded and managed within the Plans & Takeoffs tab.

  • Folders help organize drawings by discipline, phase, or revision.

  • Sheet IDs improve sorting and navigation.

  • Plans must be scaled before measuring.

  • Viewing tools (Grayscale, Mini Map, Layers, Navigation Arrows) assist with plan review.

  • Measurements are created using tools in the Takeoff Toolbar.

  • Plans can also be searched, printed, and linked through automatic sheet references to help navigate large drawing sets more efficiently.

Plans Overview

The Plans & Takeoffs workspace is divided into two main areas:

  • Left Side Panel: Organize and locate drawings

  • Overview Window: View and open plan thumbnails

From this workspace you can upload plans, organize drawings into folders, search for sheets, open plans, set scale, and begin measuring.

Left Side Panel

The Left Side Panel is used to organize and navigate project drawings.

LeftSidePanel.png

Search

Use the Search bar at the top of the panel to locate a drawing by name or Sheet ID.

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Search is especially helpful on large projects with multiple disciplines or revision sets.

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Search scans both file names and the content within plan sheets and supporting documents. When a match is found inside a document, the results will be highlighted when the file is opened.

NOTE
Search results highlight matching file names in the plan list. If the search term appears within the content of a plan or document, a result indicator appears beside the file name showing how many matches were found. Opening the file will highlight the matching text within the document.

Smart Search

The search function in STACK helps find results even without the exact text. Enter part of a word or use wildcards to expand your search.

  • Enter part of a word to find matches
  • Enter multiple terms to narrow results
  • Use % or * to match any number of characters
  • Use _ to match a single character

Examples

  • jo → John, Joseph
  • jo sm → John Smith
  • %con% → Concrete, Precast Concrete
  • jo_n → John, Joan

NOTE
%, *, and _ act as wildcards. To search for them as text, use a backslash (e.g., 50\%).

Upload Plans

TIP
Create your folder structure before uploading plans to ensure drawings are placed in the correct location from the start.

UploadPlan.gif

  1. Open the project.

  2. Click PLANS & TAKEOFFS.

  3. Open the folder where you want to upload the plan.

  4. Click Upload in the left panel.

  5. Select how to upload the file:

    1. Local Files (click the Choose a local file button or drag and drop the file into the popup)

    2. Camera

    3. Direct Link

    4. Dropbox

    5. Google Drive

    6. Box

    7. OneDrive

  6. Click Done to complete the process.

Uploaded sheets will appear in the folder structure and in the Overview Window.

NOTE
Supported file types and file size limits apply. Large drawing sets may take additional processing time.

Plans Tab Columns

PlanTabColumns.png

  1. Sorting Order (Hamburger Menu): Plans can be sorted by:

    1. Upload Order

    2. Alpha numerically

  2. Plans And Documents: Displays the full folder structure and drawing list.
  3. Expand / Collapse All: Allows quick navigation within structured drawing sets.

    1. Click Expand All to open all folders.

    2. Click Collapse All to close all folders.

  4. Sheet IDs: Displays the drawing number assigned to each sheet.
  5. Three-Dot Menu: Adjust display preferences such as showing or hiding sheets. Or perform the following actions:
    1. Create Folder (See instructions bellow)
    2. Autoname (See instructions bellow)
    3. Download All Sheets
    4. Display:
      1. Only Sheets with Takeoffs
      2. Hidden Sheets

Folder Structure

Folders help organize drawings and supporting documents within a project.

In the Left Side Panel, folders appear in a structured hierarchy and may include:

  • Folders: Primary organization level (e.g., Architectural, Structural, MEP)

  • Subfolders: Nested within folders for further breakdown (e.g., Floor Plans, Elevations, Revisions)

  • Plans: Individual drawing sheets

  • Documents: Supporting files such as specifications or supplemental PDFs

This structure reflects how drawing sets are typically issued, making plans easier to navigate and organize.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents allow you to store additional project files within the project, such as specifications, bid instructions, spreadsheets, or other reference materials. These files appear in the Plans and Documents folder structure but do not display in the plan thumbnail overview.

Create A Folder

CreateFolder.gif

  1. Click the three-dot menu beside Sheet IDs.

  2. Select Create Folder.

  3. Enter a folder name.

  4. Tap Enter on your keyboard.

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Folders within each level are displayed in alphanumeric order. Use a consistent naming convention (for example, numbers or prefixes) to control the order in which folders appear.  

Folders can be nested to match the structure of the drawing set.

Autoname Plans

Autoname automatically names plan sheets using the sheet title and page number detected on the drawings. This helps standardize sheet names across a drawing set and reduces the need for manual renaming after upload.

AutonamePlans.gif

  1. Click the three-dot menu beside Sheet IDs.

  2. Select Autoname.

  3. Click Sheet number.

  4. Open a plan and zoom to the area where the sheet number appears.

  5. Click once in the upper-right corner of the sheet number and drag the selection box to the lower-left corner, making sure the entire number is captured. Click again to confirm the selection.

    NOTE
    When selecting the sheet number, allow extra space to the right in case other sheets contain longer numbers.

  6. Click Sheet title.

  7. Pan to the area where the sheet title appears.

  8. Click once in the upper-right corner and drag the selection box to capture the entire sheet title. Click again to confirm.

    NOTE
    Allow additional space when selecting the title to account for longer sheet names.

  9. Click Run Autoname.

STACK will automatically apply the detected sheet numbers and titles to the plans in the project.

When the process is complete, the updated sheet names will appear in the plan list and thumbnail view.

NOTE
Individual sheets can still be renamed using the three-dot menu next to the plan name.

Plan-Level Three-Dot Menu

Each individual plan includes a three-dot menu for sheet-specific actions.

To manage a plan:

PlansThreeDotMenu.png

  1. Locate the plan in the Left Side Panel.

  2. Click the three-dot menu beside the plan name.

  3. Select the desired action:

    1. Open: Open the plan as a tab.

    2. Print: Download the plan and choose to include:

      1. Takeoffs

      2. Annotations
        PrintPlan.png

    3. Hide

    4. Copy: Copy and choose to include:

      1. Measurements

    5. Rename: Enter the new name and hit Enter.

    6. Rotate Right

    7. Delete

TIP
Renaming sheets to match official drawing numbers helps maintain alignment with project documentation.

IMPORTANT
Deleting a sheet may impact takeoffs associated with that plan.

Overview Window

The Overview Window displays thumbnails of your drawings for visual navigation.

Drawings are grouped under expandable sections that coincide with the folders created.

OverviewWindow.png

Plan Thumbnail Information

Each plan thumbnail displays:

  1. Preview image

  2. Sheet name

  3. Sheet ID

  4. Scale badge (if set) (If a plan has not been scaled, a scale must be set before measuring.)

  5. Selection checkbox

PlanThumbnail.png

Upper Right Dropdown (Sheet Navigation)

The dropdown in the upper-right corner allows users to:

  • Switch between open sheets

  • Navigate quickly without returning to the Overview

This supports efficient review across multiple plans.

UpperRightDropdown.png

Opening a Plan

OpenPlan.gif

  1. Double-click the thumbnail
    OR

  2. Select the sheet by checking the box and click Open in the right side tool bar. 
    To open multiple plans, select the checkbox in the upper-left corner of each thumbnail you want to open.

    1. The selected sheets will open as tabs across the top of the workspace.

    2. Click the tab to open it.

The plan will load into the drawing workspace.

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Hold the Shift key while selecting thumbnails to select a range of plans between the first and last selected sheet.

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Use Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac) to select all plan thumbnails at once. Press Esc to clear the selection.

NOTE
Open plan sheets appear as tabs across the top of the workspace. Tabs can be clicked to switch between sheets and dragged to rearrange their order.

Opened Workspace

Opening a plan activates additional viewing and navigation tools.

OpenedPlanView.png

Upper Right Viewing Tools

These tools assist with reviewing the drawing:

  • Grayscale: Toggle color on or off for clearer viewing.

  • Mini Map: Displays a small navigation map for quick repositioning.

  • Show Layers: Turn drawing layers on or off (if available).

  • Previous Plan / Next Plan: Move sequentially through sheets.

Upper Right Viewing Tools.gif

NOTE
Viewing tools do not impact measurements. They are for navigation and clarity only.

+ New Scale

Before measuring, the plan must be scaled.

For complete information on setting the scale, refer to the Set The Scale For Accurate Takeoffs article.

Takeoff Toolbar

Measurements are created using the Takeoff Toolbar.

For more information on creating Takeoffs, refer to the Creating and Editing Takeoffs article.

TakeoffToolbar.png

Tools include:

Tool Sub Tools Shortcut Description
Overlay     Layers multiple plan sheets on top of each other to help you compare drawings. Each sheet is displayed in a different color, making it easy to see differences such as changes, additions, or removed elements between revisions.
Edit     Modify existing measurements on a plan.
  Single Select E Select and edit one measurement or object on a plan at a time.
  Multi-select M Selects multiple items or elements at the same time in order to apply the same action or modification to all of them simultaneously.
  Select All Ctrl A / ⌘A Selects every applicable measurement or object currently visible on the plan.
  Undo Ctrl Z / ⌘Z Reverses the most recent action performed on the plan.
  Cut Ctrl X / ⌘X Removes the selected measurement or object from the plan and places it on the clipboard so it can be pasted elsewhere.
  Copy Ctrl C / ⌘C Duplicates the selected measurement or object to the clipboard so it can be pasted elsewhere without removing the original.
  Paste Ctrl V / ⌘V Places a copied or cut measurement onto the plan. 
  Merge U Combines two or more selected measurements of the same type into a single measurement.
  Change Takeoff Q Reassigns a selected measurement to a different takeoff without needing to redraw it.
  Explode Area X Separates a combined area measurement into its individual shapes or segments.
  Rotate R Turns the selected measurement around a pivot point to adjust its orientation on the plan.
  Flip Horizontal H Mirrors the selected measurement across a horizontal axis.
  Flip Vertical V Mirrors the selected measurement across a vertical axis.
  Cut Line C Splits a measurement into separate sections at the selected cut point.
  Delete Delete Removes the selected measurement or object from the plan.
Annotations     Provides tools used to add visual notes and markup directly on a plan.
  Highlight Shift H Mark or emphasize specific areas of a plan using a translucent color. 
  Cloud Shift C Creates a cloud-shaped outline around an area of the plan. It is commonly used to indicate changes, revisions, or areas that require attention.
  Callout Shift K Places a labeled marker on the plan that points to a specific location. 
  Dimension Line Shift D Adds a visible measurement between two points on the plan. 
  Text Box Shift T Places a custom text directly on the plan.
  Legend Shift L Displays a reference key on the plan that explains symbols, colors, or annotations used in the drawing.
Takeoff     Provides access to the measurement tools used to capture quantities directly from plan sheets. 
  Shape T Creates a measurement by drawing a custom shape around an area of the plan. This tool is useful for irregular areas where a standard rectangle would not accurately capture the space.
  Rectangle   Creates a measurement by drawing a rectangular or a square area on the plan. This tool is commonly used for rooms, slabs, pads, or other areas with straight edges.
  Assist   STACK’s AI-powered tool that helps automate the takeoff process.
Cut Out     Removes a portion of an existing area measurement. 
  Cut Shape C Removes an irregularly shaped section from an existing area measurement.
  Cut Rectangle C Removes a rectangular section from an existing area measurement. 
Bookmarks     Creates quick navigation points on a plan sheet. Bookmarks help you mark important locations so you can easily return to them later while reviewing drawings or performing takeoffs.
  + Add Bookmark B Creates a new bookmark entry that can be placed on the plan.
  Place Bookmark Shift B Lets you position the bookmark directly on the plan sheet.
Zoom     Provides controls to adjust the view of the plan sheet. 
  Zoom Home Home Resets the view to the default zoom level, displaying the entire plan sheet in the workspace.
  + Zoom In + Increases the magnification of the plan so you can view details more closely.
  - Zoom Out - Decreases the magnification to show more of the plan within the workspace.
Print     Generates a printable version of the current plan sheet and downloads it to your computer as a PDF. Once downloaded, the file can be opened and printed using your device’s standard print settings.
Assist     STACK’s AI-powered detection tool that helps identify common building elements directly from a plan sheet. 
STACK’s AI-powered detection tool that helps identify common building elements directly from a plan sheet.

Right Click Menu

The Takeoff canvas supports multiple right-click interactions to make navigation and access to tools more efficient while working on a drawing.

  • Select all
  • Zoom In
  • Zoom out
  • Zoom Home
    Pans the drawing without changing the active tool.
  • Right-click and drag: Pans the drawing without changing the active tool.
  • Right-click without dragging: Opens the contextual menu for the selected area, measurement, or canvas location.

NOTE
Right-click panning can be used from anywhere on the canvas and works alongside contextual menu actions.

Related Articles

Set The Scale For Accurate Takeoffs

Creating and Editing Takeoffs

See how others use this feature in the STACK Community.

If you need additional assistance, please Contact Us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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