Quantity takeoff
Part of BIM Explorer Pro. Takeoff turns model elements into lengths, areas and volumes by IFC type or by storey, ready to check before they become BOQ items. Quantities come from the model's quantity sets, are computed from the geometry where the model has none, and doors, windows and fittings are counted.
- Use the Quantity check in Views first to see which elements carry quantities in the model.
- Open Takeoff and switch between By type and By storey; every row says whether its number is from the model, computed from the geometry or a count.
- Check computed quantities before pricing: they come from the shapes in the model, not from the designer's quantity sets.
- Use grouped totals when many IFC elements should become one commercial line, such as all doors, windows or walls of a type.
- Send visible rows or grouped totals to BOQ when the quantities are ready to become editable bill rows with IFC evidence attached.
The BOQ workbook
Part of BIM Explorer Pro. The BOQ workspace is where reviewed quantities become editable bill rows. Use it to classify, describe, price and export model-derived work items with IFC evidence attached where appropriate.
- Add a row manually, or send rows from Takeoff when the model has already produced useful quantities.
- Fill in classification, trade package, BOQ item/description, quantity, unit and rate directly in the editable grid.
- The row total is calculated live from quantity multiplied by rate before you save.
- Status and included/excluded remain row metadata for reporting and export, but the main grid keeps those columns hidden to stay readable.
- Select an IFC object, or capture a selected set, before saving when the bill row needs model evidence attached.
- Save the row; saved BOQ rows persist locally per model and are used by BOQ exports.
- Use Edit or Delete on saved BOQ rows to revise existing bill items without recreating them.
- Use Undo or Ctrl+Z to step back the last BOQ save, delete or IFC evidence link made in the current session.
Linked IFC sets
Part of BIM Explorer Pro. Linked IFC sets connect a BOQ row to the exact model objects behind it. Use them when a row needs evidence, audit trail or revision context.
- Select the relevant object or objects in the 3D model.
- Use Send to BOQ from Selection to either create a new BOQ row or add the selected object to an existing BOQ row.
- Choose an existing row when repeated objects, such as matching chairs or doors, should belong to one commercial line.
- Selecting a different IFC object clears any unsaved captured set, unless you are actively editing a BOQ row.
- Use Clear linked set to discard all captured evidence, or remove individual linked IFC pills when only one object should be taken out of the set.
- Click linked IFC evidence in a saved BOQ row to make that object active again and identify it in the model view.
- Open BOQ, edit or create the row that should own evidence when you need more control over the row fields.
- Choose Capture selected IFC when you want to attach a set from inside the BOQ editor rather than just the current object.
- Check the linked panel before saving; it tells you whether no evidence, the current object, or captured elements will be attached.
- Use the small remove buttons on linked IFC pills when a row has several objects but only one should be unlinked.
Undo BOQ changes
Undo steps back the most recent BOQ/item-schedule change made in the current app session. It is aimed at recovering accidental schedule edits without changing the loaded IFC model.
- Undo covers saved BOQ row creates, edits, deletes and adding IFC evidence to an existing row.
- It also covers rows created from Takeoff quantities because they use the same BOQ store.
- Use Ctrl+Z from anywhere except while typing in a field.
- Undo history is session-based; restarting BIM Explorer starts a fresh history.
