Bluebeam Integration Overview

This Bluebeam to Tekla PowerFab Integration is designed to reduce the effort of estimating when using Bluebeam and Tekla PowerFab together.

In order to accomplish this, we are providing a set of Bluebeam custom columns. Using these columns while performing the take off in Bluebeam will allow a CSV formatted summary to import directly into a Tekla PowerFab Estimating Job.

Requirements

Tekla PowerFab
Bluebeam Revu

Files

Tekla PowerFab Custom Columns.xml
All Tekla PowerFab Custom Columns.xml

Setting Up

Import one of the XML files linked above:

In Bluebeam Revu open Markups at the bottom of the screen. Then from the Markups List dropdown select Columns then Manage Columns...

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Click on the Custom Column Tab, then click Import...

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Find the XML file, and select Open. Bluebeam will verify that you want to apply the columns in this file to the current pdf.

Click on the Display Order tab. Select the Label, Quantity, Length, AlternateLength, Comments, Finish, Grade and Labor Code columns to be displayed. The display order is not important. It's also fine to select additional visible columns. (In this example, we have optional fields "Category" and "Sub-Category" also selected).

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Before using the Integration, make sure your scale is properly set for your document.

Using the Integration

To populate these columns, use the "Measure" tool in the pdf document. In "Measurements", type a section size in the Label. (In this example, we've used "W10x12").

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Use the length tool or perimeter tool to measure each part that matches the label. As each part's measurement is marked, Bluebeam will populate the built-in columns.

Edit any of the columns that aren't automatically populated by double-clicking and entering text. Having data in these columns is optional.

"Alternate Length" accepts a dimension, like Bluebeam's "Comments" field. Use it to override the value in the comments field as the length for that piece. Because Bluebeam's "Length" field has no information on units, Tekla PowerFab reads the comments field to determine the length of each part.

It is not necessary to put values in the "Grade" and "Labor Code" fields. When these are left blank, Tekla PowerFab will use the default for the shape on the section size in the "Label" field.

Edit the "Quantity" column by double-clicking and entering a new number.

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Export the Summary from Bluebeam

To transfer this information to Tekla PowerFab, Choose "Summary" then "CSV Summary" in Bluebeam.

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Choose which pages and columns to export, make sure "Include Column Headers" is checked, then click Ok.

Import to Tekla PowerFab

In Tekla PowerFab, choose File > Import, and select Estimating > Bluebeam.

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Use the Browse button to find the file Bluebeam exported.

Click Import. The file will be imported as an Estimating Job, and unrecognized parts will be reported.

Check and update the Import Field Map. Make sure that the field on the left (Import File Field) maps to the correct Tekla PowerFab Field (on the right).

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Expanding the Integration

Tekla PowerFab can accept many more fields in an imported file. To see the fields available in Tekla PowerFab for importing an Estimate, Open Tekla PowerFab Estimating Input Settings (Maintenance > Estimating > Edit Input Fields).

To populate these from Bluebeam, in Bluebeam's custom columns, import the All Tekla PowerFab Custom Columns.xml file.

Note: Do not add a field named "Comment". Bluebeam has a built in field named "Comments" which is necessary for determining the units of the Length field. Tekla PowerFab will get confused as to which one to put in the "Comment" field, and will ignore one (but won't always make the correct choice of which one to ignore, which may result in incorrect lengths).