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      Default product appearance settings

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      Default product appearance settings

      Users can define default appearance settings at the product level within the rate build-up. These defaults will be automatically applied whenever the product is used in a drawing, though users can still override them as needed.

      Benefits of this feature:

      • Saves time – No need to repeatedly configure appearance settings.

      • Ensures consistency – Products maintain the same visual style across all drawings.

      • Reduces errors – Minimises the risk of misidentification due to inconsistent styling.

      • Improves efficiency – Streamlines the takeoff process when working with multiple drawings.


      How to set a products default appearance 

      1. Expand the main Chalkstring menu bar and click on the ‘Projects’ menu. 

      2. Click the project you are working on.

      3. Click the 'Assessment you want to work on.

      4. This takes you to the 'Assessment Overview' page, from here click on 'Rate build up'  in the top menu bar, or the '>' arrow in the 'Assessment overview 'section to navigate to the 'Bill of quantities' page.

      5.Click on the 'eye' icon for the product you want to set the appearance for, or click 'View and edit product' from the right hand product menu.

      6. Hover your cursor over the purple icon in the top right corner and select 'Edit name and description.

      7. From the 'Takeoff Colour' dropdown, select a colour you want for the product when it's used in a takeoff drawing for this assessment. 

      Configuration appearance settings will be displayed and can be updated as required. The configuration options are:

        • Single unit items: Opacity, Count marker and Count size.

        • Linear items: Opacity, Line width, and Line style.

        • Area items:  Opacity, Fill pattern, Line width, and Line style.


      8. Click Save to apply the settings.

      Using a default appearance product in a drawing

      • When a product is added to a drawing, the set appearance settings will be automatically applied, but can be updated as the product is added to the drawing if required. This will also update them in the rate build up settings.

      If you change the appearance settings for a product in the rate build-up which already exists in a drawing you will be prompted to choose:

      Update all existing takeoff measures - This will update all instances of the product in your drawings with the new appear settings.


      Apply only to new takeoff measures - Only future instances of the product being added to a drawing will use the new appearance settings. Existing instances will remain with their current appear settings.

      Clearing default appearance settings

      • To remove default settings, select No colour selected in the Takeoff Colour dropdown.

      • Click Save. The product will no longer have predefined appearance settings, but existing drawings will retain their current configurations.