Takeoff to the next level with Navisworks® 2D and 3D

Quantification
Jason Dodds - DFourInc

CO5170-L

Every building truly does have its price! One of the most time-consuming items during the estimation
process is to perform and complete a building takeoff. In this session, we teach you how to use
Navisworks Manage 2015 Quantification workflows to help you minimize your time doing quantification.
We use 3D models (Autodesk® Revit® Architecture software) and 2D DWF documents to complete our
tasks in this class. You learn to understand the Navisworks Manage 2015 Quantification software
interface, the tools in the software, and leave the class feeling ready to tackle the coming quantification
challenges.

Learning  Objectives  
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
• Analyze, validate, and export data into XLS format
• Explain the concepts and processes behind 2D, virtual and model takeoff
• Use new workflows that Navisworks Manage Quantification provides to develop catalogs for
enhancing the quantification process
• Learn functionality of Navisworks 2015 quantification tools

About  the  Speaker

Jason Dodds, coauthor of "Mastering Navisworks 2012 and 2013", is President of DFourInc
based in Denver, CO. Jason has been actively involved in the construction and technology
community for over 20 years. Prior to joining DFourInc, Jason was a Construction Solutions
Expert for Autodesk as well as held various positions with Construction companies. During his
career, Jason's focus and experience has been with construction, construction administration,
MEP, architecture, structures, technology, sales, marketing, and business development. He
has been involved in all facets of construction processes and understands what it takes to
complete projects on time and under budget. Jason has experience with estimating,
coordination, fabrication, scheduling, and project management. Jason is also considered the
expert on Autodesk Quantity Takeoff (QTO) and helped pioneer many advancements with the
technology. Jason used Navisworks for over 10 years on active construction projects around
the world and is considered an industry expert. Jason is also a recognized speaker at
international and national events such as the Associated General Contractors (AGC), American
Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE), American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE),
Revit Technology Conference (RTC), Autodesk University (AU) and BIM Forum, among others.
[email protected]
 Takeoff to the Next Level with Navisworks Quantification

Chapter  1:  Introduction  

Quantification  Process  Overview  

Quantification  Overview  
Quantification supports integration of three-dimensional (3D) design data. You can combine
multiple sources of 3D source files and generate quantity takeoff. Takeoff an entire building
information model (BIM) and create synchronized project views that combine information from
BIM tools such as Revit® and AutoCAD® software together with geometry, images, and data
from other tools. You can also perform a virtual takeoff for items with no associated model
geometry or properties.

Your takeoff data can then be exported to Excel for analysis and shared with other project team
members in the cloud using Autodesk BIM 360® for optimized collaboration.

Quantification can count and measure item quantities associated with these disciplines:

• Civil (earth, road, drainage)

• Construction and Architecture (doors, walls, windows)
• Engineering (structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing)

The available measurements (variables) are:

• Length
• Width
• Thickness
• Height
• Perimeter
• Area
• Volume
• Weight
• Count

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Exercise  1  –  Locate  the  Quantification  Palette  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Locate the Quantification Tool on the home Tab

3. Open and Pin the Quantification palette at the bottom of the screen

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Chapter  2:  Project  Setup  

Project  Setup    
A project is a collection of files and takeoff items that you use to produce detailed material
quantities. When you create a project, you select the catalog content to import, and you specify
project settings, such as measurement units.

Each file or files you use in Quantification must have an associated project. When you first open
a file in Quantification, the Project Setup Wizard is displayed. This is where you specify
measurement units and the catalog you want to use for organizing your takeoff data. You can
integrate all the common catalogs you use for takeoff before you begin Quantification.

Select  Catalog  
This step is used to select one of the predefined options or to import a previously developed
custom catalog

Select  Units  
Used to select the desired unites

Select  Takeoff  Properties  

Allow you to select the model properties that will be used in the 3D quantification process.

Finish  
Select finish to complete setting up your project and prepare to perform 2D and 3D
quantification.

Supported  File  Types:  

Quantification supports native and aggregated files from the following applications.
®
• AutoCAD Based Products: Architecture, MEP, Civil 3D, Plant 3D
®
• Autodesk Inventor
®
• Autodesk Revit
You can also use non-native DWF files such as PDF, which can be converted to DWF using
print driver software.

Exercise  2  –  Setup  a  New  Project  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification_StartFile.nwf file
2. Make sure the Quantification palette is open and pinned at the bottom of the screen
3. Select the Create Project Button to begin creating your project
4. Select Catalog: Choose None and select Next

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5. Select Units: Choose Imperial and select Next

6. Select Takeoff Properties: Review but leave all items as default

7. Ready to Create Database: Select Finish

a. Your project has not been setup and is ready for quantification

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Chapter  3:  Understanding  the  Workbook  and  Quantification  Tools  

Quantification  Workbook  
The workbook is the key to Navisworks Quantification and where you will perform the majority of
your takeoff efforts.

Workbook  Tools  
• Select
o Select Model items that correspond to takeoff items
• Hide Takeoff
o Hides all items that have been takeoff
• Explore Takeoff
o Hides all model items that have not been takeoff and explore taken off items
• Quantification Appearance
o Controls the appearance of the model

• Item/Resource View
o Toggles the Item and Resource view within the Workbook
• Item/Resource Catalogs
o Toggles the Item and Resource Catalogs
• Model Takeoff
o Provides options for performing a model takeoff
• Virtual Takeoff
o Provides options for performing a virtual takeoff
• Add Viewpoint
o Adds or updates a viewpoint and assigns the viewpoint to a specific takeoff

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Exercise  3  –  Explore  the  Workbook  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Make sure the Workbook is open and pinned at the bottom
3. Toggle your Resource and Item View of the Workbook

4. Open your Item and Resource Palettes

5. Select Show Takeoff to explore the information that has already been taken off

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Chapter  4:  Creating  Items  and  Resources  

Item  and  Resources  
Items are resources are both needed to make Autodesk Quantification function properly. Items
are created to have model objects directly associated with them. Resources are created and
then linked to the Items so that additional calculations may be performed from a single takeoff.

Item  Catalog  
The Item Catalog is the organizational database for your takeoff. The Item Catalog and
Resource Catalog share the same structure, a selection tree, variables pane, and general
information. Items in the Item Catalog can be directly associated with a model object, such as a
wall or window. Items can exist alone or can contain resources.

Resource  Catalog  
The Resource Catalog is a database of your resources for a project. Resources could be related
by function and type such as materials, equipment or tools, and may include wallboard,
coverings or structural components. Resources are attached to Items.

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Master  Resources  
Master Resources are your original, baseline Resource values for your project catalog. You can
make changes to Master Resources in the Item Catalog. Any changes you make are applied to
new Resources only.

Exercise  4  –  Item  &  Resource  Management  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Open the Item Catalog and pin it open
3. Browse the item collections exploring the items in the list, the folder structure, and the WBS
(work breakdown structure) numbering
4. Select an Item in the catalog and explore the information in the catalog

5. Select the Resource Catalog button to switch to the Resource view

6. Browse the resource collections exploring the resources in the list, the folder structure, and
the RBS (resource breakdown structure) numbering
7. Select a Resource in the catalog, and explore the use of formulas to generate additional
information from the model elements, such as materials like paint and drywall

8. Close the Item and Resource catalogs or unpin them so they roll up

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Chapter  5:  Formulas  and  Catalogs  

Catalogs  
Catalogs are the overall template structure for using Quantification. Catalogs can be saved and
imported into Navisworks. Your catalog data can contain entries such as Items, Resources, and
Formulas. There is also the ability to an Excel Catalog Template tool. This allows you to add
data to an Excel spread sheet template, and then import the data directly into a Navisworks
Quantification Item or Resource catalog. You can then recreate the relationship between your
Items and Resources.

The Excel Catalog Template can be downloaded from www.Autodesk.com/Navisworks.

Formulas  
Formulas are created in Resources. You are able to add formulas for many measurements or
quantity calculations that might exist within the industry. Formulas may consist of a mix of model
derived data, such as Model Width or Length*Width*Thickness to create a Volume calculation,
or individual calculations such as converting between units.

Exercise  5  –  Building  Formulas  

1. Append in Autodesk_Hospital_Structural.nwc into a New file of Navisworks
2. Go through project setup (no catalog)
3. Open and pin Item Catalog
4. Open and pin Resource Catalog
5. Create new group – Structure
6. Create new item – Slab
7. Create a new resource group – Concrete
8. Create a new resource – Concrete 3000 PSI
a. Length Formula "=ModelLength" Units " Unspecified "
b. Width Formula "=ModelWidth" Units " Unspecified "
c. Thickness Formula "=ModelThickness" Units " Unspecified "
d. Height Formula " Unspecified " Units "Unspecified"
e. Perimeter Formula " Unspecified" Units "Unspecified"
f. Area Formula "=Length*Width" Units "SquareFeet"
g. Volume Formula "=(Length*Width*Thickness)*0.03704" Units "CubicYard"
h. Weight Formula="=Volume*4050" Units "Pound"
i. Count Formula "=1" Units "Each"
9. Create a second resource – Formwork
a. Length Formula "=ModelLength" Units "Feet"
b. Width Formula "=ModelWidth" Units "Feet"
c. Thickness Formula "=ModelThickness" Units "Feet"
d. Height Formula " Unspecified " Units "Unspecified"
e. Perimeter Formula " Unspecified " Units "Unspecified"
f. Area Formula "=((ModelWidth+ModelLength)*2)*ModelThickness” Units "Square Feet"
g. Volume Formula "=Area*0.333" Units "Cubic Feet"
h. Weight Formula "=Area*9" Units "Pound"
i. Count Formula "=1" Units "Each"
10. Attach resources to slab using Use Resource dropdown
11. Complete takeoff of the one of the Pile Caps
a. Select the Slab in the Quantification workbook
b. Then select one of the pile caps, right-click and select Takeoff to: Slab

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Chapter  6:  Model  and  Virtual  Takeoff  

Model  Takeoff  
Model Takeoff allows you to quantify your models form properties or selections directly in the
model or Navisworks Canvas.

To carry out model takeoff, objects must be a group, layer or model. If you try to takeoff a model
object that is an instance, or if the object does not contain a GUID or properties, an error
message is displayed. Ensure your workbook is in Item view before performing takeoff.

Virtual  Takeoff  
Virtual takeoff can be carried out when you want to add takeoff objects that are not linked to a
model object or item, for example:

• Where an object has geometry, but has no properties

• Where an object does not have geometry, and has no properties

This could be the case if you did not save the properties from the original design application with
your file, or that the object you want to takeoff does not exist in the model. In both cases, you
can associate a viewpoint with the virtual takeoff object so you can navigate your way back to it
during the takeoff process. Once your virtual object is taken off, you can begin to add properties
by using formulas, which provides quantities for the object.

Exercise  6  –  Model  Based  Quantification  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Activate the Viewpoint Structure
3. Orbit the view so the pile foundations are in view
4. Open the Sets pallet and pin it open
5. Select the Quantification button from the Home Ribbon to open the Quantification
Workbook, if it isn’t open already

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6. Pin it open

7. Browse the Item collections: Substructure > Foundations > Wall Foundations > and select
the item Continuous Footing

8. Select the Set Continuous Footings from the Sets pallet, and Drag and Drop it to the
Continuous Footing collection in the items section of the Quantification Workbook
9. Note the quantification that has been done in the workbook

10. Browse the Item collections: Substructure > Foundations > Standard Foundations > and
select the item Pile Caps

11. In the model, select one of the Pile Caps, and from the Home Ribbon, use the Select Same
button to select all the Same Type

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12. Right click on one of the Highlighted pile caps, and select Quantification > Takeoff to: Pile
Caps
13. Note the quantification that has been done in the workbook

14. In the Quantification Workbook, under the detailed list of quantities for Pile Caps, select one
of the Object hyperlinks for a Pile Cap to highlight it in the model

15. Select the Hide Takeoff button on the toolbar in the Quantification Workbook to toggle off
the display of the model elements that have been taken off

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16. Select the Explore Takeoff button on the toolbar in the Quantification Workbook to toggle the
display of just the model elements that have been taken off

17. Activate the saved Viewpoint Missing Doors

18. Browse the Item collections: Interiors > Interior Construction > Interior Doors > Standard
Interior Doors > and select the Wood Door - Single item
19. Select the Virtual Takeoff Drop down button and select Create In Selected Catalog Item

20. Activate the Review Ribbon, and select Draw > Ellipse
21. Draw an Ellipse on the office wall to the left side of the view to denote where a door should
be
22. Select the Text button, and pick a point inside the Ellipse to write “Missing Door”

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23. Walk or Zoom down the corridor and repeat for at least two more offices
24. In the Quantification Workbook, under the detailed list of quantities for Wood Door - Single,
select one of the Virtual Takeoffs you just created, and select the Viewport Camera icon to
jump back to its view

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Chapter  7:  2D  Takeoff  

2D  Quantification  
2D Takeoff allows you to measure lines, areas and counts on a 2D sheet that has been
imported into your project. 2D Takeoff supports native and scanned DWF files. Non-native
DWFs files such as PDF can easily be converted to DWF using print driver software for use in
2D Takeoff.

The 2D Takeoff tools will only show up when a 2D sheet is selected in the Navisworks canvas.

2D  Takeoff  Tools  
2D  Tools   Tool  Name   Tool  Description  
Select   Select  a  2D  Takeoff  Markup  on  the  sheet  
 

Polyline   Use  to  draw  a  single  line,  or  build  up  multiple  line  segments  to  
  make  a  linear  polygon.  

Rectangle   Drag  a  rectangle  or  square  on  the  worksheet.  

  Polyline  

Quick  Line   Select  existing  geometry  in  the  model  and  use  to  create  linear  
  takeoffs  such  as  walls  or  perimeters  of  a  room.  When  selected,  a  
popup  menu  appears  from  which  you  can  select  a  geometry  to  
highlight  on  the  sheet  (see  options  below).  

Area   Record  area  measurements  by  tracing  linear  geometry.  For  more  
  information,  see  Creating  an  Area  Markup.  

Rectangle  Area   Record  area  measurements  by  dragging  a  rectangle  or  square  on  
  the  worksheet.  

Backout   Use  to  exclude  a  polygonal  area  of  geometry  from  an  existing  
  area  takeoff.  

2D  Tools   Tool  Name   Tool  Description  

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Rectangle   Use  to  exclude  a  rectangular  area  of  geometry  from  an  existing  
  Backout   area  takeoff.  

Bucket  Fill   This  tool  will  find  closed  areas  that  intersect  the  line  you  draw  on  
  the  sheet.  

Quick  Box   Drag  a  box  over  existing  geometries  and  use  to  create  a  linear  or  
  area  takeoff.  

Add  Vertex   Add  a  vertex  to  existing  geometry  by  clicking  on  a  line  segment.  
 

Erase   Delete  linear,  area  or  count  takeoffs.  

 

Count   Use  to  make  a  count  of  the  number  of  objects  on  a  worksheet,  for  
  example,  the  number  of  doors.  

Filter  Markup   Display  only  selected  items  and  their  associated  takeoff  
  geometries  on  the  2D  worksheet.  All  unselected  items  and  
takeoffs  are  hidden.  

Cleanup   Removes  background  images  and  annotations  from  a  2D  

  worksheet  to  assist  visibility  in  complex  worksheets  

Project  Browser  
The Project Browser allows you to import 2D DWF sheets into your model. These sheets are
used to perform 2D take and to toggle between 2D sheets and the 3D model.

Exercise  7  –  2D  Quantification  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Open the Project Browser and select Import Sheets & Models

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3. Import in Autodesk_Hospital_Architectural.dwf. Once imported double click on the file to

open the 2D sheet for the fourth floor of the hospital.
4. Zoom in to the group of offices in the middle of the sheet

5. Make sure your Quantification Workbook is open and pin to the bottom as needed
6. Locate and select the Interior Construction, Standard Partition in the Interiors group of the
catalog

7. Using the Polyline takeoff tool, complete a linear takeoff of all the walls in the view.
8. Select one of the walls that were just taken off, right click and pick Select Corresponding
Takeoff Item. Notice how it selects the object in the quantification workbook where you can
review the length of the item
9. Locate and select Interior Doors HM - Single in the Interiors group of the catalog

10. Using the Count tool, complete a count takeoff of 4 or more single doors
11. Open the Item Catalog and locate the HM – Single Door. Change the color of the takeoff
symbol to green
12. Locate and select Interior Finishes, Floor Finishes in the Interiors group of the catalog

13. Use the Area tool to complete a takeoff of the 5 rooms

14. Use the Add Vertex tool to add 4 additional vertices around the column. Then move the
grips around the column

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15. On the other side of the column, use the Backout tool to remove the area takeoff over the
column. Notice how the Backout remains as a separate entity and can be changed or
removed as needed
16. Review your quantities in your workbook

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Chapter  8:  Taking  Off  with  Sets  

Sets  Defined  
Sets provide a powerful way to organize your objects inside a of model and can greatly speed
and enhance the Quantification process. Search sets can be used from project to project as an
import/export.

Selection  and  Search  Sets    

Selection sets are static groups of items, and are useful for saving a group of objects that you
want to regularly perform some action on, such as hiding them, changing transparency and so
on. They simply store a group of items for later retrieval. There is no intelligence behind this set
- if the model changes at all, the same items are selected (assuming they are still available in
the model) when recalling the selection set.

Search sets are dynamic groups of items, and work in a similar way to selection sets, except
that they save search criteria instead of the results of a selection, so that you can re-run the
search at a later date as and when the model changes. Search sets are much more powerful
and can save you time, especially if your CAD files are continuing to be updated and revised. It
is also possible to export search sets, and share them with other users.

Taking  Off  with  Sets  

Once created, sets can be used to not only organize your model but used to quickly quantify
groups of defined objects into the catalog. There are two methods for taking off with sets. First
you can select the set from the Sets palette then locate the object in the Workbook, and
complete your takeoff. Second your able to simply drag and drop you’re your set into the
desired location in the workbook.

Exercise  8  –  Taking  Off  with  Sets  

1. Open Autodesk Navisworks Manage or Simulate 2015 and load the Autodesk
Hospital_Quantification.nwf file
2. Create a Search set for all doors in the model by using Find items with the following
parameters
a. Item
b. Type
c. = (equals)
d. Walls: Basic Wall: Interior – 4 7/8” Partition

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3. Save the search set in sets as Interior Walls

4. Locate 1 HR Partition in Interiors > Interior Construction > Partitions > Fixed Partitions
5. Select the 1 HR Partition
6. Make sure your walls are selected from the set you created
7. Right-click on the 1 HR Partition and select Takeoff Selected Model Items
8. Next undo (CTRL-Z) your take and use a secondary method for using sets
9. Grab your set from the Sets Palette. Drag and drop the Walls to the 1 HR Partition to
complete a takeoff using the drag and drop method
10. Select an takeoff additional objects using sets
a. Create 2 additional sets and take them off to a proper corresponding location in the
Workbook

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Chapter  9:  Exporting  to  Excel  

Importing  and  Exporting  
Being able to create catalogs, export (and share) catalog information is critical to successfully
implementing and utilizing Quantification in Navisworks. The drop down located at the end of
the Workbook allows you to import and exports catalogs as well as exports quantities to Excel.

There are two options for exporting your catalogs to Excel. First you can select to export all of
the quantities of the takeoff using Export Quantities to Excel. Alternatively you can select
individual Items from the workbook and select Export Selected Quantities to Excel to export only
the selected items.

 
Exercise  9  –  Exporting  to  Excel  
1. Continue using the file you have been using to complete model and 2D takeoff
2. Select the Export drop down button from the Quantification Workbook toolbar
3. Choose Export Quantities To Excel
4. Choose a save name and location and select Save when prompted
5. When prompted to open the file, select Yes
6. Browse the various tabs of the Excel file to explore Items, Resources and the raw data

7. Using the control key, select Standard Partition, HM – Single Door, and Floor Finishes
from the Quantification Workbook.
8. Locate the Import/Export menu in the Quantification Workbook and select Export Selected
Quantities to Excel.

9. Review your exported quantities in Excel

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Chapter  10:  Change  Analysis  

Change  Analysis  
Change Analysis enables you to compare changes to properties between model versions. You
can then review the changes to decide whether to give approval. If you make changes to your
takeoff data in a project, you receive status notifications in Quantification that highlight what has
been changed and what type of change has been made.

Status  Notification  
When an item or group is changed, a warning flag appears in the Navigation pane and a green
or blue triangle appears in the cell. The overridden formula also appears in bold in the Item
Catalog. Once Change Analysis is carried out, the following notifications appear in the Status
column of the Quantification workbook.

Exercise  10  –  Change  Analysis  

1. In Autodesk Revit or Autodesk Revit Architecture, open Autodesk_Hospital_Architecture.rvt
from the Quantification dataset folder
2. Activate the Demonstration Views > 3D views > 3D Architectural_3D Floor view
3. Select one of the interiors wood doors, right-click and choose Select all instances > Visible
in view. From the properties pallet, change the type from the existing 3’-0” X 6’8” door to
the 3’-0” x 7’-0” door.
4. Zoom to an area of the model where the is a partition that can be easily deleted, and
delete it
5. Export the current view to NWC; make sure to overwrite the existing
Autodesk_Hospital_Architectural_Level_3.nwc file in the Quantification dataset folder.

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6. Switch back to Autodesk Navisworks or Simulate.

7. Activate the saved viewpoint Level 3

8. Browse the Item collections: Interiors > Interior Construction > Interior Doors > Standard
Interior Doors > and select the Wood Door - Single item to explore the existing
quantifications
9. Refresh the models loaded in Navisworks

10. When the refresh is complete, select the Change Analysis drop down button in the
Quantification Workbook, and choose Analyze Changes

11. When the analysis is complete, explore the different icons that appear for the items that
have changed

12. Explore the Model Height parameter in the takeoff detail item list and display the tooltip
with the changes and differences

13. From the Item list window in the Quantification workbook, right-click on the Wood Door –
Single collection and choose Select all Takeoff Items

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14. Select the Update drop down window, select Update Selected From Model

15. Display the new values that have changed for the takeoff items

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