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Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

  • 1.  Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-11-2022 09:05

    I have recently been seeing more .XML files for existing and finished design surfaces being distributed with bid invitations.  This should be a huge estimating time-saver, but I'm struggling to get TBC to associate the .XML surfaces as either the existing or finished design for takeoff purposes.  Or, more specifically, I can't figure out how to get the site improvements to apply to this .XML FD surface to deduct site improvement volumes so that I can get an accurate takeoff report.  Thanks in advance for any help!

    Anthony Dalla



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    Anthony Dalla
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  • 2.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-12-2022 07:18
    I forget if there is another way but you can just add those surfaces as surface members to your Finish design and Original ground surfaces.

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    Adam Bower
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-12-2022 18:14

    As long as you have finished design and original ground you can add this preexisting surface from the LandXML to the takeoff surfaces. You may need to build takeoff surfaces first for these to show up. I believe an empty shell is created that you can then manually add components to. 


    I use this method quite a bit. 



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    Patrick L'heureux
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-13-2022 23:00
    Check if the imported files contain Surface data and / or other data.

    If there are two separate XML files, open separate TBC files, one for each, Export the Surface only as a .vcl file each time. Import them into a third TBC file.. You then have a clean TBC file with two separate surfaces. It is then a breeze to compare the two surfaces and take off quantities.

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    Seshagiri
    0097150 6999602



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-14-2022 07:38
    The best way I've found is to import the xml files normally and select to use triangle based definitions.  Then select one of the surfaces in the project explorer and use the explode surface tool under the surfaces tab.  You can select the layer that the exploded triangle are sent to and I typically send them to the OG and DES contours layers so TBC thinks they are contours.  Then build the surfaces normally.   Rockpile has a surface exploder too that I've been told is better but you have to add that manually.  

    What is nice about the exploded surfaces tool is it will give you nodes at each triangle intersection, and you can manipulate the nodes and it will automatically adjust the surrounding triangles.  This is handy for updating point elevations with addendums or RFI's without having to re-import the surfaces.  

    Another trick is to use the create quick contours tool on the xml surface and then use the explode tool to explode the contours you've just made after you add them to the correct layer.  If you need more detail you can decrease the contour interval from1' to 0.1' but I've had this bog down my system (even crash TBC when I used 0.001' interval).  If  you need that much detail I would just use the first method above.

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    Ben Wall
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-14-2022 08:56
    During the import of the XML file, under the "Settings" section of the import screen there is an "Explode options:" section. If you select "Poly3D", it will create a layer with the same name as the surface you are importing. In the "Categorize" section of the Takeoff Module, you can assign the Layer that contains the 3D Polylines from the XML import to your Original or Design Surface​. This will allow you to enter subgrade adjustments to the EG & FG surfaces, and run an accurate takeoff report.

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    Doug Veenker
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Using Bid Supplied XML files for Takeoff Reports

    Posted 11-15-2022 08:22

    Wow, you guys really came through! I should have known there would be multiple ways to do this in TBC.  This is exactly what I needed to get started.  I'm sure there's pros and cons to each method, but after experimenting yesterday it appears they all work successfully. My initial follies were as follows: 1, using the drag and drop of the XML file instead of the import command, and 2, attempting to use the generic "explode" command on the imported XML surface.  This has revealed a lot of options that I wasn't previously using.

    Ben, thanks for the quick contour tool tip!  I'll keep that in mind for simplifying overly complicated surfaces.

    Thanks again everyone for taking the time to help!



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    Anthony Dalla
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    Original Message