PROCEDURE FOR TAKE OFF BY MLIST

This document describes the Process for quantity take off using Poly Lines and M-List Command in General. Links are
provided in the end to refer to different sheets for measuring specific elements.

Poly Lines - Generally Poly Lines for QS Purpose are created to Measure Length/Area of any element as described
below.

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Type Command PL >Enter> Select area/length to be measured.
3. Type Command Li to get the output in Text Document. The text document gives Area/Perimeter/Length
of the portion selected.

This process is an extension of the same Poly Line Creation and the process is as described below.

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Type Command LA > Enter to open Layer Property Manager.
3. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in Layer
Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it). Command Alt+G can also
be used for the same Purpose.

Name the Filter Beam, Slab, and Finishes as per the Guidelines given for each Element and start Creating P-
Lines as described below.

1. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon. Name it as per the guidelines given for that particular element
and make it current layer by clicking on Current Layer Icon.( shown as √ in the picture below). Command Alt+N
could also be used.

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 PROCEDURE FOR TAKE OFF BY MLIST

2. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness then specify starting & closing width as per the guidelines
given for each element. Colour for each type of layer shall be given as per the guideline for each element by
clicking on the Colour Icon in front of each layer in Layer Property Manager.

3. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command wherever the measurements have to be taken.
4. If any Break happens while Drawing P Line it can be joined by using Command PJ.
5. It is also to be noted that Line Command shall not be used anywhere.
4. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers
5. Select all the layers & Turn Off all the Layers then Press OK as shown in next page.

Note - Command of Layiso can also be used for the same Purpose by clicking on any P-line for that Layer and giving
Command Layiso.

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6. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter Slab
7. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON
8. And Press the Button OK As Shown in Fig. Below.

Note – Command of Layon Switches on all the layers in the Drawing including all P-Lines and can be used once
extract is taken for a particular Layer.

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After P LINE creation is over following is the process to extract it.

1. Select All the P lines.

2. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
3. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
4. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

5. Now it asks to select Objects

6. Select all the PLINE as shown below on the next page.
7. Selection shall be from Left to right and top to bottom so that all the P-lines are covered and nothing is missed out
in the output file.

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8. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times

9. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown below

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 PROCEDURE FOR TAKE OFF BY MLIST

10. Select all (CTRL+A)

11. Cut It (CTRL+X)
12. And Paste it in Excel
13. After save the New Text Document (CTRL+S) & close it.
14. This is your Extract (Output) of working PLINE in Excel as shown in the next page.
15. In excel sort the document.
16. Now it is ready for your working.

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Column C - Name of PLINE

Column D – Area of P-line Drawn (Slab

here)

Column E – Perimeter of P-line (Slab

here)

Column F – Handle Key (P-Line ID for

reference)

Shuffle the data as per the format in excel.

Following are the Links to be used for documents defining process to measure each individual Element.

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1. Beams - PROCEDURE FOR USING MLIST-BEAM.doc

2. Slabs - PROCEDURE FOR USING MLIST-SLAB.doc

3. Columns -PROCEDURE FOR USING MLIST-COLUMN.doc

4. Masonry - PROCEDURE FOR USING MLIST- MASONARY.doc

5. Finishes - PROCESS FOR USING MLIST- FINISHES.doc

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING SLABS

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Go to Layers ( ZW cad Command - LA )
3. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in
Layer Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it)
4. Refer the Picture on below showing open Layer Property Manager and Created Groups for Slabs.

5. Group Filter SLAB is created.

6. Slabs will always be measured before measuring beams
7. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon.
8. Slabs P-line name shall be written as Slab_0.125 where 0.125 is the thickness of the slab, it is
also to be noted that higher thickness slab will be measured above the beams when Slabs are
measured over the Beams.
9. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness then specify width by command w and
specifying starting and closing width as 50, Colour of Layer for slabs shall be kept Yellow.
10. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command at desired Place as shown in picture below.
11. It is to be noted that any additional P-Lines other than standard shall be drawn in a separate
Group filter named appropriately.

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12. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers
13. Select all the layers &Turn Off all the Layers and Press OK.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING SLABS

As Shown in Fig. Below

14. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter Slab
15. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON
16. And Press the Button OK.
As Shown in Fig. Below

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING SLABS

After creating P LINE following is the process to extract it:

17. Select All the P lines.

18. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
19. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
20. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

21. Now it asks to select Objects

22. Select all the PLINE from Left to Right and Top to Bottom to ensure that no P-Line is missed.

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23. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times.

24. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown below

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25. Select all (CTRL+A)

26. Cut It (CTRL+X)
27. And Paste it in Excel
28. After save the New Text Document (CTRL+S) & close it.
29. Refer Picture on next page for Output in Excel.
30. In excel sort the document.
31. Now it is ready for your working.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING SLABS

Column B - Name of
PLINE

Column C – Area of slab

Column D – Perimeter of
slab

Column F – Handle Key (P-

Line ID for reference)

1. Insert 2 Columns after Column B and Copy >Paste the Data of Column B in to Column C
(Inserted Column).
2. Go to Data and Click on Text to Column.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING SLABS

3. A Pop up Window will open . Select Tab and Others . Put _ in the Box in front of others and click
Next.
4. Click Finish and then Ok.
5. It will bifurcate the data as shown below.

6. Copy data from C and Paste in Column H (Type), Copy Column D and Paste in Column L
(Depth/Height).
7. Delete Column C and D.
8. Put Formulas as appropriate to calculate Concrete and Form work.
9. Save and Close Drawing and Excel File.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Measure Slabs before working on the Beams then start measuring Beams as per the process
described below.
3. Go to Layers ( ZW cad Command - LA )
4. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in
Layer Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it)
5. Refer the Picture below showing open Layer Property Manager and Created Groups for Beam.

6. Group Layer BEAM is created.

7. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon. Name it -say for B10_0.3x0.55_0.15_0.125
and make it current layer by clicking on Current Layer Icon.
(Here B10 indicates beam no, 0.3x0.55 is beam size & 0.15_0.125 are slab thickness on each
side of the beam if there is no slab on any of the side then same needs to be written as zero. it is
to be noted that slab which is higher in thickness needs to be put first in the p-line name)

8. In Case Beam Type is not available and only size is given then Beam Naming shall be
B_0.3x0.6_0.15_0.125 where B denotes Beam, 0.3 x0.6 denotes Beam Size, 0.15 and 0.125
are slab thicknesses on each side of the Beam.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

9. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness then specify starting & closing width by
command w, starting and closing width shall be kept as 50 mm and Colour for beams shall be
kept Red.

10. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command at desired Place as shown in picture below.

11. Any additional Layers required for formwork or Upstands etc shall be in separate Group Filter
named appropriately.
12. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

13. Select all the layers &Turn Off all the Layers and Press OK.
As Shown in Fig. Below

14. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter Beams
15. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON
16. And Press the Button OK as Shown in Fig. on next Page.

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PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

After P LINE creation is over following is the process to extract it:

17. Select All the P lines.

18. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
19. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
20. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

21. Now it asks to select Objects

22. Select all the PLINE as shown below. P-lines shall be selected from Left to Right and Top to
Bottom.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

23. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times

24. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown on Next Page.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

25. Select all (CTRL+A)

26. Cut It (CTRL+X)
27. And Paste it in Excel
28. After save the New Text Document (CTRL+S) & close it.
29. Refer next page for output in excel.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING BEAMS

Column B - Name of PLINE

Column C – Area (Here it shows zero

measurement only Length is measured
for Beams)

Column D – Perimeter/Length

Column E – Handle Key (P-Line ID

1. In excel use sort Command to make the data in Order.

2. Insert 4 Columns after Column B.
3. Copy the data in Column B and Paste in the next inserted Column.

4. Select the Data pasted in Col C as shown below.

5. Go to Data and Click on Text to Column

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6. Pop up window will open up as shown below. Click on Tab and Other as shown below. Type _ in
the Box in front of other and click on next > Finish and then ok.

It will bi furcate the text as shown below.

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1. Insert Column in front of Column D shown above.

2. Select Data in Column D and repeat Text Column Command however this time select the symbol
X in front of the Box Others ( Previously it was written as _ ) .
3. It will further bifurcate the Data of Column D as shown below.

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4. Copy Data in Column C and Paste in Column K (Type )above, Copy Data in Column D and Paste
to Column N (Width ), Copy Data from Column E and Paste to Column O ( Depth/Width), Copy
Column F and Paste in to Column P ( Slab-1), Copy Column F and Paste in Column Q (Slab-2) .
5. Delete Column C, D, E, F and G. The Format will now look as shown below.

6. Copy Column D data and paste it by using Paste special Command and converting to m from
mm.
7. Write 1 or -1 or as required in Column G against all rows.
8. Use Formulas to Calculate Beam Concrete /Formwork as per the requirement of the Project.
9. In Form work Beam Bottom shall be measured separately and Sides separately by copy and
Pasting the data twice and changing the formulas.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING COLUMNS

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Go to Layers ( ZW cad Command - LA )
3. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in
Layer Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it)
4. Refer the Picture on Next Page showing open Layer Property Manager and Created Groups for
Column.

5. Group Layer COLUMN is created.

6. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon.

7. If Column layout plan is available then create pline as Col_C1_0.125_0.15 where C1 is the type
of columns, 0.125 & 0.15 is the thickness of slab

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8. If column layout is not available then make p-line on framing plan as Col_0.125_0.15 where 0.125
& 0.15 is the thickness of slab.

9. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness and specify starting & closing width
(w=50), Colour for columns shall be kept Green.

10. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command at desired Place as shown in picture below.
11. For column formwork calculation lower thickness of slab shall be used.

12. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers
13. Select all the layers &Turn Off all the Layers and Press OK.
As Shown in Fig. Below

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14. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter Column
15. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON
16. And Press the Button OK as Shown in Fig. Below

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After creating P LINE following is the process to extract it:

17. Select All the P lines.

18. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
19. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
20. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

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21. Now it asks to select Objects

22. Select all the PLINE from Left to Right and Top to Bottom to ensure that no P-Lines are missed.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING COLUMNS

23. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times

24. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown below

25. Select all (CTRL+A)

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26. Cut It (CTRL+X)

27. And Paste it in Excel
28. Save and Close the Drawing.

Column B - Name of PLINE

Column C – Area of Column

Column D – Perimeter of Column

Column E – Handle Key (P-Line ID

for reference)

29. This is your Extract (Output) of working PLINE in Excel.

30. In excel sort the document.
31. In this Case Column Sizes/Height shall be entered through Column Schedule/Building Sections
Manually.
32. In Case Column Schedule is not available then Area /Perimeter from these P-Lines can be used
for calculating Concrete and Form work
33. Insert Two Columns after Column Band Copy> Paste data of Column B to Column C.
34. Use Text to Column Command in Column C and shuffle data to suit Structure Format as shown
above.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING MASONRY

1. Open the working Architecture drawing ZW cad file.

2. Open Framing Plan for Floor above the Masonry.
3. Select the entire floor by command ctrl+C

4. Paste the Block alongside Architectural Plan as shown below.

5. Type Command co for copy with base point and select the Base Point.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING MASONRY

6. Paste it over Architectural Plan at the selected Base Point. This will give you the Beam depth
reference above each wall. Alternatively if Beam sizes are available in Text then text alone could
also be pasted.
7. Go to Layers ( ZW cad Command - LA )
8. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in
Layer Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it)
9. Name the Filter as Internal or External Masonry.
10. Refer the Picture Below for Created Group filters of Internal and External Masonry.

11. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon.

12. Name it as BRK-0.23_0.6 or BLK-0.2_.6 Where BRK and BLK refers to Brick or Block, 0.23 and
0.2 refers to Wall thickness and 0.6 refers to Beam/Slab depth above the Wall. It is to be noted
that only three letters of Brick or Block shall be written in Layer Name.
13. For Low Height Walls Height can also be mentioned in the end of layer name separated by
underscore.
14. For Project where Beams are of standard size and do not vary in size only BRK-0.23 shall be
written.
15. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness then specify width by command w and
specifying starting and closing width as 50, Different Layer Colours shall be used for Internal
(Pink colour), External (Blue colour) and for Different thicknesses of Masonry (follow lighter
colour in the same base colour).

16. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command at desired Place as shown in picture below.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING MASONRY

17. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers
18. Select all the layers &Turn Off all the Layers and Press OK as Shown in Fig. Below

Note: Layer names shown in the screen shot above to be read as BLK-200_600 and BLK-100_600

19. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter Internal or External Masonry.
20. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON

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21. And Press the Button OK as Shown in Fig. Below

Note: Layer names shown in the screen shot above to be read as BLK-200_600 and BLK-100_600

After creating P LINE following is the process to extract it:

22. Select All the P lines.

23. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
24. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
25. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

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26. Now it asks to select Objects

27. Select all the PLINE from Left to Right and Top to Bottom to ensure that no P-Line is missed.

28. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times.

29. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown below.

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Note: Layer names shown in the screen shot above to be read as BLK-200_600 and BLK-100_600
30. Select all (CTRL+A)
31. Cut It (CTRL+X)
32. And Paste it in Excel rough sheet first.

Column D - Name of PLINE

Column E – Area of P Line (Zero here

since Length is measured)

Column E – Perimeter of P-Line

Column F – Handle Key (P-Line ID

)for reference)

Note: Layer names shown in the screen shot above to be read as BLK-200_600 and BLK-100_600

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33. In excel sort the document.

34. Insert a Column after Column D and Copy >Paste Data from Column D to E.
35. Use Text to Column Command in Column E to bifurcate data. This will Segregate beam depth in
a separate Column which can be used for getting effective masonry height by deducting from
total height ( Entered Manually from Sections)
36. Shuffle data in excel file as per the format for Masonry provided separately in finishes format.
37. Copy and Paste Data in to Finishes Format.
38. Deductions in Masonry are taken directly from Door Window Schedule and shall be as per IS
Code.
39. Save and Close both Drawing and Excel File.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING FINISHES

1. Open the working drawing ZW cad file.

2. Go to Layers ( ZW cad Command - LA )
3. Create a New Group layer in ZW Cad Drawing by clicking on central Icon of Left Hand side in
Layer Property Manager ( Icon will show “ New Group Filter” if cursor is taken to it)
4. Refer the Picture on below showing open Layer Property Manager and Created Groups for
Apartment Type

5. Group Filters based on Apartment Type is created.

6. Create a new layer by clicking on New Layer Icon.
7. Name the Layer according to First Three Letters of Room followed by names of doors then
windows and finally any other opening. For Master Bed room having 2 Doors D1 and D2, One
Window W1 and an opening of Width of 1.2 m shall be named as MBR_D1_D2_W1_1.2.
8. Enter Command PL then enter w to give line thickness then specify width by command w and
specifying starting and closing width as 50,Colour of Layer shall be kept as Orange.
9. Now Draw the P- line by using PL Command at desired Place as shown in picture below.
10. Any additional Layers other than standard shall be drawn by creating a separate group filter
named appropriately.

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11. After creating P-LINE > Go to the Layers (LA) >All used Layers
12. Select all the layers &Turn Off all the Layers and Press OK as Shown in Fig. Below.

13. After Turning off all the layers > Go to layers (LA) >Group Filter for Particular Apartment Type.
14. Select all the layers in this Group and TURN IT ON

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15. And Press the Button OK as Shown in Fig. Below

After creating P LINE following is the process to extract it:

16. Select All the P lines.

17. Type MLIST in ZW cad drawing
18. A POP UP WINDOW comes out for asking to select output text file
19. Create a Text Document By Right click & select it and Press Button Open

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20. Now it asks to select Objects

21. Select all the PLINE from Left to Right and Top to Bottom to ensure that no P-Line is missed.

22. After selection of all PLINE Press Enter 3 times.

23. A New Text Document Containing Your Output Comes on Your Screen as shown below

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24. Select all (CTRL+A)

25. Cut It (CTRL+X)
26. And Paste it in Excel
27. After save the New Text Document (CTRL+S) & close it.
28. Refer Picture on next page for Output in Excel.

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 PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING FINISHES

Column C - Name of PLINE

Column D – Area of P-Line

Column E – Perimeter of P-Line

Column F – Handle Key (P-Line ID for

reference)

1. In excel sort the document to club same room types.

2. Insert a Column after Column C and Copy/Paste Data from Column C to Column D.
3. Use Text to Column Command to segregate data in Column D. It will appear as shown below.

1. For Floor/Ceiling Finishes Shuffle Data as per Finishes format provided separately. Threshold in
Flooring are taken directly from Door Window Schedule.

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2. For Wall Finishes/Skirting Insert Rows below each Room Type (Equal to No of Openings
Mentioned in Layer Name).
3. Copy Deductions from Columns in front of each Room layer and Paste it in the rows inserted by
using command transpose. It is to be noted that deductions shall be as per IS Codes.
4. Shuffle data in excel file to suit the finishes format.
5. Copy and Paste Data in Finishes Format sheet.
6. Save and Close File.

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