Set and check the scale

Zip Takeoff measures every area and length from the sheet's scale, which you set from the detected title-block value, a preset, or two clicks on a known distance. Setting it needs an estimator seat; check it against a printed dimension before you take off.

What it's useful for

A sheet was plotted at half size but its title block still reads 1" = 20', so you calibrate on its bar scale.
You traced pavement on a wrongly scaled sheet, and fixing the scale recomputes every quantity on it without redrawing.
A plan set mixes site and utility sheets at different scales, and one click gives each sheet its own detected scale.

Apply the detected scale

When an unscaled sheet opens and its text states a scale, a prompt shows Scale detected on this sheet.

Click Apply to this sheet to use the detected value.
Or click Apply on all sheets with a detected scale; each unscaled sheet gets its own value.
Click Don't apply to hide the prompt for this project until you close the browser tab.

Pick a preset or a custom scale

On the Takeoff tab, open the Scale menu and pick a preset.
If Apply to all appears, click it to use the preset on every page of that plan set.
For a custom ratio on an unscaled sheet, pick a measuring tool, then click Custom scale… in the prompt.
Type the feet per inch and click Set scale.

Calibrate from a known distance

Choose Calibrate… from the Scale menu on the Takeoff tab.
Zoom in, then click one end of a known distance, such as the bar scale's zero mark.
Click the other end.
Type the real-world distance in the ft and in boxes.
Click Set scale or press Enter.

Both ends of the bar scale are clicked, the real distance is typed, and the Scale menu changes from Not set to 1" = 49.87' (custom).

Check the scale with Dimension

After a preset, custom or detected scale, Double-check this scale offers Check with Dimension, which starts the tool.

Click Dimension on the Takeoff tab, or press D.
Click one end of a dimension the sheet already labels, such as a parking stall depth.
Click the other end; the dimension saves and shows its length.
Compare it with the printed value; if they disagree, calibrate the sheet.

With Dimension active, two clicks across the sheet's printed 18' (TYP.) stall dimension read 18.4', and a second check runs on the stall width.

Find takeoff on unscaled sheets

A condition is a named, colored measurement group with a unit. A ⚠ beside its total means some of its takeoff sits on an unscaled sheet, and the total leaves that sheet's areas and lengths out.

Look for ⚠ beside condition totals in the Conditions panel.
In the Sheets panel, find the sheet whose subtotal for that condition shows a dash.
Set that sheet's scale.

Limits and checks

The scale printed on a sheet is not always the scale of the PDF. Plans get exported at the wrong paper size, so measure a labeled dimension after every scale you set.
Detection reads the sheet's text and can pick a detail's scale on a sheet that mixes scales.
Each sheet has one scale; a detail drawn at another scale is measured at the sheet's scale.
An unscaled sheet has no quantities except counts.
Setting a sheet back to Not set blanks every quantity on it.
Apply to all is offered only for presets. A calibrated or custom scale stays on its own sheet.

Questions

Do I have to redraw takeoff after changing a sheet's scale?

No. Fixing a sheet's scale recomputes every quantity already drawn on it.

Can I set one scale for the whole plan set?

For presets, yes: click Apply to all after picking one. Apply on all sheets with a detected scale gives each sheet its own value. Calibrated and custom scales stay on their own sheet.