Revu Lab 1 Bluebeam for Construction Managers User Guide
- June 13, 2024
- Revu
Table of Contents
Revu Lab 1 Bluebeam for Construction Managers
Product Information
The product is called “Real World Bluebeam for Construction Managers” and it is published by JohnWyatt Publishing. The product is a lab manual that provides instructions and exercises for using Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20, a software used for construction management. The manual includes information on the interface, opening the software, differentiating between vector and rasterdata, and features like compare and overlay.
Product Usage Instructions
In order to perform the exercises in the lab manual, you need to have access to sample documents. These files should be downloaded and saved in a location that is easy to find. The manual recommends saving these files in a location that can be easily accessed throughout the manual.
To open Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20 and start using it, follow these steps:
- Locate the PDF document you want to use with Bluebeam.
- Right-click on the document and select “Open with” and then “Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20”. If Bluebeam is set as your default PDF viewer, you can simply open the document.
Note: You can also open Bluebeam without initially opening a document by
clicking on the Windows button on your desktop, finding Bluebeam Software, and
selecting Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20.
Alternatively, you can type “Bluebeam” into the search field to find it. Once
the software is open, go to the File menu on the Menu Bar and select “Open”.
Navigate to the location where the document is saved and select the
document(s) you want to open. To differentiate between vector and raster data
in Bluebeam, you can zoom in on the content. If the content appears sharp, it
indicates that you are dealing with vector data. If the content appears
pixelated, it indicates that you are dealing with rasterized data.
The Bluebeam interface consists of several main areas:
- Menu Bar
- Navigation Bar
- Panel Access Area
- Toolbars
- Markups List
- Main Workspace
- Properties
The Compare Documents function in Bluebeam Revu allows you to easily compare a revised sheet to its superseded sheet, automatically identifying all changes. This is useful in Construction Management to ensure that all necessary parties are informed of any changes to the drawings and that contractors are working off the most recent revisions.
Getting Started Using
In order to perform the exercises in this lab manual, a file of sample documents has been provided. These files will need to be accessible while using Bluebeam. Take the time now to download and save the files in a location that you will remember and that is easy to find.
Opening the Software
Follow these steps to open Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20.
- Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20 can be accessed by simply opening the PDF document you wish to use in Bluebeam. To do this, navigate to where the document is saved. Right click on the document and select , and then . If you have set Bluebeam as your default PDF viewer, you can simply open the document.
Note: It is often convenient to open multiple documents at once. Multi-
select the files from their location to open them all at once. The documents
will open in Bluebeam, each in separate tabs, much like a web browser.
Another option for opening Bluebeam can be to open it without initially
opening a document. From your desktop, click on the Windows button and find
Bluebeam Software, then scroll down to Bluebeam Revu eXtreme 20 , or simply
type Bluebeam into the search field to find it. Once the software is open,
select Open from the File menu on the Menu Bar. Navigate to where the document
is saved, and select the document(s) you wish to open. A set of files was
provided with this manual. These files will be used throughout the manual. We
will commonly refer to these files as the sample files as they are sample
material provided with which to practice the tasks being explained. You will
want to save those some place that you can easily access them throughout the
manual.
Vector vs. Raster
It is extremely important to understand the difference between vector data and
raster data and how it is used in the documents with which you will view and
interact. Bluebeam can use both, but there are important distinctions. Vector
data is made up of lines, curves, points, and paths that are generated by
mathematical formulas in digital space. The content can be scaled infinitely.
Raster data is made up of pixels. Each pixel has associated data that is
represented in the form of a grid matrix of cells in digital space. Most
documents that were created electronically will be published in vector data
unless they have been downgraded or published in a raster format. As well, if
a physical document has been scanned, the photographic image of the document
will become raster data.
The simplest way to find out whether you’re dealing with Raster or Vector data
in Bluebeam is to zoom in on the content. If you have a vector document, the
content will appear sharp.
Rasterized data will appear pixelated.
Interface
There are a few main areas of the Bluebeam interface. See the color-coded screenshot below for the areas referenced:
- Menu Bar
- Navigation Bar
- Panel Access Area
- Toolbars
- Markups List
- The Main Workspace
- Properties
Compare & Overlay
In essence, these two functions accomplish very similar objectives in different ways. Both allow us to easily identify the differences between two documents or revisions.
Compare Documents
Revisions and changes to construction drawings can happen frequently. In Construction Management, it is extremely important to ensure that all necessary parties are informed of any changes to the drawings and that all contractors are working off the most recent revisions. When revisions are issued by the design team, it is important to understand what has been revised. Relying on clouds placed on the drawings by the design team will not always guarantee that all impacting changes are identified. The Compare Documents function in Bluebeam Revu allows the user to easily compare a revised sheet to its superseded sheet, automatically identifying all changes.
-
Navigate to the sample documents provided and select Lab 2 A112.
For our purposes, this sheet will be considered a current version that will be compared to a new revision that has been issued. -
To begin the document comparison, from the Menu Bar, select the Document menu, then select . This will open the Compare Documents dialog box. The Document A and Document B sections are for selecting the documents and/or sheets to be compared.
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The Document A section should be the document currently being viewed. In our case, we will simply view the only page in the document.
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In the Document B section, navigate to and/or select the second file to be used in the comparison. For our purposes, we are simulating a scenario where the design team has issued a revision to this particular sheet, which we will now compare against the current revision. Click the open the ellipses button ( ) and navigate to the sample documents provided and select Lab 2 A112.REV.01.
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Leave the defaults for all other selections and click
Notice that the split vertical view opens automatically. A new file has now been created with a suffix _Diff which is showing a clouded and shaded area over any differences between the two documents.
- Perform a screen shot and save to your computer.
Overlay Pages
Now that you have worked with the Compare Documents function, you will use the Overlay Pages function. In essence, these two functions accomplish very similar objectives in different ways. Both allow us to easily identify the differences between two documents. However, with the overlay function, rather than clouded and shaded areas, the differences will be identified by the color of the content itself. When the documents are overlaid, Bluebeam Revu will create new layers for the vector content with new colors. Any place the layers overlap, the content will look black as it normally would. Where the content does not overlap, the content will be shown in its new color.
Let’s begin:
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If it is not already, open Bluebeam Revu or close any files that may be open.
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From the Menu Bar, select the Document menu, then select
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Navigate once again to the sample documents provided and select Lab 2 A112 as the first document for the overlay.
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In the Add Layer dialog box, leave all default settings and click
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Next in the Overlay Pages… dialog box, click to select another document.
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Navigate to the sample documents provided and select Lab 2 A112.REV.01.
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In the Add Layer dialog box, leave all default settings and click
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First navigate to the second page, sheet A111, FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR.
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From the Menu Bar, click Tools and hover over Markup to see the options of markup tools as shown here. Note that many of the tools in this list are also available on the toolbars previously added in Lab 1.
Text Box -
The first two tools in the list are Text Box and Typewriter, which are very similar in that they will insert text as an annotation. Click
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You’ll find your cursor changes Click and drag to create the box in which you will add text. Place the text box in the TRAINING 3 room 163, and then type the following: Movable chairs to be used for flexible room arrangement.
In the top-left-hand of the interface, just below the File toolbar, will appear the Properties toolbar, containing some of the most common customizable properties for the object.
You can also find the full options for
properties in the Properties Panel by selecting the properties icon from the
Panel Access Area. -
Change the Line Color to Dark Green and Line Width 3.00. Then, set the line Style to
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Set the Fill Color to Green with a Fill Opacity of 30.
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Highlight the text in the box and change the Font Color to Black.
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Click the Autosize Textbox button ( )in the Properties toolbar.
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Your Text Box should look similar to that shown here. Typewriter
The next markup tool in the list is the Typewriter tool ( ). While this is similar to the Text Box tool, both will create a box with text, it is created in slightly different way. Whereas with a Text Box, you had created a box first, constraining your space to type text, with the Typewriter tool, you will simply click anywhere you would like to begin typing. -
Select the Typewriter tool and then click in the SHIPPING/RECEIVING room 152.
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Begin typing the following: Storage Shelving.
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Press the Enter key, and continue typing: ULINE item H-8613.
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Press the Enter key, and continue typing: 2 rows of 2 units each.
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Change the Line Color to Dark Blue and Line Width to 3.00. Then, set the line Style to
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Set the Fill Color to Cyan with a Fill Opacity of 30.
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Highlight the text in the box and change the Font Size to 10.
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Your text box should look similar to that shown here. Note
A Note can be useful if the annotation desired is longer than you care to include in a box (i.e. pages from the specs, or building code language). With a note, a small note icon ( ) will be shown on the document, with a text field appearing only when the icon is clicked. -
Click on the Note tool ( ) and click to place the note in the STUDIO/PODCAST EDITING room 153.
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In the Note text field, type: Need to insert specifications for technology equipment requirements here.
Callout
A Callout is comprised of an arrow leader and a text box. An extremely common markup item in the construction industry, it is useful as the arrow can be used to clearly identify the subject of the annotation with the text providing clear explanation. -
Click on the Callout tool ( ).
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Locate the column at the intersection of column lines 9 and H. Click on the edge of the column to locate the head of the arrow. Then move your curser down and to the right, toward the center of OPEN OFFICE room 180, and click again to locate the text box. In the text box type: Need requirements for column coating and fire rating requirements.
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Hit the Esc key and then click on the Callout object. Note that there are a number of grips you can use to resize and reposition both the text box and the arrow.
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Right click on the Callout object, and select . Place the new arrow leader on the column at column lines 10 and H.
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Reposition the arrow leaders such that both connect to the right side of the text box.
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Using the Properties panel, change the Line Color to Red Orange, the Fill Color to Yellow , Fill Opacity to 30, and the Line Width to 2.00.
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Your callout should look similar to that shown here.
Field Use
Site Logistics
In Lab 3 Tools, you learned about some of the many Markups tools available in
Bluebeam. An extremely common application of these tools is in creating a
visual Site Logistics Plan. If it is not already open, follow the directions
to open Bluebeam. From the sample documents provided, open the Lab 3 CD
Drawings.
- Immediately perform a File→Save As, or simply select the command button from the toolbar.
- In the File name: field, enter Real World Bluebeam Revu – (your name) Lab #4 CD Drawings.
- It is always a good idea to save your project documents in a dedicated file folder. So browse to a folder of your choice to save.
Note: After you finish saving to the hard drive as described in these instructions, it is also a good idea to save the file to a flash drive and/or other location as well, ensuring that you have it saved in at least two separate locations.
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Confirm you are still on the correct profile by clicking in the very top-left-hand corner on Revu, then hover over Profiles and confirm you are on the Real World Bluebeam Profile, indicated by the checkmark.
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In a web browser, navigate to earth.google.com and search 860 Dolwick Drive, Erlanger, Kentucky, 41017. Resize and reorient the view to grab the entire jobsite. Take a screenshot of the Google Earth image. Depending on when the images have updated, it should look something like the example shown here.
Note: If these steps for creating the page from Google Earth are not possible, skip ahead to the Alternate Option after step 9.
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Open the Thumbnails Panel from the Panel Access Area and click on the Title Page.
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Right click on the Title Page and select
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In the Insert Blank Page dialog box, we will insert a page the same size as the others in this drawing set. In the Page section enter the following:
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In the bottom section, enter the following:
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Next paste the screen shot previously captured from Google Earth, in the center of the blank page leaving a small white border around the image.
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Right click on the image, hover on , and then select
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In order to keep the image where it is now placed, serving as a background for further markups, we must Flatten the image. Right click on the image and click
Alternate Option
If you are not able to create the page using an image taken from Google
Earth as described in the preceding steps, one has been provided in the sample
documents.
- Navigate to the sample documents provided into the Lab 4 folder and open the document named Lab 4 Site Logistics Insert Page
- Open the Thumbnails Panel from the Panel Access Area and right click on the page thumbnail, then click
- Now go back to your Real World Bluebeam Revu – (your name) Lab #4 CD Drawings document and right click on the Title Sheet (first page) thumbnail and select
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