Avontus Counter™

Avontus Counter™

Win32 and 64, English

Avontus
Use Avontus Counter to easily draw 3D scaffolding models and generate a BOM. Print your BOM and export to Excel, PDF, or Word. Integrated with Avontus Quantify® for estimating and materials tracking.

General Usage Instructions

COUNTPARTS

Although targeted to count scaffolding, you can add your own parts and count anything you'd like. After drawing your 3D scaffold model you can use the COUNTPARTS command to create a bill of materials for selected items. This command will display a dialog box allowing you to:

  • Select the scaffolding. This button dismisses the dialog box, allowing you to select the scaffolding that you'd like to count.
  • View reports and graphs in a print preview window by clicking on the Reports and Graphs button. All reports and graphs can be exported or emailed in Excel, Word, or PDF format.
  • Open the bill of materials in Avontus Quantify (www.avontus.com/products/quantify/). This will be imported as an estimate, which can then later be converted to a shipment to a job or a scaffold.

 

MODIFYPARTS

If you'd like to modify the default scaffolding pieces (description, part number, weight, etc.) in the template or add your own parts, you can use the MODIFYPARTS command.

  • To add a new part, click the Add button and note the Attribute ID or simply use the block name as the part number. If using an attribute, then after adding the part where you will need to add this attribute and count of the attribute to the block definition that you'd like to use. See instructions below for adding your own scaffolding parts.
  • To edit an individual part, highlight it from the list and click the Edit button. This displays the details in a dialog box that you can change.
  • A report is provided by clicking on the reports button. The report can be exported or emailed in Excel, Word, or PDF format.
  • To change the items en-masse using the Change button. You first create a tab-separated text file with the part number and whatever item you'd like to change, then use the change button to modify these values.

 

Note that any modifications made here are saved to the scafffold.parts file, located in \My Documents\Scaffold Counter\Data\. You can share this drawing with others, or backup/restore to a new computer. Be sure to keep a backup of this file with any modifications you've made.

INTEGRATION WITH AVONTUS QUANTIFY

There are several options for integration with Avontus' rental/hire billing and asset tracking software, Quantify.

  • If you have Quantify installed and wish to open your BOM directly into a Quantify estimate, click on the Open in Quantify menu item. After you log into Quantify the parts are matched with your Quantify list and imported into a new estimate. Warnings will be issued if scaffolding pieces are not matched and you can optionally display a list of these items.

  • If you don't have Quantify installed you can export the BOM to a file and share it with a Quantify end-user. Within Quantify, click on the import button on the estimates tab to select and import the file. Warnings will be issued if scaffolding pieces are not matched and you can optionally display a list of these items.

 

ADDING YOUR OWN PARTS

Adding your own pieces to Avontus Counter is very easy and can be accomplished by following these steps:

  1. Create a drawing of your scaffold part.
  2. Create your new part using the MODIFYPARTS command, make note of the attribute ID that is created.
  3. Create an attribute named PARTS placed next to the entities that you'll create a block out of. Within the attribute place a tag with the attribute ID and quantity separated by a semi-colon. If needed, copy one of the Avontus Counter blocks, explode it, and use the attribute found there.

Example:

Use [attributeID]:[quantity] where [attributeID] is the ID from the step above, and quantity is the count of the number of pieces in the block

Note:

You can place multiple [attributeID]:[quantity] items in a single tag to represent a block that contains many parts. See the frame scaffold frames for an example; these blocks contain a frame as well as two couplers.

DRAWING TEMPLATES

You may want to add your parts to the template drawing that ships with Avontus Counter. These templates are stored in your \My Documents\Scaffold Counter\Templates\ folder.

REPORTING

Robust reporting is built directly into Avontus Counter with automatic detection of either A4 or Letter paper size. The BOM can be printed with rental/hire rates, weights, and sell pricing. There are also several charts to see the ratios of weight compared to the overall list. Additionally, the reports can be saved to Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF. Click on any of the tiles below for a larger view of the screen grab.

Screenshots

Commands

Ribbon/Toolbar Icon Command Command Description

COUNTPARTS

Displays a dialog box to select scaffolding and summarize the materials.

MODIFYPARTS

Provides the ability to change the default parts as well as create new parts and components.

scaffoldtemplate kwikstage

Opens the kwikstage drawing template.

RING SAMPLE

Opens the sample ring scaffolding template.

SNAPTOGGLE

Quick toolbar button to change the current snap settings to NODE. Clicking the button again will switch back to your original osnap settings.

scaffoldtemplate framebrace

Opens the frame scaffolding template.

Installation/Uninstallation

The installer that ran when you downloaded this app/plug-in from Autodesk App Store will start installing the app/plug-in. OR, simply double-click the downloaded installer to install the app/plugin.

You may need to restart the Autodesk product to activate the app/plug-in.

To uninstall this plug-in, exit the Autodesk product if you are currently running it, simply rerun the installer, and select the "Uninstall" button. OR, click Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features (Windows 7/8.1/10) and uninstall as you would any other application from your system.

Additional Information

Avontus and Quantify are registered trademarks of Avontus Software Corporation. All rights reserved.

Known Issues

There are no known issues at this time.

Contact

Company Name: Avontus

Author/Company Information

Avontus

Support Information

Please email scaffoldcounter@avontus.com with comments or feedback.

Please feel free to make recommendations for additional scaffold systems or parts/pieces that you find missing.

Version History

Version Number Version Description

5.3.0

April 2021 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2022 • Avontus Counter™ is now installed for all users by default. • Drawing templates moved to common application data folder. July 2020 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2020 and 2021 • Fixed a few UI bugs on high DPI monitors August 2018 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2019 August 2016 • Fix issue with exporting to Avontus Quantify • Enhanced migration from older versions of Scaffold Counter June 2016 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2017 • Ability to easily add user blocks to Product Master. • Nested blocks of any levels deep are now counted in Bill of Materials. • Old drawings are still compatible. AttributeID's can be used to automatically rename blocks and use them in the new take-offs. • When adding new blocks, nested blocks are also discovered and automatically added to Product Master. • Application logger has been added to log important information and error messages to disk. • Significant user interface changes for consistency and better DPI scaling. • You can choose between a Dark or Light color theme for all dialog boxes. • New data grids with advanced features for searching, sorting and filtering. • Clear message logs to show successful and failed operations. April 2015 • Improved template support. • Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2016. • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 SP.

5.2.0

July 2020 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2020 and 2021 • Fixed a few UI bugs on high DPI monitors August 2018 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2019 August 2016 • Fix issue with exporting to Avontus Quantify • Enhanced migration from older versions of Scaffold Counter June 2016 • Compatibility with AutoCAD 2017 • Ability to easily add user blocks to Product Master. • Nested blocks of any levels deep are now counted in Bill of Materials. • Old drawings are still compatible. AttributeID's can be used to automatically rename blocks and use them in the new take-offs. • When adding new blocks, nested blocks are also discovered and automatically added to Product Master. • Application logger has been added to log important information and error messages to disk. • Significant user interface changes for consistency and better DPI scaling. • You can choose between a Dark or Light color theme for all dialog boxes. • New data grids with advanced features for searching, sorting and filtering. • Clear message logs to show successful and failed operations. April 2015 • Improved template support. • Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2016. • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 SP.

5.1.0

August 2018 • Compatibility with Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2019 August 2016 • Fix issue with exporting to Avontus Quantify • Enhanced migration from older versions of Scaffold Counter June 2016 • Compatibility with Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2017 • Ability to easily add user blocks to Product Master. • Nested blocks of any levels deep are now counted in Bill of Materials. • Old drawings are still compatible. AttributeID's can be used to automatically rename blocks and use them in the new take-offs. • When adding new blocks, nested blocks are also discovered and automatically added to Product Master. • Application logger has been added to log important information and error messages to disk. • Significant user interface changes for consistency and better DPI scaling. • You can choose between a Dark or Light color theme for all dialog boxes. • New data grids with advanced features for searching, sorting and filtering. • Clear message logs to show successful and failed operations. April 2015 • Improved template support. • Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2016. • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 SP.

5.0.91

August 2016 • Fix issue with exporting to Avontus Quantify • Enhanced migration from older versions of Scaffold Counter June 2016 • Compatibility with Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2017 • Ability to easily add user blocks to Product Master. • Nested blocks of any levels deep are now counted in Bill of Materials. • Old drawings are still compatible. AttributeID's can be used to automatically rename blocks and use them in the new take-offs. • When adding new blocks, nested blocks are also discovered and automatically added to Product Master. • Application logger has been added to log important information and error messages to disk. • Significant user interface changes for consistency and better DPI scaling. • You can choose between a Dark or Light color theme for all dialog boxes. • New data grids with advanced features for searching, sorting and filtering. • Clear message logs to show successful and failed operations. April 2015 • Improved template support. • Support for Autodesk AutoCAD 2016. • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer Autodesk AutoCAD 2015 SP.

5.0.88

June 2016 • Compatibility with Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2017 • Ability to easily add user blocks to Product Master. • Nested blocks of any levels deep are now counted in Bill of Materials. • Old drawings are still compatible. AttributeID's can be used to automatically rename blocks and use them in the new take-offs. • When adding new blocks, nested blocks are also discovered and automatically added to Product Master. • Application logger has been added to log important information and error messages to disk. • Significant user interface changes for consistency and better DPI scaling. • You can choose between a Dark or Light color theme for all dialog boxes. • New data grids with advanced features for searching, sorting and filtering. • Clear message logs to show successful and failed operations. April 2015 • Improved template support. • Support for Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2016. • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer Autodesk® AutoCAD® 2015 SP.

4.0.75

April 2015

  • Improved template support.
  • Support for AutoCAD 2016.
  • Fixed crash caused after updating to a newer AutoCAD 2015 SP.

4.0.72

February 2015

  • Improved support for launguage/regions that use differing numeric formats.

4.0.65

October 2014 - Submit to the Autodesk Exchange App Store.

  • Support for AutoCAD® 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, both 32 and 64-bit.
  • New SNAPTOGGLE command.
  • Ribbon tab with quick access to all commands and drawing templates.
  • Drawing templates are stored in your \Documents\Scaffold Counter\Templates\ folder and can be easily modified.
  • Misc bug fixes.

3.0.24

April 2013

  • Rebrand product to Avontus Scaffold Counter.
  • Added additional manufacturers.
  • Reports now recognize your region and use A4 or Letter size automatically.
  • The product detects if your region is AU or UK and uses the word 'Hire' instead of 'Rent'.
  • In the MODIFYPARTS command there is a new button that will update all of your block names to match the part numbers in the catalog.
  • Upgrade to work with AutoCAD® 2013.

2.0.24

June 2011 - Add changeparts command, upgrade for AutoCAD® 2011 and AutoCAD® 2012.

1.0.12

September 2010 - Original release for AutoCAD® 2010.

Go top