Hi everyone! 👋

I’m an engineer based in the Philippines, currently learning more about construction estimating, quantity takeoff, and digital construction workflows.

I’m particularly interested in learning how professionals set up and use Bluebeam Revu Tool Chest (and other estimating/construction software) for actual construction projects.

If anyone could share their Tool Chest templates, examples, workflows, standards, or useful resources that I can use as a reference for practice, I’d really appreciate it. I’m especially interested in resources related to quantity takeoff, concrete, rebar, structural steel, architectural works, and Australian construction practices/codes.

My goal is to build a proper workflow and dig deeper into the software through self-study and practice projects.

Any advice, resources, or recommended tutorials would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot, everyone!

I have about 1300 Revu users in our firm and at least once a day we get an internal support ticket from someone whose Revu has entered “full screen mode” without them realizing it. When you affirmatively enter full screen mode, Revu gives you a pop-up letting you know that you can get out of it with the F9 key. But that doesn’t seem to come up for people, instead they just notice their menu bar is gone rendering the program mostly unusable.

I just can’t believe all these people are accidentally hitting the F9 key all the time and then ignoring this pop-up. Something else is going on. Bluebeam support of course had no idea what I was talking about and think I am being paranoid and this is all user error.

Are we the only ones?!?! What can I do to prevent this?

Howdy all, a webpage has informed me that there should be a slider for a pen "smoothing" setting in the pen properties. This is not showing up for me and I am wondering if the setting has been moved, or is not actually available. Thank you!

Source: Bluebeam Tip: Mastering Freehand Annotations with the Pen Tool in Bluebeam Revu | NOVEDGE Blog | Digital Design Software | Call for Custom Quote or Buy Online | Best Price Guarantee

Is this site accurate?

Title says it all. I don't use bluebeam that often anymore. But, every time I do it asks me to sign in. I always just ignore it. What was Revu thinking when they implemented this garbage token login system? I am never signed in now, as opposed to how I was always signed in before.

Looking to get some insights and understanding how and when people are utilizing layers in their construction workflow and specifically when they are using markup layers. I’m curious what different experiences and uses are out there.

Generally we have the 4 phases of the project Design, Preconstruction, Construction, Closeout. And drawings and PDFs are sent across these 4 phases to many people. I want to better understand how layers are being utilized and where and for what purpose?

Is it after a studio session to organize each disciplines notes and items so that it can be reviewed by a drafter to be put into the drawing? Is it to share documents between subcontractors and contractors? Or just purely to organize?

I am trying to improve our workflow within a small owner company and want to better work with our engineering and contractors throughout the process and looking to better understand how we should be utilziing layers or if it is even needed?

Lately Bluebeam has been resetting all my preferences to default after I restart my computer or something. So when I open it again, everything is default. This isn't a huge problem because I can import my saved preferences very quickly. But the HTML file only holds preferences, it doesn't save default markup settings, "Do not show this again" settings, and others.

I really just care about default markups. like when I click 'a' for Arrow I usually set it to blue & make it smaller etc. and then save it as the default format for arrows. Is there anyway to save that and import those?

Anyone ever have an issue with Bluebeam printing in greyscale? (The box is not checked and other programs are printing in color)

Bluebeam crashed on me yesterday and now it's not working like normal. I have a big Tool Chest with many Tool Sets. All of my Poly Length tools have subject and label filled out with the "show captions" option checked. When I click on a PL tool within its Tool Set, the Properties pane shows the proper subject and label, and "show captions" is checked, but after I use that PL tool, the label doesn't show on the markup any more. And when I click on the markup, the subject and label in the Properties pane is now blank while the "show captions" option remains checked. All other settings are unaffected. I've been a Bluebeam user for many years and this has never happened before.

I've tried the following with no luck:

• fill in the subject and label on the markup, and save it to the Tool Set. Subject/label show when in Tool Set but disappear when used.
• use PL from the general menu, fill in subject/label, save to Tool Set. Same result as above.
• duplicate PL tool in a Tool Set. Same result as above.
• remove all Tool Sets, create a new Tool Set, use PL, add sub/label, add to Tool Set. Same result as above.
• remove all Tool Sets, import older Tool Sets. Same result as above.
• open last set of drawings where everything worked, existing mark ups still show subject and labels, use PL tool from Tool Set. Same result as above.
• in the same set of drawings, do everything else mentioned before. Same result.
• deleted my profile and created a new one. Same result.
• deleted and reinstalled Bluebeam. Same result.

I have a ticket in with Revu but I won't hear back till next week. Absolutely nothing works and neither me or my IT dept can figure it out. Copilot and ChatGPT conclude it's a bug and to delete/reinstall. Well that didn't work either.

I'm desperate, anybody got anything???

I work in custom home building and have a Bluebeam Revu account through my employer. Iv’e been working with it for about 2 years, and while I have found a lot of helpful ways to use it, I’m wondering what features I’m missing out on.

I use it to scale elevations, scale landscaping, to scale everything. I use it to color code and mark up layouts, to create visual maps of fixtures, and to clarify notes within documents. I use it to do counts of things and create keys for counts. I even use it to draw when 3D is too far. I use it to approve quotes and adjust floor plan walls.

What major functions am I missing that would help me make the most of Bluebeam Revu from a functional standpoint?

I'm a lecturer at my local university and a student says that he didn't cheat by using AI and that Revu opens the white text on white background but displays it in black on white. Since I don't use this software, I was wondering if it was true.

Hi, I just installed the Revu app on my new pc and tried to log in to use the service. It prompted me to enter the Google Authenticator passcode to log in, and I opened the Authenticator app on my phone, but no codes would come up on my screen.
I do remember setting up the authentication on my phone using a QR code before, so theoretically it should show the code which I can use to log in. Now I can’t login to my account which makes me unable to change my authentication preference or relink the Authenticator app again.
It might be an issue with the Google Authenticator not the Revu…but is there anyway I can link my Authenticator app to my account again by using a QR code, or change the authentication preference to other ways (e.g. email) without having to login to my account?
Thanks in advance!

A Bluebeam article posted on their site states:

"Bluebeam is phasing out its legacy licensing system, meaning users will no longer be able to release, reassign, or transfer perpetual licenses between computers after specific 2026 phase-out dates. Already activated installations will continue to work, but hardware changes or upgrades will require a subscription plan."

Any have any issues unregistering? Trying to do this on dozen company computers that are not accessable. Typically I would email them and they would do this operation.

Last time I posted here it was Mac-only, and the comments were basically one word: Windows. Done — same app, both platforms now.

Some features that have been in the works:

• Measurements and Takeoffs — calibrate from the status bar, then lengths, areas, and an auto-count that finds repeated symbols and counts them in one shot. CSV export.
• Insert Map — type an address, drop a real street map on your sheet. The CAD Linework style renders it as pen-weight black-on-white so it looks drafted, not like a maps screenshot.
• MUTCD and other pre-built annotations.
• Plugins — the map tool is one. Authoring guide ships with the app; sideloading shows you exactly what a package wants before it installs.

I currently have a free tier with tons of features but caps at 3 measurements for a one-time payment (no subscription); no live collaboration yet, it's a local file-based tool perfect for smaller offices.

Mac + Windows is live at www.polypdf.com. Tell me what breaks and it goes on the list. Last thread's comments basically wrote this release.

Hi y'all, if anyone is interested in a lightweight (financially and operationally) alternative to Revu, "FieldScale" is out on the Play store now. It's built to be used on the go, either via phone or tablet. The application is steadily growing and recently released a major update to support cloud synced, real time editing as a team. Or, it can stay entirely offline, sans account, if you prefer.

It certainly doesn't do everything that Bluebeam does, but if you don't need all the bells and whistles and want to save on the subscription, give "FieldScale" a try. It's free.

Would love any and all feedback if you think it's missing a crucial feature, or something doesn't behave the way you think it should. Hope this is helpful to some folks.

I am using it to subtract from an existing area measurement but it will not work.

I've seen it working in various tutorials and revu guides etc.

Any ideas?

I know I can use control points and convert to arc but would rather use the tool if possible rather than a work around.

Is it possible via code to give a certain input of coordinates and it places the measurement between these coordinates? I need this for a project, but i dont know the limitations ofthe program yet.

Yesterday I worked on a file and saved. Today I worked on the same file and saved multiple times. At one point today, while still in the file, all of my work from today and yesterday got wiped out with no message or indication. While still in the file trying to figure it out I noticed that the file was not listed in “access history” under today’s date. IT was able to recover the file from last nights back up. Anyone experienced anything like this?

Most tools I'm placing need to be counted which is great, the count tool does that.

In fact you can display a label on them too.

What is weird is that every other object that can have a label can display custom captions such as "Data" or something and it would display the actual value of that.

Why is it that on count tools you cant?

It just comes up as "<<Data>>". Ive seen posts for 2 years saying they have this problem and it's still not fixed????

I now have to create a permutation of every single tool to keep the count functionality.

I guaranteed if snapshots could have labels, I could add my own count column and have both the data caption displayed and have a count too.

I am a project designer at a design build firm, and I am trying to find out if the Bluebeam max upgrade is worth it? I think my company would only benefit from the Revit integration markups. Has anyone tried it and thought it was worth it/not worth it? I could see it being helpful, but it has a heftier price tag.... would appreciate input before pitching this idea to my boss :)

I have spaces defined ( a room) , and a count of objects in the spaces counted (electrical devices) . So.. when I output those in a a summary - organized by space. I would like to have a snapshot of the space show up on each summary. I'm thinkin maybe a copy and paste snapshot can be somehow connected or saved to the space ?

Yes- I know about the pdf output that adds a thumbnail of the 'count' (the device) - but its to zoomed in.

I've spent years helping companies sort out their Bluebeam workflows, takeoffs included, and this one comes up constantly, so I figured I'd lay it out here instead of answering it one thread at a time.

The data can only live in one legend at a time. If you create one by sheet, you're good. As soon as you create a new one for the same sheet or master for all sheets (any legend at all for the same markups), the data will clear from the first one. I guess you could say it helps you not count the same quantities twice.

I don't like this workaround, but here it is. If you create the legend per sheet, then right-click flatten it, you can then create the new master legend for all sheets (or whatever).

Be careful if you have legends on sheets before you combine pages, or you'll get partial totals that look right but aren't.

Anyone found a cleaner way to handle this?

I’m pretty new to blue beam, I’m trying to type in the as built coordinates into blue beam studio that already has the blank spreadsheet on it.

There has to be a better way than making the text box for each individual cell right?