How to Use Count Symbols in Cubit Estimating (v14)

Count Symbols

How to Use Count Symbols in Cubit Estimating

Count Symbols allows you to automatically detect and count repeated vector-based symbols on a plan using a selected reference. This guide explains how to select a reference symbol, refine detection, review results, and apply counts to your estimate.

Contents

1. 1Prepare Your Plan
2. 2Select a Reference Symbol
3. 3Refine the Selection
4. 4Adjust Match Confidence
5. 5Review and Manage Results
6. 6Use Symbol Counts in Your Estimate
7. !Important Notes

1

Prepare Your Plan

Count Symbols requires a true vector PDF imported as Vector.

✓Requirements: Count Symbols needs a true vector PDF imported as Vector, with Flatten PDF turned off. See the AI Tools Best Practice Guide for full compatibility and setup details.

Plan Optimise settings

Go to Plans tab → Optimise section and set the following:

• OFF
  Flatten PDFFlattening merges content and will lead to incorrect or no matches.
• OFF
  Rasterise Text — unless you are not counting symbols from text layersIf this rasterises layers containing your target symbols, results will be incorrect. If results look wrong after enabling it, turn it off and re-import the plan.

iUse a true vector PDF — lines stay crisp when you zoom in and you can snap to geometry. Once the PDF and reference symbol are truly vector, image quality is not a key factor for Count Symbols.

Figure 1 – Vector Plan Prepared for Symbol Detection

Back to top

2

Select a Reference Symbol

Steps

1

Select a trade item

In your Estimate Sheet, choose a trade item where Result Type is set to Count.

2

Click Count Symbols

Find it in the AI Tools section. Click OK when the dialog appears.

3

Draw a rectangle around a single symbol

Select one clear example of the symbol you want to detect. This becomes the reference pattern used for matching.

Figure 2 – Count Symbols Dialog

Figure 3 – Selecting a Reference Symbol

Back to top

3

Refine the Selection

After selecting a symbol, the Refine Selection dialog appears. This allows you to remove unwanted elements from the reference before detection runs.

Common elements to remove

• Grid lines
• Wall hatching
• Text or background noise

Steps

1

Click unwanted areas

Click inside the mini viewport to remove grid lines, hatching, or noise from the selection.

2

Ensure only the symbol remains

Only the symbol geometry should be highlighted.

3

Click Preview Results

iRefining the selection improves detection accuracy and reduces false matches.

Figure 4 – Refining the Reference Symbol

Back to top

4

Adjust Match Confidence

Use the Match Confidence slider to control how closely a symbol must match your reference to be counted.

High Confidence

Detects near-identical matches only — best for clean, consistent drawings.

Low Confidence

Allows for rotated, scaled, or slightly distorted variations.

Adjust the slider if:

• Too many incorrect matches appear — slide higher
• Expected symbols are missing — slide lower

Figure 5 – Adjusting Match Confidence

Back to top

5

Review and Manage Results

Detected symbols appear in two places

• Highlighted in the Viewport
• Listed in the results panel

Navigating results

1

Click a result

Highlights the symbol in the Viewport.

2

Double-click a result

Zooms directly to the symbol on the plan.

3

Select All / Deselect All

Use bulk actions for rapid verification across large drawings.

Figure 6 – Reviewing Detected Symbols

Back to top

6

Use Symbol Counts in Your Estimate

Steps

1

Click Apply Count

2

Count is applied to the trade item

The symbol count is linked to the selected trade item.

3

Quantity populates automatically

The total quantity appears in the Estimate Sheet.

Figure 7 – Applying Symbol Count to Estimate

AI can and does make mistakes. Always review and verify every result before using it in your estimate — AI-generated shapes, counts, and detections may be inaccurate, incomplete, or miss elements entirely. Use your professional judgement to check all outputs.

Back to top

!

Important Notes

!Vector PDFs only. Count Symbols works only on true vector PDFs imported as Vector, with Flatten PDF turned OFF. It does not work on raster or scanned PDFs, image files (PNG / JPG), or DWG plans.

Good to know

• Rasterise Text is conditional

  Use it only if you are not counting symbols from text layers. If enabling it produces incorrect results, turn it off and re-import the plan.

• Watch for hidden elements

  If the mini preview looks correct but results look wrong, your reference selection may include hidden vector elements. Use the tree list to toggle elements or groups on and off — if toggling causes no visible change in the preview, unselect that element to remove the hidden noise.

• Always verify matches

  Confirm matches before finalising quantities, especially on busy drawings or where symbols overlap.

Back to top