I recently upgraded to the latest version of Bluebeam from Version 20.3 and it is a disaster. There are 2 major problems that occur that have essentially eliminated the way that I typically do estimates. * The recent tools button now records the same tool over and over again every time I use it. So if I use a polylength tool called "Wall Type 1" (34) times the recent tools button will record that (34) times instead of just (1) time like it used to. This essentially eliminates the purpose of the recent tools section. I never made custom tools for myself because I could essentially use the recent tools button again and again in order to get my takeoff's done. In this way I could customize every job. Now I am forced to make new tools each job. It is very rigid and get's rid of the purpose of using bluebeam for takeoff's now. Is there any way to fix this. * The other problem is that in the old version if an tool I was using did not show up in recent tools or was removed from it for whatever reason I could just find that tool on the plan, click it, and drag it, then it would be moved to the front of my Recent Tools and I could use it as much as I want. Now I have to recreate the whole tool again in order to use it. Is there any way to fix this so that it will go back to the old version. There is no point in me continuing to use bluebeam if it locks me into the rigidity of onscreen takeoff where I have to make a new tool and save it every time. If someone could please help I would really appreciate it. I have no idea why the developers would do this, it literally get's rid of the purpose of the Recent Tools Tab. More of a hinderance now than a help. Thank You,

New Version of Bluebeam Has Destroyed the Recent Tools Tool - How Do I Fix It?

I recently upgraded to the latest version of Bluebeam from Version 20.3 and it is a disaster. There are 2 major problems that occur that have essentially eliminated the way that I typically do estimates.

The recent tools button now records the same tool over and over again every time I use it. So if I use a polylength tool called "Wall Type 1" (34) times the recent tools button will record that (34) times instead of just (1) time like it used to. This essentially eliminates the purpose of the recent tools section. I never made custom tools for myself because I could essentially use the recent tools button again and again in order to get my takeoff's done. In this way I could customize every job. Now I am forced to make new tools each job. It is very rigid and get's rid of the purpose of using bluebeam for takeoff's now. Is there any way to fix this.
The other problem is that in the old version if an tool I was using did not show up in recent tools or was removed from it for whatever reason I could just find that tool on the plan, click it, and drag it, then it would be moved to the front of my Recent Tools and I could use it as much as I want. Now I have to recreate the whole tool again in order to use it. Is there any way to fix this so that it will go back to the old version. There is no point in me continuing to use bluebeam if it locks me into the rigidity of onscreen takeoff where I have to make a new tool and save it every time.

If someone could please help I would really appreciate it. I have no idea why the developers would do this, it literally get's rid of the purpose of the Recent Tools Tab. More of a hinderance now than a help.

Thank You,

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Doug McLean

I think you would really benefit by attending the Champions Show and Tell Tool Building series that's coming up in March.

I think we can really help with your issues.

michael miller

1. I don't normally use the recent tools, so I tested it out and found it is behaving exactly as you describe. I agree that this behavior would seem to largely defeat the purpose of a Recents tool chest. It seems like a poor Bluebeam design decision to change it from the previous behavior you describe.

Have you tried the My Tools tool chest? It seems like it would be ideal for your use case, as I understand it. You can drag (or assign) any markup you want to My Tools. Each tool in the chest gets an auto-generated numerical shortcut (i.e. press '1' to use the first tool, '2' for the second, etc., up into double digits). You can reorder them at will, thus designating which one is shortcut '1', '2', etc. This gives you the flexibility and control you seem to be looking for without Bluebeam automatically changing the order of the tools.

2. Hopefully my response to #1 will resolve this issue, but if not, try copying and pasting the markup you want to add to the Recents tool chest, instead of simply dragging it. That worked when I tested it.

jpiazza

I haven't really needed to use the My Tool's chest because it wasn't necessary since I was using recent tools. What you are saying sounds interesting but the problem would be having a set tools list. I know I can add and subtract to it at will but I am a GC who does a lot of takeoff's for different trades. Every job is different so having to change that tool chest every job seems exhausting. Before I could just create a tool 1 time and it would be good for the entire project. Then I could shift from that set of plans to an entirely different set and could customize it on the spot.

jpiazza

Hey Doug,

I am pretty crazy busy and highly doubt that I will be able to but if it means fixing this problem I am open to it. I am about to hire a bunch of estimators for my company and where I was going to use bluebeam alone for my takeoff software now I don't think I can. This bug would slow my guys down too much. I am lucky I still have serial number with my old account. Have you ever gotten something like this fixed before?

Doug McLean

I have various Customized toolchests with a whole whack of Custom Columns for the Takeoffs I do for Millwork. I'm not one to just use something from the Recent toolchest, although I have done it.

I'm pretty sure we're recording the series, so register for it so you can watch it on demand.

michael miller

Using the My Tools chest instead of relying on Recents involves the quick, extra step of right-clicking on the custom tool, selecting Add to Tool Chest, then My Tools. Now in the My Tools tool chest, drag the tool to be the #1 (or whatever position/shortcut you want) tool. Then you can access that tool (or any number of additional tools) via a single-number shortcut. If you're sometimes flipping back and forth through two or more custom tools, you don't have to worry about selecting the most-recent or previous-recent or previous-previous-recent tool in the list: you just click 1 or 2 or 3 etc. And you can add/delete/reorder those My Tools whenever you want, in seconds.

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