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Markup Tool - Basics

Kahua’s file viewer includes its own built-in markup tool. The markup tool enables collaboration on documents and a visual way to identify issues on those files requiring clarification or action. 


When a markup is added to a document, information about who made the markup and when it was made is stored with the markup.  


You can complete the following actions with the markup tool:

  • To save markups with the drawing, click Save  in the upper right corner. 
  • To close the drawing without saving the markups, click the Close icon .
  • To remove an individual markup from the drawing, select it and press the Delete key.  
  • To see existing markups, select the View icon > Show Markups.  
  • To see a list of markups in a table format, select View icon > Show Markup Panel.  A table of all the markups will appear at the bottom of the display area.  


To enter markup mode, from the document viewer, select Markup on the action bar.




This will open the markup toolbar and various markup tools will appear above and to the left of the image display area.


On the top bar, several new tools will appear.  For a description of the tools that were already present, refer to File Manager - Viewing Files.  The remaining tools are as follows:


  1. Pan mode  - Clicking this icon switches between pan mode  and selection/markup mode .  In pan mode, clicking and dragging on the image will pan across the image.  In selection mode, clicking and dragging on the image will select a section of the image and any markups in that selected area.
  2. Text Underline  - Adds an underline to the selected text on the image. To select the text, click the text selection tool  and use your mouse to make the selection.
  3. Text Strikeout  - Adds a strikeout to the selected text.
  4. Text Squiggly  - Adds a "squiggly" underline to the selected text. 
  5. Text Highlight  - Highlights the selected text.
  6. Tag  - Opens the tab viewer on the right side of the drawing, listing locations from the Locations app.  Use one of the shape tools to mark of an area of a drawing, and then tag (link) it to a location from the list. 
  7. Bluebeam  - If you have a licensed copy of Bluebeam on your computer, you can use this to open Bluebeam and access their markup tool.


Additional markup tools will appear on the left side of the display area.  They are as follows:


  1. Select  - Switch between selection/markup mode  and pan/viewing mode  on the drawing. In pan mode, clicking and dragging on the image will pan across the image.  In selection mode, clicking and dragging on the image will select a section of the image and any markups in that selected area.
  2. Style  - Select to modify the properties of a selected markup, including color, line weight, opacity, fill color, etc.  The properties available for modification depend on the type of markup selected.
  3. Text  - Click and drag to create a text box on the drawing.  Enter the annotation text into the dialog box that appears. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  4. Stamp  - Select to place a Dynamic or Simple stamp on the drawing. After selecting the tool and the stamp, select the location to place the stamp.  Stamps can be re-sized and their opacity changed after placement.  For more information on stamps, refer to Markup Tool - Stamps.
  5. Rectangle  - Click and drag to create a rectangle shape on the drawing. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  6. Ellipse  - Click and drag to create an ellipse shape on the drawing. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  7. Cloud  - Click end points to create a multi-sided cloud shape on the drawing.  You must close the shape by clicking again at the beginning point for the cloud to appear. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  8. Free Form  - Click end points to create a multi-sided polygon shape on the drawing.  You must close the shape by clicking again at the beginning point for the polygon to appear. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  9. Line  - Click a start and end point to create a line on the drawing.  Use the Style tool to modify the line properties.
  10. Arrow  - Click a start and end point to create an arrow on the drawing. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  11. Pen  - Use your mouse to draw on the image. Use the Style tool to modify the properties. 
  12. Highlight Area  - Click to highlight a rectangular area on the image. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  13. Calibrate  - Click and drag to select a known distance on the drawing.  Then enter that measurement (including the correct units!) in the Calibrate Distance dialog box.  You can save the scale to the page you are on or to all pages in the document.  Once saved, you can use the Measure tool  to measure distances as a markup directly on the drawing.
  14. Measure  - Once you have used the Calibrate tool  to establish a scale on the drawing, use the Measure tool to measure distances to that scale on the drawing, and apply that measurement as a markup.
  15. Callout  - Click and drag to create a text box on the drawing. Once the text box is sized correctly, click again and continue dragging the mouse to create an arrow pointing to the appropriate location on the image. Enter the annotation text into the dialog box that appears. Use the Style tool to modify the properties.
  16. Sticky Note  - Click to add a note at a specific location on the drawing. Enter the annotation text into the dialog box that appears.  Once placed, users will be able to click on the sticky note to read the text.




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