Tutorials

The following files are a series of tutorial documents for the Roof Wizard roof modelling and estimating software. The tutorials have been written to help take a new operator through various processes one step at a time.

All shipments of software to new customers will have the appropriate manuals included in the kit. Existing customers may contact AppliCad and request that they be sent to you, or you may download any of the PDF files listed here and print them at your leisure.

There are also a series of tips and tricks that will take you, step by step, through how to model a particular roof feature. Click the tips & tricks button above to go there.

* Remember that our software is a work in progress and enhancements are constantly being made in response to users like you. Some variation from the menu options should be expected.

Quick Start Guides

We have created a document for users who find our 850 page user manual a bit intimidating - the Quick Start Guide. These have been updated for V5.9 and available for Metric and Imperial units. They provide a quick overview of what you need to do to get going with the full functionality of the AppliCad software. It does not and will never replace the complete manual or dedicated training. Use this as a way to get your head around what you need to do.

You must then work through the Learning Guide in the user manual or commit to one of our many traning courses around the world. Stay in touch for news of th enext course near you.

Quick Start Guide (Metric) - Quick Start Guide (Imperial)

Complete Tutorials

First Time Tutorial (626Kb)
A detailed, step by step guide for new users of any of the AppliCad roof modeling and estimating software. This is not a replacement for the complete Reference Manual supplied with the software. At 860 pages, the Reference Manual contains everything that this abbreviated document has in it and a whole lot more. It really should be referred to before anything else.

Functionality Tutorials

(for Roof Wizard generally)

Using Assemblies (122KB)
A detailed step by step guide to defining flashing or trim assemblies. An Assembly is a defined set of flashing or trim items that, when combined, form a roof trim system such as a parapet cap with box gutter.

Stage Manager (606 KB)
A detailed step through on how to setup and use StageManager when breaking apart a standard roof and a garage.

Stage Manager 2 (546 KB)
A detailed step through on how to setup and use StageManager when breaking apart a tile roof and metal fascia and gutter.

Custom Flashings (452 KB)
How to setup, select and use Custom Flashings.

Defining a Fixture (694Kb)
How to draw a part and define a fixture such as a skylight, scupper or sump so that you get the picture on your roof plan and a fully costed part on your material list.

Changing Screen Resolution (342Kb)
How to change the resolution of your graphics card for better use of the software.

Editing Data Files Manually (130Kb)
How to edit the material data files using a text editor. Sometimes this is quicker than entering the data via the program.

Inserting Barge Lines (127Kb)
Before you can take-off the material, you need an accurate roof model. This tutorial explains the process of defining the roof that has multiple eave heights.

Using 2D-Roof (401Kb)
There is occasionally a job that is simply too difficult to model in 3D or you do not have sufficient information to complete it accurately. This tutorial explains how to use the 2D digitising process we devised called 2D-Roof to complete such jobs without modeling and still get a material take-off.

(All roofing systems)

Completing a Flat Roof Membrane Roof Job (1,966Kb)
A step by step guide to completing a commercial roof take-off using BUR or Single ply material.

New! - Completing a Flat Roof Metal Roof Job (435Kb)
A step by step guide to completing a commercial roof take-off using metal roofing material.

Cricket Tutorial (147KB)
This tutorial is a step by step guide to using Smartlines to create a big mid-roof 'cricket' - a feature that is designed to shed vast volumes of rain or snow. The exercise describes something that iis not the same as the Mod-Roof > Cricket function.

New! - Creating and Estimating Tapered Metal Panels (375Kb)
A step by step guide to creating the geometry and generating cutting lists for tapered metal panels, typically standing seam.

(Tile and shingle roof systems)

Magician - Completing a Job (1,320Kb)
A step by step guide to completing a take-off using tile, shingle, slate or shakes.

Magician - Defining Tiles (923Kb)
A guide to defining the materials database for tiles, shingles, slate or shakes.

Magician - Modifying Reports (563Kb)
A step by step guide to modifying your report templates.

Coursing Tolerance (72KB)
Understand how the software determines the tile quantity using the actual tile course and tile layout and the effect of tolerance on the final numbers.

Remember: Ask lots of questions and practice using functions -
"If you don't use it, you lose it!"

(Metal roof systems)

Wizard - Completing a Job (1,315Kb)
A step by step guide to completing a take-off using metal panels.

Wizard - Defining and Generating Flashings (812Kb)
Most water proofing jobs require flashing. This guide tells you how to define the materials for the roof trim package so that the program will take-off the total package automatically.

Wizard - Estimating Metal Jobs (530Kb)
This tutorial explains the options that we have provided for taking off metal roofing.

Wizard - Modifying Reports (457Kb)
A step by step guide to modifying your report templates.

Walls

Warlock Overview (175KB)
A quick overview of the process of generating walls and inserting openings etc. For a detailed description, refer to the Reference Manual.

Technical Stuff

RXF Output Format (95Kb)
A detailed explanation of the AppliCad proprietary format for exchanging model data between disparate systems such as aerial imagery digitising, truss design and the like. RXF is a method of automatically exchanging the full 3D model with all entity attributes correctly assigned such as line types etc for roof and walls.

GRIM File Format (48Kb) Updated 28 April 2011
A detailed explanation of the AppliCad proprietary format for exchanging output data between disparate systems such as business management systems and accounting systems. Every line of job data, material list and cost data is exchanged with downstream systems. AppliCad can also read GRIM data in, if the process has been set up to create it.

Installing AppliCad Windows 7/8

We have had many issues with installing the software on PC's running Windows 7/8 (along with just about every other software developer). The problem is not that it will not run or anything as dire as that. It is what Vista and Windows 7/8 does to the operator permissions - what these operating systems will not let you do, even if you are the Administrator and what Windows does without telling you!

Follow this link for our suggestion on how to overcome these issues. If you run our software on Windows Vista or Windows 7, you really should follow this advice immediately. You may be having issues that you haven't noticed or don't even know about!

Running AppliCad software on Vista/7/8.