How to Use This Site - Functions - Help
Many features and functions on this site may not be immediately evident. Below is a list of features and functions and how to use them.
Firstly, if a calculator has diagrams and Slider controls, just drag each slider back and forth and watch how the diagram changes. The sliders are connected to the text inputs, so dragging them updates the inputs, recalculates and redraws (animates) the diagrams.
Many features and functions on this site may not be immediately evident. Below is a list of features and functions and how to use them.
Firstly, if a calculator has diagrams and Slider controls, just drag each slider back and forth and watch how the diagram changes. The sliders are connected to the text inputs, so dragging them updates the inputs, recalculates and redraws (animates) the diagrams.
For PDF and Printing Help see: PDF & Printing Help
Inch or Metric?
The main Navigation tabs at top of each page are for the Metric versions of Calculators.
If there's an Inch version, directly under the larger tab with calculator name is a smaller tab marked Inch
for the Feet and Inch version.
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Poster Print - Large PDF Printing - Full Scale Template PDFs
Poster Print to print large PDF template images over multiple smaller pages (Letter or A4) and assemble to form complete template.
Inch or Metric?
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Hip Roof Calculator |
| Inch |
Save Inputs and Settings for Current Calculation
Some calculators with multiple input entries, or that are used often, have functions to save currently entered calculation inputs and settings, on the device you're currently using.
Hit (when displayed) to Name and Save the currently entered calculation on this device.
Hit (when displayed) to Name and Save the currently entered calculation on this device.
Once saved, the calculation will be displayed in a drop down in the right margin on larger screens, or the footer on small screen devices.
Select saved calculation to re-load the calculator with saved inputs and settings (the calculation).
You can remove individual saved calculations, or clear all.
See Hip Roof Framing Calculator for example.
See Hip Roof Framing Calculator for example.
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Set Current Inputs and Settings as Default on page load
Hit (when displayed) to set current calculation inputs and settings as default on page load.
When you return to the page, the default calculation will be restored, so you don't have to re-enter everything on often used calculations.
See Baluster Calculator for example.
Save, Share and Transfer Current Calculation between Devices
Hit Share this Calculation or Email this Calculation (when displayed) to open a dialog with shortened link to current calculation.
Copy and save the link, or choose options to share current calculation via Email, Text Message, Social Media etc.
This dialog also displays a QR Code to scan and transfer the calculation between devices.
This dialog also displays a QR Code to scan and transfer the calculation between devices.
Enter your input values - hit the Calculate button to display results -
click the 'Share' or 'Email' link - Scan the displayed QR code with another device and the current calculation will open on the scanning device.
You can also click 'View page on Phone (QR Code)' in the footer of each page, to transfer the page between devices (not current calculation). See the QR code at bottom of this page for example.
Copy Diagrams to Compare Results and Options
You can add multiple copies of diagrams to the footer of the page, to compare different input - result options.
Enter inputs and hit Calculate to create the diagrams - Hit in left margin or footer of all pages to copy current diagrams
to page footer.
Click any unwanted diagrams to remove. Edit inputs, re-calculate and hit Copy Diagrams again to add the new diagrams to the footer. You can then compare
multiple different diagram results and choose the most suitable calculation.
Measure at Scale from Diagrams
On some calculator result diagrams, you can left click, release and drag mouse to measure full scale dimensions.
As you drag, a translucent rectangle will overlay the diagram showing all dimensions at full scale.
See Stair Calculator top diagram for example.
Measure Full Scale Template Image Dimensions On-screen
Many calculators on this site create Full Scale Printable Templates.
To measure full scale template dimensions directly from your screen (if the screen is not 100% scale) use this screen scale adjuster to create and print a ruler, print, cut and measure directly from full scale diagrams on-screen.
To measure full scale template dimensions directly from your screen (if the screen is not 100% scale) use this screen scale adjuster to create and print a ruler, print, cut and measure directly from full scale diagrams on-screen.
Or drag the 'Zoom' slider (top left of each page) until the full scale on screen diagram matches a ruler held against the screen. Use keyboard cursor keys to fine tune.
Note the zoom percentage to re-set on other pages when needed.
Note the zoom percentage to re-set on other pages when needed.
Increase Diagram Scale
If a diagram has a Scale slider, drag the control to increase the total size and scale of the diagram, to better fit multiple displayed dimensions, and more accurately click and drag to measure at scale (as above).
On large screens, click 'Remove Margins' in left margin to remove screen margins to better fit very large scaled diagrams.
The larger the diagram scale, the more accurate the click and drag measured dimensions.
See Hip Roof Framing Calculator for example - scroll down to end section diagram (with Scale slider)
See Hip Roof Framing Calculator for example - scroll down to end section diagram (with Scale slider)
Create Full Scale PDFs to Print 100% Scale Templates
For Printable Template Calculators - enter inputs to create the full size template on screen. Hit in left margin or footer of each page
to open a new page containing just the diagrams on current page, with each diagram having a button.
Mouse over each diagram to display smallest paper size to fit diagram.
Select large enough page size from PDF Page Size selector in header, and click the diagrams PDF button to create and save the PDF.
For large page sizes, you can have the single page PDF printed in a print shop, or print over multiple smaller pages (Letter or A4) on your home printer and assemble to create a single large template.
See Printing Help for How To and printing instructions.
Mark Out Running Measurements
Calculators that create running lists of measurements will have a Mark-out link beside each list. Click the link to open a new page (on phone)
with very large text display and large buttons to step through the list and mark out the measurements.
You can also click the 'Speech' button to have the phone speak each measurement at selected interval.
See Stair Calculator for example.
Fine Tune Inputs with Slider Controls
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On calculators with Slider Controls for input, drag slider tab to get close, then use ◄ ► keyboard cursor keys to fine tune.
Or Right Click the slider and use the up down arrows that appear to adjust - Right click again to go back to the slider.
Or Right Click the slider and use the up down arrows that appear to adjust - Right click again to go back to the slider.
These Sliders will update text box inputs and auto-calculate to animate the diagrams and results as you drag the slider. Try it with the slider control above.
Directly Measure and Speak Angles
On phones or any device capable of Angle Measurement, tap the Measure Angles link in the footer of each page to display a bubble level and measure angles and rise or fall over distance.
Tap the 'Speech' button and the device will repeatedly speak the measured angle.
Tap the 'Speech' button and the device will repeatedly speak the measured angle.
This can be handy when you can't see the screen.
Some calculators with Angle inputs have Direct Measure feature to measure, calculate and animate calculation diagrams on phones.
See Pitch to Angle Calculator for example -
tap
Small Scale - Scaling Calculator Inputs
If you're working at a small scale, and the calculators don't go small enough, you can scale up the measurements for the calculator inputs, then scale down the results.
This is easy with Metric, where you can scale up by multiplying input dimensions by 10, enter into the calculator then scale the results back down by dividing by 10.
With Inch Fractions it's a bit more difficult to scale. Use this calculator to scale your Inch dimensions with Fractions up and down.
Scale : 1 Actual
Scale : 1 Actual
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If you find a use for a particular calculator in a field not directly related to the name or description of the calculator, or have suggestions for new calculators or improvements to existing ones, Please Let us Know!
If you find a use for a particular calculator in a field not directly related to the name or description of the calculator, or have suggestions for new calculators or improvements to existing ones, Please Let us Know!
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