I'm actually asking this on behalf of my dad. As a young carpenter many years ago, he once saw an old-timer using a framing square to calculate the payroll for a job. He would like to know what the formula would be to do something like that and is trying to contact anybody out there who might know how it was done.
Answer:
A good framing square will all but replace the old slide rule we used to use. You can certainly make whatever calculations need to be done to build the CN tower or any high rise complex. I am not familiar enough with the formulae that are there but I'm sure if you got in touch with one of the hand tool manufacturers they'd be able to help. I know there used to be books written on how to use them to advantage though I'm sure that even they did not extend to what you and I would recognize as "Full advantage."