Enabling the Dynamic Linear Measurement Tool

When you use the Linear Measurement tool, by default, measurement units appear when you have finished your measurement and release the mouse button. The measurement line remains in the viewport—it is “permanent”—and the measurement appears as text overlay in the bottom-left side of the viewport.

You can change these behaviors, however. For example, you can show measurement units dynamically—as the line is being drawn. Additionally, you can opt to make measurement lines temporary. In this case, a measurement line will not remain in the viewport after you have finished drawing it.

The dynamic Linear Measurement tool enables you to use your mouse, or a combination of your mouse and the Control key on your keyboard, to make a line permanent or temporary.

To enable the dynamic Linear Measurement tool:

1. In the main menu, select Utilities | User Preferences | Measurements.
2. To show measurements units as you draw a line, enable Show Dynamic Units on Linear Measurement.
3. To specify that the left-mouse button be used to draw permanent measurement lines, and CTRL-click to draw temporary measurement.
4. To specify that the left-mouse button be used to draw temporary measurement lines, and CTRL-click be used to draw permanent measurement lines, enable the applicable sub-option.