Using the Measure Tool


There are many places where you can find the numerical sizes of items. You can use the rulers; you can place guides; you can look at the Control palette; and so on. But what if you want to measure the distance of one point in an object to a different point in another one? That's where the Measure tool is so helpful.

To measure distances using the Measure tool:

1.

Choose Window > Info to open the Info palette.

Tip

All amounts measured by the Measure tool are displayed in the Info palette.

2.

Click the Measure tool in the Toolbox .

The Measure tool in the Toolbox.

Tip

The Measure tool is behind the Eyedropper tool in the Toolbox.

3.

Place the Measure tool on the start point and drag to the end point. A measuring line appears on the page . The Info palette displays the following attributes of the measurement :

Drag the Measure tool to measure the distance between two points.

The measurements displayed in the Info palette for the measuring line drawn with the Measure tool.

  • Horizontal position displays the X coordinate of the first point in the line or whichever point is then moved.

  • Vertical position displays the Y coordinate of the first point in the line or whichever point is then moved.

  • Distance shows the length of the line.

  • Width shows the width of the bounding box that would enclose the line.

  • Height shows the height of the bounding box that would enclose the line.

  • Angle shows the angle on which the line was drawn.

Once you have drawn a measuring line, you can move it to other areas of the page.

To move a measuring line:

1.

With the Measure tool still selected, position the cursor over the measuring line.

2.

Drag the line to a new position .

Drag the line segment of the measuring line to move it to a new position.

Tip

Do not position the cursor over the start or end points of the measuring line.

You can also change the start or end points of the measuring line.

To reposition the points of the measuring line:

1.

With the Measure tool still selected, position the cursor over either point in the measuring line.

2.

Drag the point to a new position.

You can also extend a second line out from the origin of the measuring line to create an electronic protractor to measure angles.

To measure angles:

1.

Drag the first line with the Measure tool.

2.

Hold the Opt/Alt key and move the Measure tool back to the origin of the first line. An angle cursor appears .

The angle cursor indicates that you are about to create a second measuring line.

3.

Drag to create a second line extending out from the origin point . The Info palette displays the distance of the second line, as well as the angle between the measuring lines .

Two measuring lines let you measure angles with the Measure tool.

The Info palette display for two measuring lines.

Tip

No bounding box is displayed when two measuring lines are created.



InDesign CS2 for Macintosh and Windows(c) Visual QuickStart Guide
InDesign CS4 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide
ISBN: 0321573579
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 309
Authors: Sandee Cohen

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