Deta Studio

How to read measurements for selected markups

Use Measure mode in Deta’s snapping controls to show a popover with the cumulative length and area of selected markups, including perimeter and circumference.

Updated

Find the controls

Measure modeF4

Bottom viewer bar → Snap & measure options → Measure

Before you start

Set the page scale and add the shapes you want to measure. You can trace the PDF with a polyline if the feature is part of the original drawing.

Steps

Show the selection measurements

  1. Open the Snap and measure options control options arrow beside the snapping button in the bottom viewer bar.
  2. Turn on Measure mode icon Measure (F4). This enables measurement display; keep using Select (V) to choose your markups.
  3. Select a shape. A small measurement popover appears just above the bottom viewer bar, showing Length and, for a closed shape, Area.

Selection measurement popover above the bottom snapping control: 2 shapes, Length 28 ft, Area 24 SF. Example values.

Read a combined total

Hold Shift and click more shapes, or drag a selection box around them. The popover updates to show the shape count and cumulative measurements for the selection on that page. Select just one shape to return to its individual measurements.

Selected geometryLengthArea
Line, open polyline, or DimensionCombined segment length—
Rectangle, closed polyline, or Area markupPerimeterEnclosed area
Circle or ovalCircumferenceEnclosed area

Overlapping areas and shared edges are counted separately for each selected shape. Values use your Drawing Units settings.

Read perimeter or circumference

Select a closed markup and read Length in the same popover. For a rectangle or closed polyline, this is its perimeter; for a circle or oval, it is its circumference. Select several closed shapes to read the sum of their boundaries.

For a round feature printed on the PDF, first fit a Circle tool icon Circle (U) markup over it. Circle is in the Rectangle tool’s flyout. A normal drag creates a circle; hold Shift to draw an oval. Select the markup to read its measurements. Oval circumference is approximate.

Check your result

The popover’s values change with the selection. Length follows the shape’s outline; it is not the width of its selection box. After dragging a point, release it to see the updated total.

Troubleshooting

  • No popover appears: turn on Measure in the snapping menu and select a measurable markup. Printed PDF lines, text notes, pictures, and revision clouds do not contribute to these totals.
  • The total is larger than expected: clear the selection and select only the shapes you need.
  • The values have the wrong size or units: check the page scale and Drawing Units.