Add a distance / measurement tool for arbitrary points and objects
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VectorStyler provides excellent numeric transforms and alignment tools, but it lacks a basic geometric primitive: direct distance measurement.
There is currently no way to select two arbitrary points (or edges, anchors, or object references) and read the distance between them. This forces users into indirect workflows (duplicate-and-align, helper objects, transform subtraction), which are error-prone and unnecessary given VS’s internal precision.
This limitation makes VectorStyler difficult to use for:
• timelines and Gantt charts
• diagrams and charts
• technical illustrations
• repeatable, metric layoutsHistorically, this exact issue existed in early Illustrator releases and was corrected decades ago when users needed numeric invariants rather than visual heuristics.
Requested functionality (minimal):
• A simple “Measure” tool (or mode) that:
• lets the user click two points (anchors, edges, or arbitrary locations)
• reports the distance (ΔX, ΔY, and Euclidean distance)
• copies these values to the Transform->Move default values
• is independent of snapping and alignment stateThis would not replace snapping or alignment — it would complement them by exposing the underlying geometry already present in VectorStyler.
Given VS’s strong numeric infrastructure, this appears to be a UI exposure issue rather than a technical limitation.
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@jpsimmons The Variable Values panel can be used to define number variables from various object measures. The variable value will be linked to the object and updated as the object changes.
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@VectorStyler said in Add a distance / measurement tool for arbitrary points and objects:
The Variable Values panel can be used to define number variables from various object measures. The variable value will be linked to the object and updated as the object changes.
How about a simple use case. I have two circles that are offset by some amount. I want to make a row of circles with that same offset. How do I do this?
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@jpsimmons A variable can only measure a property of a single object.
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@jpsimmons said in Add a distance / measurement tool for arbitrary points and objects:
I have two circles that are offset by some amount. I want to make a row of circles with that same offset. How do I do this?
I think you can use a repeater to achieve this, or a blend effect with 2 same circles. Other way is to use the transform dialog on your circle and choose number of copies and an offset
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@EricP said in Add a distance / measurement tool for arbitrary points and objects:
and an offset
I have to manually put in the offset, if I know it. What I want is a way to automatically put the offset in from the GUI.
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@jpsimmons said in Add a distance / measurement tool for arbitrary points and objects:
What I want is a way to automatically put the offset in from the GUI.
The only way to do this now is to use the width of an object to define a number variable and use that number variable as the offset.
Not sure if this covers it, but here is an example: offsetcase1.vstyler
