Manual Tools
Linear Tool (Polylength)
Use the Linear tool to measure the total length of a multi-segment path: walls that turn corners, perimeters, baseboards, or any linear element with multiple segments.
Shortcut M
Steps
- Press M, or choose New Takeoff > New Linear > Straight on the toolbar. Measuring starts immediately under an auto-generated name (e.g. "Linear 1").
- Click to place the starting point.
- Continue clicking to add points along the path. A running total of the whole path follows your cursor as you draw.
- Double-click or press Enter to finalize the measurement. The total linear footage is displayed.
Notes
- •After finalizing, your next click starts a new path within the same takeoff.
- •To show lengths on the drawing, turn on the Labels button (eye icon) at the top right of the drawing. It is off by default and shows each path's total length at its last point.
- •You can edit individual vertices after finalizing by selecting the measurement with the Select tool.
- •With New Takeoff > New Linear > Arc, each segment takes an extra click for the curve peak (start, peak, end).
- •Pressing M reuses Straight or Arc, whichever you picked last under New Takeoff > New Linear. Alt + L always starts a straight linear.