KLayout Manual: Main Index » KLayout User Manual » KLayout Basics » Doing Measurements

Doing Measurements

A measurement can be performed by choosing "Ruler" mode in the toolbar and left-clicking a point in the layout and left-clicking another point. A ruler will be shown that indicates the distance measured.

Various options can be specified for the rulers using the setup dialog. To show the setup dialog, choose "Setup" from the "File" menu.

On the "Rulers" tab, different options can be selected. A ruler can be made to snap to edges of objects by selecting "Snap to edge/vertex". Ruler orientations can be constrained by using the "Angle Constraint" options.

While drawing or moving one point of a ruler, the direction constraint can be overridden with the Shift and Ctrl keys: pressing Shift while moving the mouse will enforce orthogonal constraint, Ctrl will enforce diagonal constraint while pressing both will release any direction constraint.

The number of rulers can be limited. If the number of rulers specified is two for example, only the last two rulers are shown.

All rulers can be cleared using the "Clear all rulers" function from the "Edit" menu.

Ruler dragging can be canceled with the "Esc" key or using the "Cancel" function from the "Edit" menu.

Rulers can be moved by selecting "Move" mode with the speedbar buttons in the toolbar or "Move" from the "Mode" submenu in the "Edit" menu. Then left-click and drag the ruler or the ruler end point that should be changed.

Rulers can be deleted selectively by selecting a ruler in "Select" mode and pressing "Delete".

Rulers can be modified in a variety of ways. For example, rulers can be shown as arrows. To edit the properties of a ruler, double-click the ruler or select it and use "Properties" from the "Edit" menu. See Ruler Properties for a description of the properties.

Multiple templates can be configured to be available for rulers. If multiple templates are available, the "Ruler" mode toolbar button will show a drop-down menu which allows selecting of one template to be used. Templates can be edited in the ruler setup page ("Setup" from the "File" menu) or "Ruler Setup" from the "Edit" menu.