Area Tool
Click Area Tool to add area measurement annotations to documents:
Figure 1. Tools Tab Submenu, Area Tool
When the Area Tool is selected the pointer becomes a crosshairs icon. Click to designate a starting point from which to measure. A red line will appear and the Area Tool information box will be displayed in the lower right corner of the active window. This box will update as the tool is used. Drag the crosshairs to the location to which the first measurement is to be made. Click again to define the first line of the area. Repeat the process until the area is complete and then double-click to define the final point. When a final point is established a pop-up note is created automatically for the area line and further options are enabled:
Figure 2. Area Tool Example
•The Area Tool calculates the distance measured and area according to the active scale. The Scale option in the Properties Toolbar is used to determine the active scale.
•Click and drag the area shape to reposition it. The circle at the center can also be used for this purpose.
•Click and drag the outer control points to resize the area shape.
•Click and drag the inner control points to reshape the area shape.
•Click and drag the green control point at the top to rotate the area shape. Hold down Shift to rotate at increments of fifteen degrees.
•Use the arrow keys to reposition area shapes. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.
•Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of area shapes.
•Hold down Shift to create area lines at increments of fifteen degrees.
•Right-click area shapes for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.
•When the Area Tool is selected, the following options are enabled in the Properties Toolbar:
•Fill Color determines the fill color of the area shape.
•Stroke Color determines the color of the area border.
•Border Style determines the style of the area border.
•Border Width determines the size of the Line Starting/Ending Styles, detailed below.
•Line Starting Style determines the style used at the start of area shapes.
•Line Ending Style determines the style used at the end of area shapes.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in the area shape.
•Blend Mode determines how area shapes blend with underlying content. These options are explained here.
•The Scale number boxes can be used to determine the scale of selected objects. Alternatively, click Scale to select/manage predefined scales or calibrate a new scale.
•Keep Selected determines whether or not the Area Tool remains selected after an area shape has been created. If this option is enabled then the tool will remain selected and can be used to create several area shapes consecutively. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating an area shape.
•Exclusive Mode simplifies the process of using the Area Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create area shapes at locations that overlap with other content without the risk of accidentally selecting undesired items. When Exclusive Mode is disabled, the pointer recognizes and interacts with all underlying elements in the usual manner.
•Click Properties to view/edit additional area annotation properties, as detailed below.
•Note that several default styles are available for area shape annotations, as detailed in (figure 1). Click to select alternative annotation styles. The Comment Styles Palette can be used to save customized area shape styles for subsequent use. Right-click the Area Tool icon in the Comment Toolbar to view existing styles and/or access the Comment Styles Palette.
Area Properties Pane
Figure 3. Area Properties Pane
•Subject is the name of the area annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.
•Author is the name of the user that created the area annotation.
•Name is the unique name of the area annotation, as referenced within the application.
•Created is the date and time at which the area annotation was created.
•Modified is the date and time at which the area annotation was last modified.
•Read Only is the read only status of the area annotation. If this property is enabled then users cannot interact with the annotation. Please note that it is necessary to use JavaScript to change the value of this property.
•Printable is the print status of the area annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation is printed with the document. If this property is not enabled then the annotation is not printed.
•Locked is the locked status of the area annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation cannot be deleted and its properties (including its position and size) cannot be modified by users.
•Layer specifies the optional content layer to which the area annotation belongs. Further information about layers is available here.
•Fill Color determines the color of the line ending style used at the start of the area annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.
•Stroke Color determines the color of the area annotation.
•Border Style determines the style of the area annotation.
•Border Width determines the width of the area annotation.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in the area annotation.
•Blend Mode determines how area annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.
•Rotation determines the degrees of rotation of the area annotation.
•Scale determines the scale used for the area annotation. Further information about scales is available here.
•Label determines the text label displayed with the pop-up note of the area annotation.
•Precision determines the precision with which scale conversions are displayed.
•Group determines the symbol used as the group separator.
•Decimal determines the symbol used as the decimal separator.
•Total Perimeter displays the total perimeter of the annotation. If you have multiple annotations selected then the total perimeter of the annotations will be displayed for this property.
•Avg. Perimeter displays the average perimeter of the annotation. If you have multiple annotations selected then the average perimeter of the annotations will be displayed for this property.
•Min. Perimeter displays the minimum perimeter of the annotation. If you have multiple annotations selected then the perimeter of the shortest annotation will be displayed for this property.
•Max. Perimeter displays the maximum perimeter of the annotation. If you have multiple annotations selected then the perimeter of the longest annotation will be displayed for this property.
•Total Area displays the total area of the annotation. If you have multiple area annotations selected then the total area of the annotations will be displayed for this property.
•Avg. Area displays the average area of the annotation. If you have multiple area annotations selected then the average area of the annotations will be displayed for this property.
•Min. Area displays the minimum area of the annotation. If you have multiple area annotations selected then the area of the shortest annotation will be displayed for this property.
•Max. Area displays the maximum area of the annotation. If you have multiple area annotations selected then the area of the longest annotation will be displayed for this property.