Perimeter Tool
Click Perimeter Tool to add perimeter measurement annotations to documents:
Figure 1. Tools Tab Submenu, Perimeter Tool
When the Perimeter 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 Perimeter 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 perimeter. Repeat the process until the perimeter 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 perimeter line and further options are enabled:
Figure 2. Perimeter Tool Example
•The Perimeter Tool calculates the distance measured according to the active scale. The Scale option in the Properties Toolbar is used to determine the active scale.
•Click and drag the perimeter line 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 perimeter line.
•Click and drag the inner control points to reshape the perimeter line.
•Click and drag the green control point at the top to rotate the perimeter line. Hold down Shift to rotate at increments of fifteen degrees.
•Use the arrow keys to reposition perimeter lines. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.
•Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of perimeter lines.
•Hold down Shift to create perimeter lines at increments of fifteen degrees.
•Right-click perimeter lines for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.
•When the Perimeter Tool is selected, the following options are enabled in the Properties Toolbar:
•Fill Color determines the fill color of the Line Starting/Ending Styles, detailed below, when closed-shape options are used.
•Stroke Color determines the color of lines.
•Border Style determines the style of lines.
•Border Width determines the size of the Line Starting/Ending Styles, detailed below.
•Line Starting Style determines the style used at the start of lines.
•Line Ending Style determines the style used at the end of lines.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in lines.
•Blend Mode determines how lines 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 Perimeter Tool remains selected after a line has been created. If this option is enabled then the tool will remain selected and can be used to create several lines consecutively. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating the line.
•Exclusive Mode simplifies the process of using the Perimeter Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create perimeter lines on areas 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 perimeter annotation properties, as detailed below.
•Note that several default styles are available for perimeter tool annotations, as detailed in (figure 1). Click to select alternative annotation styles. The Comment Styles Palette can be used to save customized perimeter line styles for subsequent use. Right-click the Perimeter Tool icon in the Comment Toolbar to view existing styles and/or access the Comment Styles Palette.
Perimeter Properties Pane
Figure 3. Perimeter Properties Pane
•Subject is the name of the perimeter annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.
•Author is the name of the user that created the perimeter annotation.
•Name is the unique name of the perimeter annotation, as referenced within the application.
•Created is the date and time at which the perimeter annotation was created.
•Modified is the date and time at which the perimeter annotation was last modified.
•Read Only is the read only status of the perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.
•Stroke Color determines the color of the perimeter annotation.
•Border Style determines the style of the annotation.
•Border Width determines the width of the annotation.
•Opacity determines the level of transparency in the perimeter annotation.
•Blend Mode determines how perimeter annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.
•Rotation determines the degrees of rotation of the perimeter annotation.
•Start determines the line ending style used at the start of the perimeter annotation.
•End determines the line ending style used at the end of the perimeter annotation.
•Start Scale determines the size of the line ending used at the start of the perimeter annotation.
•End Scale determines the size of the line ending used at the end of the perimeter annotation.
•Scale determines the scale used for the perimeter annotation. Further information about scales is available here.
•Label determines the text label displayed with the pop-up note of the perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter 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 perimeter annotations selected then the perimeter of the longest annotation will be displayed for this property.