Appearance
Dimension tool
Shortcut: M Toolbar: Annotate group
Place linear dimensions (two anchors) or chained dimensions (three or more anchors) on the plan. Dimensions are exported to the plan PDF.
Prerequisites
- At least one wall or opening drawn on the active storey.
Workflow
Phase 1: Pick anchors
- Press M or click Dimension in the toolbar.
- Click on wall endpoints or opening edges to pick measurement anchors.
- Quick wall dimension: click near a wall (not on an endpoint) to auto-chain the wall axis and all opening edges along it.
- Continue picking anchors — 2 for linear, 3 or more for chained.
- Press Enter when you have at least 2 anchors.
Phase 2: Place the dimension line
- Move the pointer perpendicular to the anchor line — the dimension line follows.
- Click to place it at that offset.
Keyboard during anchor picking
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Enter | Advance to offset phase (requires ≥ 2 anchors) |
| Backspace | Remove the last anchor |
| Esc | Cancel and return to Select |
Dimension types
- Linear — 2 anchors, shows one distance.
- Chain — 3 or more anchors, shows each segment length plus a total label.
Scenario — frontage and bedroom run (9.0 × 7.5 m house)
Frontage dimension:
- Press M, click the left-end of the front wall, then the right-end (9.0 m apart).
- Press Enter, move the pointer above the front wall, click to place.
The label reads 9.0 — confirming the frontage matches the plot boundary. If it reads anything else, the front wall was drawn at the wrong length and needs correction before export.
Chained bedroom run:
- Press M, click the left interior wall endpoint, then the corridor wall, then the right bedroom wall endpoint (three anchors).
- Press Enter, move below the plan line, click.
The chain shows both bedroom widths plus a total — a professional annotation that catches layout errors before the PDF reaches the client.
See Precision input for how snapping to endpoints works.
Why nothing happened
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Click does nothing | No anchor target under pointer | Move closer to a wall endpoint or opening edge |
| Dimension line does not appear | Fewer than 2 anchors picked | Pick at least 2 anchors before pressing Enter |
| Dimension overlaps geometry | Offset too small | Move pointer further from the anchor line before clicking |
| Auto-chain picks wrong wall | Multiple walls nearby | Click directly on endpoints instead of clicking near the wall |
Tips
- Auto-chain is the fastest way to annotate a wall with doors and windows. Click near the wall body (not an endpoint) and Jodu picks all opening edges.
- Dimensions delete immediately with Select + Delete — no confirmation dialog.
Related
- Precision input — snapping to endpoints
- Select — delete selected dimensions
- Plan workspace — full tool index