Don't make an additional app. Keep it tidy. Angle dimensions would be good. Add distance around (perimeter), figure area too.
Also need additional alignment option "butt shapes together" (Side to side, top to bottom) We have this in another app and it is great. Have only seen it in one other program and can't believe nobody else has it. Especially good for structural and fabrication design for sigange.

Personally, I'd settle for vertical and horizontal dimensions. However, the ability to measure at any angle would be quite helpful.

I would also analyze some 2D Cad tools and plugins made by third party plugin makers and big name cad programs for basic dimensioning, snapping, conversions, and other relevant tool sets. In the packaging industry, a main piece of software is ArtiosCAD and it works pretty well with illustrator but if you're receiving graphic files from designers, it often makes more sense to make some adjustments in illustrator that would be equivalent / play nice with the cad programs.

Simply being able to set a scale value, ie. 1mm = 100mm would be super helpful. I work at 1:100 all the time and it's pretty annoying that there isn't better support for this.

As a bonus, we need to be able to set "preferred" line weights, fonts, spacing of dimensions away from copy, etc.. Must be able to make these preferences with a spot color as well as cmyk or rgb.

I've been asking for this for years! There are 3 things fixes that would make Illustrator more the go-to program for us in the signage industry than Corel Draw if Adobe would ever listen to its customers.

1) Fix the Artboard size limitation (designing at quarter scale sucks!)
2) Add a functioning set of measurement tools which includes angular dimensioning.
3) Create the option of aligning type to the height of X.

It seems that Illustrator's new features cater more towards the web creation crowd than anyone else. Adobe has looked over those of us in the sign industry for years, and although we are not a vocal bunch, I know for a fact there are tons of users in the large format industry that are waiting for these fixes as well.

Should be inside illustrator

Yogesh.... I am sure you have a competitive copy of CorelDraw laying around. Review their integrated dimensiining solution - which they have had for decades - and copy it.

Yogesh
we need this inside illustrator as a tool, horizontal and vertical dimensions, if any other like angular will be ok, on its own layer, selectable units, scale 1:1 as main, other scales welcome.

I like all the capability of Hot Door - CADtools. but its very costly. so i had to create file in illustrator and then marking/ Dimensioning in Coreldraw which is very painful job to do.

I agree !!!! Basic dimension tools would be great. CorelDraw has had them for YEARS.

prefer this to be inside Illustrator.

Yes Please
For many reasons
- final Illustrator designs doesnt end up only in web or print it goes also for installation ( styropor laser cut, Vinyl cut, carton . . . ) to be presented in spesific locations where the dimensions are everything for the designer and the client as well, like in events Graphics, point of sale materials, signboards, interior design, etc.......

without the measurments printed on the design a waste of time for the designer doing it manually or exporting it as EPS to PC system for Coreldraw please add the feature for ( TIME & ACCURACY )
beside what is actully the measurment tool doing there in tool box if it can not measer a triangles hypotenuse or show the result in print out ?
* since you have now properties panel it could be an Enable/disable, Hide/Show feature so not to bother those how dont need it without adding complexity new tool to the program

NO it must be part of illustrator, so clients can see sizes on the proofs we send . for us in the signage business its a must have. We spend so much time entering in sizes, making the design process so much longer the it needs to be. you can buy 3 party plug in. maybe have a look at what hotdoor offer. https://www.hotdoor.com/cadtools/overview

Just voted for another similar idea. Dimensioning would be a boon for anyone who comes from a CAD based background like myself or for those Thile the example given, where dimensions are part of the artwork.

Perhaps a “dimension mode” where angled, aligned and angular dimensions can be made, similar to isolation mode.

This would be invaluable in some cases. Big up for this idea.

Everything should be within illustrator and yes angled dimensions would be a bonus.

Must of us need to use dimensioning in our drawings to show our clients, please add some basic cad tools, I don't have extra money to buy expensive plugins like CadTools to use only a few of its tools and to pay for an upgrade every time Illustrator Upgrade as well