Automatic dimension/measuring tool please
A tool to automatically dimension signs would be an advantage to those of us working in the sign industry who create visuals for clients. It would also assist in maintaining accuracy of the artwork created and automatic checking device. This with the removal of the artboard size limitation would create a full working drawing platform for the manufacture of large signs for the retail industry.

A couple of questions on this:
1. Would it be okay to have a separate spec creation service much like the upcoming Adobe XD service? On this service, anyone with a link, can select any objects, and view its dimensions (W/H), colors, fonts etc. Or should it be inside Illustrator.
2. Are you only going to create horizontal, and vertical dimensions? Or would you also like to have angular dimensions as well?
Please share more details about your workflow.
Thanks,
Yogesh
-
Roger commented
We have Cadtools, really like it, but each time a new Illustrator version sees the light you need to upgrade. Too expensive for us, since we only use some basic functions. And all the other functions are really of no use to us. Tested several other plug-ins and we now use Powerscripts (USD 25,00 or USD 39,50 with 6 other scripts: https://www.o2creative.co.nz/Dimensions_PowerScript_Plugin_Extension_for_Adobe_Illustrator.php).
Works for us. Quite well actually. Only one drawback, cannot change the dot into a comma in the preferences (or cannot find how to). Emailed about it, but never any answer or any change.
Maybe Adobe can buy this company and work from there ;-).
-
Anonymous commented
"NEED MORE INFO" What BS, buy a copy of CorelDraw you'll see what we want lol!
-
Gene Rogovitz commented
Totally agree with this suggestion. I could use this in numerous instances. Also great for teaching and product development.
-
Eloi commented
Because it seems that Adobe don't want to work on the tool, I've search one on the web a tool less expensive than Cad-tools...
I've tried BPT-Pro4 from Baby-Universe, very good but when Adobe launch a new version of CC, it's necessary to wait around 6 months to have an update from them... :-(
I've found a french guy with a very good solution (translated in english and german), not very expensive (25€ for an unlimited licence + unlimited updates) :
http://jlg.outils.pagesperso-orange.fr/cotationmodeemploihtmlfr.html
Very kind guy, when you have a pb, when you want a specific tool or else, his feedback is excellent ! -
Zaglbauer commented
@Irmantus :-D
-
Irmantus commented
Guys, @Yogesh Sharma is working on it. Why you have to bother him every year lol
-
Anonymous commented
Any updates on this? @Yogesh Sharma
-
RH commented
Been using adobe illustrator for decades now and there is one feature that has never been implemented that every other software has and adobe still does not. Smart dimensions, I'm sure every artist that has ever used illustrator for production purposes would like this feature added. Corel has it, all CAD applications have it, Illustrator is pretty much the only vector based design software that has not implemented this yet and I would love to see this added. There are plugins for illustrator to do this but they are extremely expensive, so if a 3rd party can implement this I'm not sure why Adobe cant. Hotdoors Cadtools is a perfect example of the feature set I think any production artist would love to see built in to illustrator and would be an absolute game changer for anyone in the signage or large format printing industry.
-
Eloi commented
@Yogesh Sharma
Yes, included inside illustrator with all dimensions like CADTool plugin : vertical, horizontal, diameter, etc etc
As written by many people we are waiting for this functionality for many many years.
When I see the price we pay each year for the CC suite, it's incredible to pay a plugin for such a simple tool ! -
Marty commented
We've been asking for this for god knows how long ... seems to me that there is no intention on Adobe's part to make this happen.
-
Anonymous commented
Inside illustrator, vertical, horizontal, and angular.
-
Raphaël commented
If you want a simplier, lighter and cheaper plug-in than CADtools, you can try BPT-Pro plug-in by Baby-universe. It is a little Japanese firm.
CADtool is a good produce, but I find it is too expensive and I need only a few tools. -
Chris commented
Have a pen tool option which automatically adds the length of the line you draw with arrows/dimension lines. This would allow fast labelling of mockups or product drawings. I work with architectural drawings and need to quickly add dimensions to rooms or objects. Similar to measure tool in Acrobat, but more accurate.
I've tried the Specify plugin, but it doesn't dynamically adjust dimensions. So if you change the object you need to re-do the dimension.
-
Anonymous commented
May you integrate fonctionnalties provided by CADtools plugin inside Illustartor ?
-
Anonymous commented
YOU DON'T NEED MORE INFO...............For goodness sake put in a multi-function dimension tool!!!!! Corel can do it, is your abiliy so far behind them that you struggle to understand your customers needs? Get rid of your snobby "illustrator" ideals and give us something to help us design with
-
Anonymous commented
They don't want to appear to be a CAD package.......they still cling to the snobby "Illustrator" title as opposed to producing design orientated software
-
Derek Jenkins commented
BPT-Pro4 is what we currently use. But it would be SO nice not to have to rely on a third party plug-in.
-
David Creamer commented
One never knows what features they plan to add. Hope springs eternal...
-
Anonymous commented
David your more than likely correct in your assumption. "Artists" who depend on those type of features in a program should start looking elsewhere. Its clear Adobe is not interested in making these type of mods to help them out. Thanks for pointing that out. It might just help some people move on.
-
David Creamer commented
Because this feature has been requested for years now (decades!), it has to be a deliberate omission by Adobe. I feel there are two possible reasons: 1] it's too complicated for the programmers, or 2] it's not part of the Adobe road map. I doubt it's the former reason. I think that Adobe sees Illustrator as mainly an "art" program. Why else would it not have auto-dimensioning (like CorelDRAW), flow chart features (like Office apps or CorelDRAW), and modern charting functions (like Excel) after all this time?