Top toolbar should display true length and width of shapes, not the "properties" of the shape.
It's very confusing when you reference the top toolbar to see the length and width of a shape only to realize the values are completely wrong. This is because the top toolbar displays the "properties" of a shape for whatever reason. The length of an object should always be the longest horizontal measurement, and the height should always be the longest vertical measurement, regardless of rotation. Despite not displaying true length and width, the toolbar uses symbols which clearly indicate length and width: a double ended horizontal arrow first, then a double ended vertical arrow second. Unless a user clicks 'Transform' in the toolbar or opens the Transform panel, there's no way to quickly reference the length and width of a live object. Why has the assumption been made that this information is less valuable than the rectangle "properties"?
I've included two screenshots: one shows the exact scenario mentioned above. The second screenshot shows an even more bizarre instance where I've selected two identical squares that are aligned edge to edge to create a rectangle. Instead of showing the length and width of the entire shape, it simply displays the original dimensions of each individual square. This information does not aid the design or illustration process in any way!
Dan
shared this idea
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Agree. This forces me to have Transform opened on its own.
And the way fields in control jump and slide is not OK.
I understand that shapes are important too, but we expect the place used for other dimensions.
There a more general request about Control, I suggest voting for it too:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/41107240
