Measurement: Distance Factor and Mirror settings options need a tooltip

[furgo16]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

Problem description

When going to Edit > Preferences > Measure > Appearance, the user can change the Measure tool settings. The function of at least two of them is not obvious, and would benefit from a tooltip (in addition to documentation):

• Distance factor
• Mirror

From a quick test, I've not noticed any difference in behavior when changing their setting, so I'm wondering if they are currently implemented.

Full version info

OS: Ubuntu Core 22 (ubuntu:GNOME/ubuntu)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.22.0dev.37085 (Git) Snap 1005
Build type: Release
Branch: main
Hash: c7c07f28c639e82a6d2c58f4aaef5b42cddcc83c
Python 3.10.12, Qt 5.15.10, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 7.1.1, OCC 7.7.1
Installed mods: 
  * OpenTheme 2024.4.20
  * BIM 2021.12.0
  * Curves 0.6.35
  * ezydxf
  * ExplodedAssembly
  * BillOfMaterials 0.0.8.2
  * Ondsel-Lens 2024.4.16.01
  * Assembly4 0.50.12

Subproject(s) affected?

Core

Anything else?

1. In fact, all settings on that dialog need a tooltip, but the two mentioned in this issue might be the most pressing. The rest of the options there are more or less self-explanatory.
2. As an aside, on the preferences page it would be logical to group the color-related settings: moving Background color to be after Line color might make more sense.

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[maxwxyz]

@hlorus maybe you can help what they should do. I also did not find any changes when placing with these.

[hlorus]

These are actually not needed at all, With UMF we have label dragging which makes the settings redundant. If i remember correctly the settings were ported over from Std_MeasureDistance where they would control the placement of the measurements.

[maxwxyz]

should they be removed then or does this break stuff?

[furgo16]

With UMF we have label dragging which makes the settings redundant.

How does label dragging work, has it already landed? I don't seem to be able to drag any label.

[maxwxyz]

click and drag the label 😄
It seems not possible when it is over geometry.

[furgo16]

I had tried that with no success :-) My issue was that the distance between label and edge is reasonable for mm scale models, but it appears right on the edge for m scale models (Arch). That's why I started playing with the distance factor and trying to relocate the label. Again, unsuccessfully.

I'll see if I can upload a video. FWIW I'm using Gesture navigation, if that makes a difference.

[hlorus]

They can be removed without breaking anything.

[furgo16]

Reported the related issue as #13808

[furgo16]

Indeed, their values seem to be defined, read, and then not used anywhere else:

FreeCAD/src/Mod/Measure/App/Preferences.cpp

Lines 67 to 70 in ede7243

	double Preferences::defaultDistFactor()
	{
	return getPreferenceGroup("Appearance")->GetFloat("DefaultDistFactor", 1.0);
	}

FreeCAD/src/Mod/Measure/App/Preferences.cpp

Lines 77 to 80 in ede7243

	bool Preferences::defaultMirror()
	{
	return getPreferenceGroup("Appearance")->GetBool("DefaultMirror", false);
	}