Object Distance

The Object Distance tool measures the distance between two selected objects. It works in the main window, and in the Gerber, Excellon and Geometry editors on two selected shapes. Use it to find the gap between two objects, or the middle point between them.

Where to find it

• Menu: Edit > Object Distance.
• Keyboard: Shift+M.
• The panel opens in a tab next to Project and Properties. The tab shows the plugin name.

Quick start

1. Select exactly two objects in the Project tree, or two shapes in an editor.
2. Press Shift+M to open the tool.
3. Keep Type at Nearest points.
4. Click Measure.
5. Read the DISTANCE box in Results. The Start point and End point boxes show the two points.
6. Click Jump to Half Point to move the view to the Half Point.

Screenshot placeholder: images/Object-Distance-1.png — the Object Distance panel with two objects selected and the Results filled in.

Parameters

Parameters

Parameter	Description	Default
Type (Nearest points / Center points)	Chooses how the two points are found. See the list below.	Nearest points

Type (combo values):

• Nearest points: The minimum distance between the two objects. The start point is on the first object and the end point is on the second object.
• Center points: The distance between the centers of the two bounding boxes.

Coordinates

Parameter	Description	Default
Start point	The coordinates of the first point. Read only. The unit label shows mm (or inch in an inch project).	(0, 0)
End point	The coordinates of the second point. Read only.	(0, 0)

Results

Parameter	Description	Default
Dx	The distance over the X axis. Read only.	0.0
Dy	The distance over the Y axis. Read only.	0.0
Angle	The angle of the line from the first point to the second point, in degrees from 0 to 360. Read only.	0.0
DISTANCE	The straight-line distance between the two points. Read only.	0.0
Half Point	The middle point of the line. Read only.	(0, 0)

Buttons

Button	Description	Default
Measure	Measures the two selected objects, or the two selected shapes in an editor, with the chosen Type.	—
Jump to Half Point	Moves the view to the Half Point. Enabled after a measurement.	Disabled
Reset Tool	Clears the measurement and the results.	—

Advanced

• Selection. The tool needs exactly two objects. If the selection has another count, it shows a warning and does not measure.
• Editors. The Geometry, Gerber and Excellon editors each use the two selected shapes. In the Excellon editor, each drill is treated as a circle.
• Touching or overlapping objects. A distance of 0 means the objects touch or overlap. The Half Point shows (0, 0), and the tool shows the intersection point in a warning.
• Center points. The center is the middle of the bounding box of each object.
• Units. The values are in mm (or inch in an inch project).
• Tcl. There is no Tcl command for this tool.

See also

• Distance — measure any two points on the canvas.
• Object Operations — object actions, including selection.
• Gerber Editor, Excellon Editor, Geometry Editor
• Keyboard Shortcuts