Area Annotation

The Area Measurement Annotation is used to calculate the area of a given shape. Once placed measurements can be modified by dragging any of the vertices on the measurement and the values will be updated as well.

Creating an Area Measurement

Select the Area tool by clicking the in the Comment Tab on the toolbar or using the shortcut key Ctrl + Alt + E (⌘ + Alt + E on Mac)
The measurement dialog will be displayed where you can set the scale and precision (and calibrate if needed) for the measurement prior to drawing the annotation.
Click where you would like the first line to begin
Continue clicking on the document to create as many vertices as you need (Note: Hold the Shift key while drawing to make horizontal, vertical, or 45 degree angle lines.)
When finished, double-click, press Enter on the keyboard, or right-click and select Complete from the menu to complete the measurement shape

Measurement Options

The following options can be set before the measurement is created.

Scale

Options to set the scale and precision (and calibrate if needed) for the measurement prior to drawing the annotation. By default the horizontal and vertical scale will be the same.

Check the "Separate Vertical Scale" option to specify a different vertical scale for the measurement.

Other

Snap to Content - each point of the measurement will automatically attempt to snap to the nearest content item when clicked

Display Measurements - show / hide the measurement label on the measurement line

Always used fixed angles (shift key) - forces all measurements to make horizontal, vertical, or 45 degree angle lines only

Annotation Properties

To access the Area properties go to the Properties Tab on the toolbar or right click (Mac: Ctrl + Click) on the annotation and choose Properties in the mouse menu or click on the edit button on the Mini Toolbar. The Area measurement contains the following property settings.

Appearance

Line Width - Sets the width of the line

Style - Sets the style for the line (i.e. dotted, dashed, cloud, etc...)

Color - Sets the color of the line

Transparency - Sets the transparency of the measurement

Fill Color - Sets the fill color of the area annotation

Note / Comment - Contains two fields. The first is a comment field that allows you to add an additional comment to the measurement if needed. The second is the measurement value and can not be edited.

Save as default - When checked this will make the selected appearance settings the default for any new Area annotations going forward

Locked - When checked prevents the following on the annotation: being moved or resized, editing appearance properties, & deleting the annotation.

General

Author - Allows you to edit the author

Subject - Allows you to edit the subject

Layer - Only available when the document contains layers. Sets the layer that the annotation belongs to. For more information see Assigning Comments to Layers

Status History

This tab will display and changes to the review status of the annotation including Author, Status, and Timestamp. For more details see Setting Status or Check Marks on Annotations