Use the Parallel or Perpendicular Lock When Measuring

1. Click Review tab > Measure panel > Measure drop-down.

2. Click the Area Measure tool.

3. Press L for parallel, or P for perpendicular.

   Or, on the Measure panel, click Lock drop-down, choose from:

   • Parallel .
   • Perpendicular

4. In the Scene View, hover your mouse on the model and use the surface snap to select a surface. Your measurement will be parallel or perpendicular to this surface.

5. Click the start point of the distance to be measured in the Scene View.

   The measure line is displayed as a solid magenta line when it is parallel to the surface of your start point:

   

   or as a solid yellow line when it is perpendicular to the surface of your start point:

   

6. Click the end point of the distance to be measured in the Scene View.

   The optional dimension label displays the measured distance.

Command entry: Press L (parallel) or P (perpendicular) when using a Measure tool.