Protractor Helper

Protractor measures the angle between a point and any two objects in your scene.

• Create panel > (Helpers) > Standard > Object Type rollout > Protractor
• Default menu: Create menu > Helpers > Protractor
• Alt menu: Objects menu > Helpers > Protractor

The names of the two objects appear above their respective buttons, and the angle formed at the protractor object between the pivot points of the two objects is displayed in the Angle field. Lines are drawn between the protractor and the two selected objects.

Note: The line to the first selected object uses the Target Line color, and the line for the second selected object uses the color of the protractor. The Target Line color is set with Customize User Interface dialog Colors panel Elements drop-down list Gizmos group. The Protractor color is set by choosing the Tape Object in Customize User Interface dialog Colors panel Elements drop-down list Objects group.

You can reselect the protractor at any time, enter the Modify panel, and pick new objects to measure. You can move either of the two objects or the protractor itself to change the angle.

Note: If you need to watch the Angle readout while moving either of the objects, first select the protractor, then click the Pin Stack button on the Modify panel. You can now select and move the other objects while the stack remains pinned to display the protractor angle.

Procedures

To use the protractor:

1. After selecting Protractor in the Create panel Helpers section, click in the viewport to place and create the protractor icon. You can also drag to move it before releasing the mouse button.
2. Click the Pick Object 1 button, and then select one of the objects in the scene.

   The name of the selected object appears above the button.

3. Click Pick Object 2, and then select a second object in the scene.

   The Angle parameter shows the angle formed by lines from the protractor object to the two picked objects.

Interface

Parameters rollout

Pick Object 1

Click this and select the first of the two objects whose angle you want to measure.

Pick Object 2

Click this and select the second of the two objects whose angle you want to measure.

Angle

Displays the angle formed by the lines from the protractor to the two objects.