keyboard shortcut = d 

in distance mode

 - pan and zoom still work with Middle Mouse button (scroll wheel)

 * If user selects PAN button, distance measurement should remain active (icon depressed)

 1st click of the mouse left button = start measurement origin

 next, movement of mouse cursor will display distance and angle in bottom status bar.

     display to the right of Pin: |  X  |  Y   info

     distance will be in the same unit, and # of decimals as X and Y co-ordintates

     ideally  dX:   dY:    distance:   Angle:  in degrees

     (dX, dY makes it easy to measure the X distance without moving the mouse in a perfect hor line.)

     * As the user moves the mouse, a white or red line is drawn from the selected origin to the current mouse location.  The line will be as long as the distance reported

  2nd click of the mouse left button = reset origin to where the mouse is currently

Tool bar icon can be a small yellow ruler at an angle of 45 degrees.

 

To get out of distance mode, and return to "select" arrow, simply toggle off the distance button

   Keyboard shortcut = ESC

grid snap is not required, measurement will be as accurate as the current zoom level

This is similar function to Gerber Viewer software.

Hi, 

This would be a very usefully and necessary feature. 

When generating fine pitched SMD parts it could happen that the solder mask is too thin for the PCB manufacturing process. 

Another scenario could be that the solder mask will peel off while reflowing the PCB and this leads to shortages on the board. 

This is very critical in my opinion.

Greetings

Zoom up on the area that you need to measure. 

When you select the toolbar icon a dialog box will appear. 

Click and Drag the LMB between objects. 

Release the LMB when finished and the values will appear in the dialog box. 

You can do this over and over with multiple distances. 

Close the dialog box when finished.