Ruler and scale

The ruler tool (L) measures distances on the map. Lines connect the points you click, with the distance shown per segment.

How to use it

Action	What it does
Click	Adds a point. Keep clicking to extend the line.
Drag	Draws one segment in a single drag.
Drag a point	Moves a placed point. Distances recalculate.
Enter or double-click	Ends the current line. The next click starts a new one.
Right-click	Places a final point where you clicked and ends the line.
Backspace	Removes the last point of the line being drawn.

With the ruler tool selected, the options bar appears above the toolbar. Turn on the eraser and click a point or line to delete it, or use Clear all to wipe everything at once.

Measurements stay around when you switch tools and show again when you return to the ruler. They are not saved to the file.

Measuring area

The arrow next to the ruler in the toolbar switches between Ruler and Area. The mode button in the options bar switches it too.

In area mode the points you place close into a shape, and the size of the enclosed area is shown at its center. Use it to judge how big a country or a lake is.

Both modes share the same lines. Switch a line you drew for distance over to area and you read its size without redrawing it, and switching back shows the segment distances again. With a scale set, areas are shown in km².

Map scale

The Set scale button in the options bar sets the map’s real-world size.

Enter how many kilometers wide the map really is, and the ruler shows distances in km. Without a scale, distances show in internal units.