When using a map, you can measure the area of a polygon, the length of a line, or find the coordinates of a point. The map viewer calculates the shortest distance (using the ellipsoid-based geodesic calculation) even if the data uses a projected coordinate system. Before or after performing each measurement, you can change the default units of measurement.
Make a measurement
- Open the map in the map viewer.
- Click Measure
to display the Measure toolbar and use one of the measure options. Your results appear in the bottom of the Measure window.- To measure an area on the map, click Area and click the map once for every vertex of the area you want to measure. Double-click to complete the area.
- To measure a line on the map, click Distance
and click the map once for every vertex of the line you want to measure. Double-click to complete the area. - To get coordinates for a point on the map, click Location
and click the map at the location for which you want to get coordinates.
- To measure an area on the map, click Area
Change the units
- Open the map in the map viewer.
- Click Measure to display the Measure toolbar.
- Choose the unit of measurement from the drop-down list. If you change units after making a measurement, the current result will be converted to the newly selected unit.
Move the map while measuring
You may find that what you want to measure is not completely contained within the current extent of the map; for example, a street or parcel may extend beyond what is visible. In order to move the map as you're measuring, while still maintaining the cumulative total distance or area, you can hold down the left mouse button (or the equivalent navigation) and pan the map in the direction you want. Resume measuring by clicking the map with the left mouse button.