Dimensions tool /plugin / filter missing in Illustrator

[chrisdpage]

Unless I am blind to this, as well as the rest of the internet community, there does not seem to be a dimensioning tool in illustrator.

It's a crazy thing, a product named "illustrator" doesn't have a basic tool for illustrating.

I know I'm not the only one who would use this, not to mention the many times I've just not bothered with Illustrator simply because it's too slow to show a client want I am looking for.

Please Adobe, add in this simple feature.  I want to be able to design a box, and show how big it is without

1. manually drawing lines
2. adding arrows
3. selecting the line (lines if i put text between line rather than over)
4. copying dimension (provided it is 100% vertical or horizontal)
5. pasting & centring text
6. adding parallel lines near to the end points of the object

All this should be done in 1-2 step.

A Dimension tool - click and dragging it out of each side

A Filter - that can do more than one side at a time / could do more than one object at a time

It can't be that complicated. CAD programs have had this for 40 years.

to be clear, I am not looking to make Illustrator a CAD program, there is a plug in for that by Hot Door - CADtools. I just want a dimensioning tool.

thanks.

[ivandazed]

I used to spend a lot of time making dimensions, color, and fonts spec for developers and clients. Therefore a few months ago my colleague and I worked very hard to developed an extension called Specees for Adobe Illustrator that can generate height, width, distance, length of straight lines, round corner radius, and color and fonts properties of multiple objects at the same time:

http://specees.dazed.design/

(for cc2017 & 2018)

[chrisdpage]

Amazeballs!

thank you for this. Truly. this will save me SOO much time!

[chrisdpage]

wait...there is a yearly fee for plug ins now?

$26.80 CAD Yearly??

is this a mistake?

[Christopher Lockwood]

I tried to buy this plugin, but after I agree to the EULA nothing happens. Is this supposed to load automatically through Creative Cloud?

[Ray Yorkshire]

I had  a look and came to the same dead end

Tried the MY Exchange tab on that adobe exchange page , to see if it had arrived there.

But It said there, that I wasn't logged in, but also showed I was on the  top right of screen ...

Maybe I clicked the Sync Extensions button, but anyway it finally agreed I was logged in.

back on plugin Specees page the Buy link this time led me to the checkout, with boxes for payment card details to fill in for the future rent etc -  it says the first month is free.

So it seems Specees will adds to My Extensions list and to Illustrator's -  Window > Extensions >,

after completing the order.

[ivandazed]

This happened before. Someone told me that he also saw nothing after he agreed to the EULA. He finally solved this by trying another browser. Sometimes pages on Adobe Exchange responses slowly and sometimes it freezes on the loading screen. I am sorry for this.

[chrisdpage]

ivandazed​

is there are yearly fee for this plug in or am I looking at some default text?

It looks looks like the 02 Creative - Power Script for illustrator does what I need but without a yearly fee.

Specees is clearly a better plug in, but seeing as I'd be buying this for my work computer, having a subscription will be a pain for expenses. is there a buy out option or something?

Thanks

[ivandazed]

chrisdpage

I am sorry but right now we don't have the plan to provide other buying options.

We just launched Specees a month ago. And we will continue to add features to Specees and hopefully can save you more time on dimensioning in return for your support to our extension.

Thanks!

[chrisdpage]

I too had the same problem. after bouncing back and forth trying to figure out why, it eventually worked... no idea why though.

[chrisdpage]

here is another option for anyone looking

https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/106345/specify-dimensions-and-measurements

Sadly this too requires a yearly fee. 

[chrisdpage]

And here is a script

https://www.marspremedia.com/software/illustrator/dimensions-illustrator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOVh3YALYw&ab_channel=WilliamCampbell

Looks like a one time Fee. 

[chrisdpage]

YAY! they finally did it.

It's in the latest version. 

It's not without its quarcks but it's pretty darn good. specially for a first pass. 

Thanks for listening Adobe. this is GREAT!