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.

[Jacob Bugge]

Chris,

You may have a look at this very recent thread:

Illustrator CS6 - Adding dimensional information to a drawing

Feature requests (and bug reports) may be written here (one more, after many over the years):

https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

[chrisdpage]

thanks Jacob,

i managed to find this product, it's close to what i am looking for

http://www.astutegraphics.com/software/vectorscribe/#yt:vectorscribe-dynamic-measure-introduction:aV...

for those looking for a dimensional tool in illustrator this may work for you.

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Chris.

And thank you for sharing.

[JackBlaguar]

chrisdpage (and anyone else interested),

As a designer for a major national sign company, and part of a team who just upgraded from CS6 to CC, and has CADtools 9 by HotDoor, I can say that our entire design team is encountering problems whenever anyone updates either CC or CADtools. I've put off updating either of them in hopes of finding a forum that can verify that conflicts have been worked out. Right now, I'm one of the few that still has functioning dimension tools. What a train wreck.

So, for those jumping on the hotdoor solution, just be aware that the only correctly functioning configuration at this time is Adobe CC 18.0 and CADtools [up to] 9.02. Updating past either of those program versions renders CADtools almost useless.

[Doug Habben]

Dimension_72a (Mac only plug-in, CS6 & CC) is available for 20 USD at worker72a.com.

• Adds dimensions in inches, MM, CM and pixels with optional scale factor

• Overall or Segment dims

• Includes path tool that displays length and angle as you draw

• 30 day money back guarantee

[chrisdpage]

looks like 72a doesn't work for CC 2014 or 2015

thanks though guys.

maybe someone at Adobe will realize they forgot this tool and add it in an update in 2020... pun intended.

[Doug Habben]

There is a CS6 version and a CC version. If you had a problem with the CC version, please contact me. Thanks.

[angela_han]

Does the CC version come automatically with Illustrator as part of the suite, or do you have install it separately?

[mattp37030156]

I have been using CADTools from HotDoor for about 4 years.  Now that CC2017 has come out.  CADTools no longer works.  Tech Support informs that previous versions have reached the end of Support.  $199.00 to upgrade.  Not Acceptable.  They did say that I could go back to prior versions of Adobe products.  Once again Not Acceptable.

[mecdos]

@matt Cadtools has been a total rip off ever since adobe went to a subscription model. the guys at hotdoor are taking advantage of the fast updates to cc to charge for upgrades making cadtools more expensive than illustrator itself. i'm fine with a upgrade charge for cadtools 10 but, stopping support for cadtools 9 is just extortion on their part.

but that's on them and not adobe.

although adobe could enforce a little future proofing on their plug-in providers.

if you can live without cadtools, i recommend not using it.

[hotdoorsupport]

Hot Door makes CADtools backwards compatible.  For example, Hot Door's current release of CADtools 10 is compatible with CC 2017, CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014, CC and CS6.   And a CADtools 9 license will continue to work with CC 2015.3, CC 2015, CC 2014,

CC, CS6 and CS5.  Sometimes, we Hot Door updates the software without charging, but not all of the time.  For instance,

when CADtools 9 was released in June of 2014, a month later, Adobe released CC 2014.  Hot Door then released a free update

to anyone who had already purchased CADtools 9.  A year later, Adobe released CC 2015, and again, Hot Door released a

compatible version of CADtools 9 as a free update to anyone who already had purchased CADtools 9.  When Adobe released CC 2015.3, Hot Door again released a free update to anyone who had purchased CADtools 9.  But there are limits!  On Adobe's release of CC 2017, Hot Door made only CADtools 10 compatible.

Hot Door also tries to be fair, always.  When a new version of CADtools is released, Hot Door offers a free update to anyone

who purchased the previous version within the three months before that new release.  And also remember, a full version

costs $349.00 (USD), while an upgrade is $199.00 (USD).  Upgrades are available to those who have purchased

a corresponding number of licenses of one of the three previous versions of CADtools.  For example, if you are purchasing

a CADtools 10 upgrade, you would also need a CADtools 7, 8 or 9 serial number for activation.

Typically, a new version of CADtools is released every 18 months to 2 years, if this helps you plan for when you will need to upgrade, rather than update. 

[SelbertPerkins]

Last year we paid $199 per seat in our design studio to upgrade to CADTools 10. Now we have to pay $229 per seat to upgrade to CT 11 just so it will work with Illustrator CC 2018?  We cannot afford to do this every year so we are looking at our options.

[watermelon111]

If you're still looking for a solution you should try this plugin mainly made for drawing dimension lines. Works with CC2017 and less pricy than CADtools:

BPT-Pro - CAD plugin for Illustrator | Baby Universe Inc.

[FlashInthePan]

CAD work is one thing, but UI work is another. If you are looking for UI tools for Illustrator, this seems pretty good:

specctr.com

It's a subscription model but its only $9/mo, and they do offer a free lite version that may do all you need.

[Mario Arizmendi]

Illustrator Team just released the brand new AI 2018 version...... and still don't have a basic cad tools we need...

and still, don't have a basic set of cad tools we need...

No prepress features at all

Adobe Team don't hear us

[Monika Gause]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Mario+Arizmendi  schrieb

Illustrator Team just released the brand new AI 2018 version...... and still don't have a basic cad tools we need...

and still, don't have a basic set of cad tools we need...

No prepress features at all

There are plugins available to do that.

As for the features you want: specify exactly what you need and then don't post it in an ancient thread on the forum, but here: http://illustrator.uservoice.com

Other users can then see it and vote on it.

[Mario Arizmendi]

Yes Monika, I know about cad tools plugins, i have used before but they are expensive, and u have to pay for updates every time Illustrator release a new version, no sense.

I am now using scripts founded around, works but not the exact way I need it for my workflow...

And yes, I have posted many feature request in the user voice page, still adobe team doesn't  hear...

[Doug A Roberts]

can you link to your post on the user voice site? i can't find it.

me and others will probably vote on it if you post it.

[Mario Arizmendi]

Hmmm, I can't find it either, don't know why...

may I have to post it again

[Doug Habben]

Dimensions72a - $20 USD

[Christopher Lockwood]

After using CAD Tools for about 10 years I needed to get tech support and none of my calls were ever answered. SO I gave up on them.

This plugin from O2 looks pretty good:

[hotdoorsupport]

I saw a comment from Christopher Lockwood that Hot Door does not answer the telephone. 

That could not be further from the truth.  In fact, most people who call are surprised when someone

actually picks up the phone, as they are expecting a voice message.  Hot Door is not a huge company

with a support team manning the phone lines 24 hours a day.

The support phones are handled Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., (EST) and all questions or

issues are handled in that time frame.  If you call after those hours and leave a message, the

message will be returned on the next business day.  Hot Door also offers email support at

support@hotdoor.com and a new feature of Live Chat from within the CADtools program.  I searched

our archives and found one email received from the person complaining about this.  The email arrived

after business hours and was answered promptly the next morning.  Also remember that if a person

does not pick up, especially during that time frame, chances are they are handling another call.

Leave a message and you will receive a prompt response.

[Christopher Lockwood]

I did call, several times, on June 21st, 2017 to be exact, and was unable to get through. I did not leave a message, so I apologize if I misspoke when I said none of my calls were answered. However, I did send an email stating the problem and included my serial number, but I never got a response.

I did go back to your website and saw that it had been redesigned and that you have a newer version of CAD Tools (version 11). My original issue was that I had a perfectly functioning version of CAD Tools 9, which was working fine in Illustrator CC, but then I changed platforms from Mac to Windows, and the installer on your site for CAD Tools 9 doesn't recognize CC. I only use CAD Tools for its dimensioning tools. I don't need any of the symbol libraries, so it was hard to justify spending $200 to upgrade just to get that function back. I was simply hoping to get a replacement for Version 9.

[hotdoorsupport]

Hi Christopher,

I just sent you an email to your response (to the email you contacted us with in June of 2017) and my email included a screen capture of my response to you

on June 22.  I assumed that you received the email! Please let me know if I can help in any other way!

support@hotdoor.com