AutoCAD 2007 Distance Quirk

An interesting change to the AutoCAD distance command occurred in the 2007 release. When using object snaps to query distances of model space objects from paper space, you're now given the model space distance. Compare this to previous versions where you first needed to make model space active to query model space distances.

For example: consider this simple plan in a viewport at a scale of 1/8"=1'-0". Using AutoCAD 2006, execute the distance command from paper space and snap to the end points of the top line.

Command: DIST
Specify first point: [pick left endpoint]
Specify second point: [pick right endpoint]
Distance = 0'-4 1/2", Angle in XY Plane = 0, Angle from XY Plane = 0
Delta X = 0'-4 1/2", Delta Y = 0'-0", Delta Z = 0'-0"

Now perform the same operation using AutoCAD 2007 and compare the results.

Command: DIST
Specify first point: [pick left endpoint]
Specify second point: [pick right endpoint]
Distance = 36'-0", Angle in XY Plane = 0, Angle from XY Plane = 0
Delta X = 36'-0", Delta Y = 0'-0", Delta Z = 0'-0"