# Introduction of MB-Ruler - the transparent screen ruler

MB-Ruler helps you to measure distances and angles on the screen.
The ruler is almost transparent so you can have it on the screen, while you are working with the applications below.

The distances can be measured in pixel (default), cm, inch, points or twips - or you define your own distance unit according to the length of a line. For cm, inch, points or twips, you have to edit the monitor size in the options window.
The angles can be measured in degrees [0..359] (default) or radiant [0..2*PI]. Measure direction and origin can be chosen.

You can also add points, lines, rectangle, ellipses, polylines, bitmaps and text as markers on the desktop.
Theses can be modified after their definition and moved, if the <CTRL> button is pressed. If the <SHIFT> button is pressed at the same time, the objects align preferable to other elements. An exact placement of the elements and the ruler is possible.

Loupe function of MB-Ruler: press <Ctrl><Alt><X> and the area at the mouse position will be magnified. The loupe follows the mouse until the keys are pressed again. An other mode is available, where the loupe is only visible while you press these button. This, the size of the loupe, magnification factor and hotkey can be modified in the options dialog.

This screenshot shows you a typical view of MB-Ruler, where the basic functions are explained.

A click with the right mouse button on the MB-Ruler symbol in the TNA opens a popup menu with the options menu item.
In the options window, you can modify the size of the ruler, its color, the distance and angle unit your monitor size and the angles, to which the ruler should snap, when you rotate it.
This introduction will appear every time you start MB-Ruler until you have opened the options popup menu for the first time.

Define your own distance unit
Follow theses steps to define your own distance unit:

- Choose the menu item Define Scale in the popup menu
- Click on the start point of your reference line
- Click on the end point of your reference line
- Define the length and unit of your reference line in the window that will open.

You can cancel the definition of the scale by pressing the right mouse button during the procedure.

Attach triangular ruler and coordinate system to an application window
With the help of this function you can force the triangular ruler and coordinate system to move synchron to an application window.
Choose the menu item Attach to Window in the popup menu.
The window, positioned unter the center of the measure tool will be marked by a red frame. It can be the main window, a part of the
window or even a button.
As long as this move is avtive, the active window will be marked with a red frame, when the measure tool is moved. If the active
window is moved, the measure tool moves synchron.
The mode is active, while the menu item Attach to Window is checked and the active window is visible.

Funktionstasten

<Ctrl><Alt><M> | toggle ruler mode
<Ctrl><Alt><Cursor links> | move ruler one pixel to the left
<Ctrl><Alt><Cursor rechts> | move ruler one pixel to the right
<Ctrl><Alt><Cursor oben> | move ruler one pixel up
<Ctrl><Alt><Cursor unten> | move ruler one pixel down
<Ctrl><Alt><X> | show and hide loupe
<Ctrl><Alt><F9> | make loupe smaller
<Ctrl><Alt><F10> | make loupe bigger
<Ctrl><Alt><F11> | make loupe zoom factor smaller
<Ctrl><Alt><F12> | make loupe zoom factor bigger
<Ctrl><Alt><R> | show and hide RGB value window
<Ctrl><Alt><P> | add temporary point
<Ctrl><Alt><L> | add temporary line
<Ctrl><Alt><S> | add temporary rectangle
<Ctrl><Alt><F> | add temporary polyline
<Ctrl><Alt><F1> | activate temorary layer 1
<Ctrl><Alt><F2> | activate temorary layer 2
<Ctrl><Alt><F3> | activate temorary layer 3
<Ctrl><Alt><F4> | activate temorary layer 4
<Shift><ESCAPE> | show/hide static hideable layer

Registrierung
MB-Ruler is FREEWARE.
If you like MB-Ruler, please register MB-Ruler for a small fee of EUR 10.- or US$ 20.-
You support the enhancement of MB-Ruler in further versions and get your personal registration number. Further more, you will be informed by aMail, when new versions are released and also get an email when beta versions are available.
Plus: the message text visit www.DancePatterns.com at program start will not be displayed any more.

Just send an email with the Subject: MB-Ruler Registration and information about your name to MB-Ruler@Markus-Bader.de and send the registration fee cash to

Markus Bader
Hügelsheimer Straße 13
D-76473 Iffezheim
Germany

or transfer the fee to the account

Postbank Karlsruhe
Account NR: 358 60 757
BLZ 660 100 75
IBAN: DE46 6601 0075 0035 8607 57
BIC: PBNKDEFF

or

use PAYPAL to transfer the registration fee

recipien's email: MB-Ruler@Markus-Bader.de
amount and currency : 10.00 EUR or 20.00 US$
subject: MB-Ruler registration
note : christian name and name

or

you use the credit card online registration at REGSOFT

After I have received your email and the registration fee, I will send you your personal registration code within a week.

Thanks for your support of MB-Ruler
Markus Bader

History
new in version 3.2:
Triangular ruler and coordinate system can be attached to a window. Then they move synchron, when this window is moved.
And you can define the measure scale with the help of the remote interface.

new in version 3.1:
Enhancement at the temporary objects. They can have the attribute "auto show". Then they are only visible, when the mouse cursor is near the objects.

new in version 3.01:
the ruler can draw lines - click on the move and rotate elements while pressing <CTRL>

new in version 3.0:
measure mode: coordinate system
translation of MB-Ruler - read the file "Language.English" for details
hotkeys can be modified - details in file "MB-Ruler.htk" - after first programm execution
if you store MB-Ruler in a network drive, the settings are stored locally on you computer
the conten of a temporary rectangle can be copied to the clipboard (contect menu -right mouse button)
cosmetic enhancement
bug fixing

new in version 2.2:
Ellipses as temporary objects

new in version 2.1:
Enhancement at the temporary objects. They can have the attribute "auto hide". Then they are invisible, when the mouse cursor is above them.

new in version 2.0:
text as temporary object
bitmaps as temporary object
you can save the temporary objects as stand alone applications
you can add a hint to temporary objects
you can add an externals function to temporary objects (call an external application or a MB-Ruler application function)

new in version 1.52:
temporary objects have magnetic functions for the alignment of further elements, if the SHIFT key is pressed
content of of a temporary square can be saved as a bitmap
little bug fixing

new in version 1.5:
rectangle as temporary item
polyline as temporary item
edit temporary item after definition
save temporary items for using it when the application is started the next time
save temporary items as bitmap

new in version 1.3:
RGB value window
Hotkeys
multi monitor support

new in version 1.22:
bug fix - rarely crash on program start

new in version 1.21:
enhanced loupe mode

new in version 1.2:
screen loupe function

new in version 1.1:
delete single temporary items
save last position of the ruler
extent temporary lines to rectangular triangles
extend temporary lines by by lines with the length of the golden ratio

new in version 1.01:
bugfix - distance and angle was calculated wrong in some systems, when the taskbar was located left or top

new in version 1.0:
temporary items
more options for for measuring angles

new in version 0.93:
installation routine
german version

new in version 0.92:
measure distance in points and twips
hints box on program start

new in version 0.91:
you can define your own distance units
smoother cursor icons

some comments of other MB-Ruler users
Dein Programm MB-Ruler ist genau das, was ich seit langem gesucht habe.
SUPER und DANKE !! (Erich M.)

I use it after scanning an image.
This often is "angled" and I have to rotate it a bit (in PaintShopPro).
Here comes MB-ruler : I can see exactly how much degrees I have to rotate !
Thanks ! (Roelof B.)

Just what i was looking for!(user from Spain)

ich habe gerade ihr ge(o)niales Tool geladen und ausprobiert, und es hat mir
gut gefallen. (Uwe S.)

Your ruler is a very good help indeed! It's a beautiful simpel tool. (Truls W.)

Hi, I realy like your ruler program.
One of the most useful programs I seen
and I use it on graphics and aerial photos
or Topo maps. Great job.(E Hines)

MB-Ruler is a valuable tool for anyone involved in the digital graphics production
of printing materials or Web site design. (Mike T.)

... your MB-Ruler program is just one fine piece of computer
programming. I am very happy to have accidentally found it when searching
for a "computer ruler". For the things that I need it for it is absolutely
the best I could hope for. I am actually using it to measure angles and
distances on stock chart prices (perhaps a little bit "off" of what you may
have designed it for .) ...(Jeff R.)

I was looking at some 6 other rulers before trying yours.
It is the best!!!(Ferdi L.)

If you want to include the MB-ScreenTransparent technology that MB-Ruler uses to draw the items on top of the screen, then have a look at the MB-ScreenTransparent SDK.

Homepage: http://www.Markus-Bader.de/MB-Ruler
If you have questions, suggestions or bug reports, please contact me at: MB-Ruler@Markus-Bader.de