Why label the drawing
The sidebar always lists every measurement, but reading a length there means finding the right row. A badge on the marker itself lets you check a run or a room at a glance, spot a line that was snapped to the wrong point, and read figures off an exported image. Measurements are shown on the drawing by default; you can turn them off for a cleaner canvas whenever you need to see the drawing underneath.
What the badges look like
Each Linear and Area marker carries a small dark rounded label with white text at its top-right corner. It moves, zooms and rotates with the marker.
| Marker | Metric and Both | Architectural |
|---|---|---|
| Linear | 12.00 m | 12' 4" (or 8" under a foot) |
| Area | 400.00 m² | 1076.39 ft² |
The badge shows the calibrated value, so it matches the sidebar, the Live Legend and the export exactly. See The Scale System for how the units are chosen.
Two controls, two jobs
| Control | Where | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Show measurements on canvas | User Preferences → Measurement tab → Units & Scale | Your saved default for every drawing. On by default. |
| Show Measurements | Actions menu | A tick for the drawing you are working on now. Changes what you see without altering the saved preference. |
Use the preference to decide how you normally work. Use the Actions tick to hide the badges for a moment, for example while placing markers in a crowded plant room.
Turning badges on or off for the current drawing
- 1
In the header, click Actions.
- 2
Click Show Measurements to toggle its tick.
The badges appear or disappear immediately. The sidebar values are unaffected.
Changing your saved default
- 1
Open the user menu at the bottom of the sidebar and click User Preferences .
- 2
Select the Measurement tab .
- 3
In the Units & Scale card, switch Show measurements on canvas on or off.
- 4
Click Close.
The switch's tooltip explains the trade-off: "Label each Linear and Area takeoff on the drawing with its measured length or area. Turn off for a cleaner canvas — the values are still shown in the sidebar."
Badges are part of the drawing image, so they appear in Export Image (.png) and Export Image (.pdf). Leave them on when you want a marked-up sheet a colleague can read without ZeroCount; turn them off for a clean overlay. See Exporting Drawing Images.
Pipe size badges are different
In mask view, Linear groups from a vector takeoff show Ø22mm style badges repeated along each run. Those are pipe diameters, not measurements: they always read in millimetres, they appear only while the group is in the mask, and you can drag a size from the mask bar onto a run to assign it. The Show Measurements tick does not affect them. See Pipe Size Badges.
Common issues
The badges vanished on one drawing but not the others
The Show Measurements tick in the Actions menu is off for that drawing. Tick it again. Your saved preference still applies to other drawings.
A badge shows the wrong unit for a moment after changing the scale system
Immediately after Yes, Update All on a system change, a badge can briefly show the new unit against the old figure. The sidebar is correct and the badge catches up on the next repaint.
Badges overlap on short runs
Turn the Actions tick off while you place markers, then back on to check the result, or zoom in: the badge keeps its screen size, so at higher zoom the markers spread out around it.
Next steps
- The Scale System — choose whether badges read in metres or feet and inches.
- Pipe Size Badges — the diameter badges shown in mask view.
- The Actions Menu — every item in the Actions menu.
- Exporting Drawing Images — save a marked-up sheet with its badges.
- User Preferences — the full Preferences dialog.