How to measure the distance using script

Question

Hi
Is there any way to measure the distance of any photoshop document using the measure tool, by using the script. Given below the steps required by me. Hope i'm clear in my communications.
I searched the forums but couldnt find any suitable answers.
1.Open Photoshop document
2. Allow the user to draw the line using measure tool
3. alert the distance
Rgs
Anish

Answer 1

Michael L Hale wrote:
Sorry maybe I wasn't clear. If you want the angle reported by the script to match what would be reported if the user used the line tool you do need to make the path left to right.
That would only be half right as you can use the ruler measure tool from left to right and right to left a full 360 the angles reported will be in the range of 0 to +|-180 if you limit it to left to right the angle range will be from +90 to -90.
I understand your statement for "var ang = (180/Math.PI) * Math.atan2(o,a);" will only generate the angle for a right triangle 0 through 90.   That is why I wrote the sign was an indication of direction meaning up or down but the problem is that there are two -45 and two +45  the other directiom left or right is only known by the line tool user. I do not understand path points you use lineStart[1] < lineEnd[1]to find out up or down perhaps some other comparison can find out left or right and then adjust the angle if to the right by to the range from +|-90 to +|-180.
I think I did it now matches the line tool left to right or right to left the angle now matches the ruler measure tool when ruler unites is set to pixels
// enable double-clicking from Mac Finder or Windows Explorer
#target photoshop // this command only works in Photoshop CS2 and higher
// bring application forward for double-click events
app.bringToFront();
// ensure at least one document open
if (!documents.length) alert('There are no documents open.', 'No Document');
else {
          main(); // at least one document exists proceed
//                            main function                                  //
function main() {
          // declare local variables
          var orig_ruler_units = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
          app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;          // Set the ruler units to PIXELS
          try { alert(measureLine(app.activeDocument.pathItems.getByName("Work Path"))); }
          // display error message if something goes wrong
          catch(e) { alert(e + ': on line ' + e.line, 'Script Error', true); }
          app.preferences.rulerUnits = orig_ruler_units;          // Reset units to original settings
//                           main function end                               //
//the code below is for the Line tool.
function measureLine(path){
          var res = new Array;
          var lineStart = path.subPathItems[0].pathPoints[0].anchor;
          var lineEnd = path.subPathItems[0].pathPoints[3].anchor;
          var a = Math.max(lineStart[0],lineEnd[0])-Math.min(lineStart[0],lineEnd[0]);
          var o = Math.max(lineStart[1],lineEnd[1])-Math.min(lineStart[1],lineEnd[1]);
          var c = Math.round(Math.sqrt((a*a)+(o*o)));
          //alert("Triangle Height = " + o + " Width = " + a + " Hypotenuse = " + c );
          res.push(c);
          var ang = (180/Math.PI) * Math.atan2(o,a);
          if(lineStart[0] > lineEnd[0]){//To the left
                    ang = 180-ang;
          if(lineStart[1] < lineEnd[1]){//Down
                    ang = -ang;
          res.push(ang);
          return res;
Message was edited by: JJMack