Position logging is a feature of the Meazure program that allows the recording of successive tool positions. For example, the Cursor tool or Point tool can be used to digitize positions along a path. The recorded positions can be played back, saved to a file and subsequently reloaded.

The position of the current measurement tool is saved either by selecting the Record Position item from the Edit menu, by pressing Ctrl+P, or by using the Add button on the position management dialog. A number of supporting items are recorded along with the current tool and its position. These items include a time stamp, the current screen size and resolution, the location of the coordinate system origin, and the current units. Recorded positions can be managed or saved to a file.

Once one or more positions have been recorded they can be saved to a position log file. To save the recorded positions select either the Save Positions or Save Positions As item from the File menu. In addition, the positions can be saved using the appropriate buttons on the position management dialog. The file save dialog is the standard Windows save dialog with the addition of a text field for entering an optional description of the position log. The description, if provided, is saved in the log file.

Positions are saved to an XML file with a .mpl file extension. The format of the file is described by the Position Log file DTD located at http://www.cthing.com/dtd/PositionLog1.dtd. A copy of the DTD is installed with the Meazure program in the dtd folder (typically C:\Program Files\C Thing Software\Meazure\dtd).

A position log file is loaded by selecting the Load Positions item from the File menu or by using the Load button on the position management dialog. Once a position log file has been loaded, the position management dialog is displayed to allow playback of the positions.

A position log file differs from a profile file in the following way. A profile file is designed to save a complete snapshot of the Meazure program. That is, all tool positions, appearance settings, calibrations, and all other preferences are saved in a profile file. In contrast, a position log file records the position of the current measurement tool at a point in time and includes only those supporting items necessary to replay the positions.

Recorded positions can be deleted selectively using the position management dialog, or can be completely deleted using either the management dialog or the Delete Positions item on the Edit menu.

The position management dialog provides a one stop shop for recording, editing, saving, loading and playing back measurement tool positions. The position management dialog is modeless and can be accessed from the Manage Positions item on the Edit menu. In addition, the dialog is displayed whenever a position log file is loaded.

At the top of the position management dialog is the position playback slider. Once positions have been recorded or loaded, the slider can be used to step through each position. The information about each position is displayed immediately below the playback slider. This information includes the time stamp and description associated with the position.

At the bottom of the dialog is a set of buttons that provide complete control over managing measurement tool positions.

• Add - Records the current measurement tool position.
• Replace - Replaces the position selected by the playback slider with the current measurement tool position.
• Delete - Deletes the position selected by the playback slider.
• Delete All - Deletes all recorded positions.
• Load - Loads a position log file thereby replacing the currently recorded positions, if any.
• Save - Saves the currently recorded positions to a position log file.
• Save As - Saves the currently recorded positions to a position log file.
• Close - Dismisses the dialog.