idea Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Debert — Thu, 15 May 2025 14:48:28 GMT

Hello, I would like to log an enhancement for the Measure Distance Tool in ArcGIS Pro. Specifically, the measure distance tool defaults to Planar every time it opens. I would like to be able to set the default to Geodesic. We use this tool all day/everyday to measure and add as-built notes to the map. Having to change the default from Planar to Geodesic before each measurement slows our workflow down and also makes for discrepancies in measurements if forgotten to reset. For instance, using Planar could give us a measurement of 40', when in reality if we had used Geodesic the true measurement would have read 60'.
These notes are used for locates in the field as not everyone has a GNSS receiver paired to their mobile device.

I've created a case #03906590 and logged an enhancement. I hope you'll consider this. Cheers!

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Debert — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:54:17 GMT

If others are still running into this, please add kudos or comment with your use cases. Thanks!

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Koeller_Christine_A_-_DOT — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:36:57 GMT

Still would be a nice enhancement

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Debert — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:19:40 GMT

ENH-000176467 currently still 'In Review'.

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

MelissaWilcox — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:00:45 GMT

I use the geodesic option in the measure tool almost 100% of the time for forestry measurements. I want to account for the curvature of the earth to take in the most accurate slope distances and road mileages that I can when planning logging operations. Being able to set the default to geodesic measurements would vastly improve my efficiency and timeliness. Please consider adding this!

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Debert — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:30:44 GMT

@MelissaWilcox Thank you for adding your use case to this enhancement.

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

PamBlackmoreBLM — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:51:56 GMT

I would really appreciate this enhancement! We do interdisciplinary team meetings where my team of specialists sit in the conference room and tell me what polygons to draw and modify. We draw oddly shaped polygons that can't exceed maximum distances across due to wildlife behavior limitations. Thus, I'm constantly using the distance measure tool to make sure the width doesn't exceed our maximum distance. Every single time I open the tool, I have to set it to geodesic because, as I understand it, that is more accurate in rugged terrain than a planar measurement. The open tool gets in the way of our aerial imagery we're drawing on, so I close and re-open it. It's annoying to have to switch the default measurement every single time, and my team has brought it up, too! "Can't you just change the default?" Nope, not yet....

Re: Measure Distance Tool: Ability to set default i.e. from Planar to Geodesic

Debert — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:04:36 GMT

@PamBlackmoreBLM This is a great use case and really highlights the same issue many of us are running into. When a tool is used this frequently, even small inefficiencies add up quickly. Being able to set a default measurement method would improve both efficiency and consistency across workflows- whether in the field or coordinating work in the office.