Based on OpenLayers.Control.Measure, the DynamicMeasure control shows measurements on labels that follow the cursor. This avoids having to worry about preparing a DOM item to display measurements.

The control also has preset styles to show lines and labels, so the only thing to do is add it to the map.

Control allows displaying lengths and headings of the segments that form a polyline or a polygon.

• measure-dynamic.html (adapted from "measure.html" OpenLayers example)

Example:

    ...
    // to mesure length
    var cMeasure = new OpenLayers.Control.DynamicMeasure(OpenLayers.Handler.Path);
    map.addControl(cMeasure);
    ...
    // ... and to start measuring
    cMeasure.activate();
    ...
    // ... and to stop it
    cMeasure.deactivate();
    ...

This control is now adapted to handle the methods undo redo and cancel of drawing handlers.

See the example measure-dynamic-dev.html (allows choose whether to use the patch posted on OL-Ragbag)

The control can use it as a DrawFeature control, see example measure-and-draw.html

• API for users
• For developers
  • all DynamicMeasure elements

The DynamicMeasure control works correctly with release 2.11 or higher including the development version.

According Yus's question in DEV some adjustments are made to solve some problems: labels do not remain at the end of measure, using the freehand the map is dirtied by the labels, layer of the labels (vlayer) should be on top of the drawing layer, allow use of immediate measure (new in 2.11)