Perimeter annotation in JavaScript PDF Viewer
14 Jan 202619 minutes to read
Perimeter is a measurement annotation used to measure the length around a closed polyline in the PDF.

Add Perimeter Annotation
Add perimeter annotation via UI
Use the annotation toolbar:
- Click the Edit Annotation button in the PDF Viewer toolbar.
- Click the Measurement Annotation dropdown.
- Choose Perimeter, then draw the polyline on the page.
NOTE
When in pan mode, selecting a measurement annotation switches the viewer to text select mode.

Enable perimeter mode
The PDF Viewer library allows drawing measurement annotations programmatically after enabling perimeter mode in button clicks.
<button id="perimeterMode">Perimeter</button>ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib";
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var perimeterBtn = document.getElementById('perimeterMode');
if (perimeterBtn) {
perimeterBtn.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotationModule.setAnnotationMode('Perimeter');
});
}ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var perimeterBtn = document.getElementById('perimeterMode');
if (perimeterBtn) {
perimeterBtn.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotationModule.setAnnotationMode('Perimeter');
});
}Add a perimeter annotation programmatically
The PDF Viewer library allows adding measurement annotations programmatically using the addAnnotation() method.
<button id="addPerimeterAnnotation">Add Perimeter annotation Programmatically</button>ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib";
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var addBtn = document.getElementById('addPerimeterAnnotation');
if (addBtn) {
addBtn.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotation.addAnnotation('Perimeter', {
offset: { x: 200, y: 350 },
pageNumber: 1,
vertexPoints: [
{ x: 200, y: 350 },
{ x: 285, y: 350 },
{ x: 286, y: 412 }
]
});
});
}ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var addBtn = document.getElementById('addPerimeterAnnotation');
if (addBtn) {
addBtn.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotation.addAnnotation('Perimeter', {
offset: { x: 200, y: 350 },
pageNumber: 1,
vertexPoints: [
{ x: 200, y: 350 },
{ x: 285, y: 350 },
{ x: 286, y: 412 }
]
});
});
}Edit Perimeter Annotation
Edit perimeter annotation in UI
You can select, move, and resize Perimeter annotations directly in the viewer:
- Select a Perimeter to show its vertex handles.
- Move: drag inside the shape to reposition it on the page.
- Resize/reshape: drag any vertex handle to adjust the polyline points and size.
- Delete or access more options from the context menu.
Edit the properties of Perimeter annotations
The fill color, stroke color, thickness, and opacity can be edited using the Edit Color, Edit Stroke Color, Edit Thickness, and Edit Opacity tools in the annotation toolbar.
Edit fill color
The fill color of the annotation can be edited using the color palette provided in the Edit Color tool.

Edit stroke color
The stroke color of the annotation can be edited using the color palette provided in the Edit Stroke Color tool.

Edit thickness
Edit border thickness using the range slider provided in the Edit Thickness tool.

Edit opacity
The opacity of the annotation can be edited using the range slider provided in the Edit Opacity tool.

Edit an existing perimeter annotation programmatically
To modify an existing perimeter annotation programmatically, use the editAnnotation() method.
Here is an example of using editAnnotation():
<button id="editPerimeterAnnotation">Edit Perimeter annotation Programmatically</button>ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib";
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var editPerimeterAnnotation = document.getElementById('editPerimeterAnnotation');
if (editPerimeterAnnotation) {
editPerimeterAnnotation.addEventListener('click', function () {
if (pdfviewer) {
for (var i = 0; i < pdfviewer.annotationCollection.length; i++) {
if (pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].subject === "Perimeter calculation") {
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].annotationSelectorSettings.resizerShape = "Circle";
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].strokeColor = "#0000FF";
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].thickness = 2;
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].fillColor = "#FFFF00";
pdfviewer.annotation.editAnnotation(pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i]);
}
}
}
});
}ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
var editPerimeterAnnotation = document.getElementById('editPerimeterAnnotation');
if (editPerimeterAnnotation) {
editPerimeterAnnotation.addEventListener('click', function () {
if (pdfviewer) {
for (var i = 0; i < pdfviewer.annotationCollection.length; i++) {
if (pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].subject === "Perimeter calculation") {
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].annotationSelectorSettings.resizerShape = "Circle";
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].strokeColor = "#0000FF";
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].thickness = 2;
pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i].fillColor = "#FFFF00";
pdfviewer.annotation.editAnnotation(pdfviewer.annotationCollection[i]);
}
}
}
});
}Default perimeter settings during initialization
Set default perimeterSettings before creating the control.
ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib";
pdfviewer.perimeterSettings = { fillColor: 'green', opacity: 0.6, strokeColor: 'blue' };
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.perimeterSettings = { fillColor: 'green', opacity: 0.6, strokeColor: 'blue' };
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');Set properties while adding Individual Annotation
Set properties for individual annotation before creating the control using PerimeterSettings.
After editing default color and opacity using the Edit Color and Edit Opacity tools, the values update to the selected settings.
Refer to the following code snippet to set the default Perimeter settings.
<button id="Perimeter">Add Perimeter</button>ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-designer.pdf';
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib';
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
//Apply Perimeter Settings while adding individual Annotation
document.getElementById('Perimeter')?.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotation.addAnnotation('Perimeter', {
offset: { x: 200, y: 350 },
pageNumber: 1,
vertexPoints: [{ x: 200, y: 350 }, { x: 285, y: 350 }, { x: 286, y: 412 }],
fillColor: 'green', opacity: 0.6, strokeColor: 'blue'
});
});=ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-designer.pdf';
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');
//Apply Perimeter Settings while adding individual Annotation
document.getElementById('Perimeter')?.addEventListener('click', function () {
pdfviewer.annotation.addAnnotation('Perimeter', {
offset: { x: 200, y: 350 },
pageNumber: 1,
vertexPoints: [{ x: 200, y: 350 }, { x: 285, y: 350 }, { x: 286, y: 412 }],
fillColor: 'green', opacity: 0.6, strokeColor: 'blue'
});
});Editing scale ratio and unit of the perimeter measurement annotation
The scale ratio and unit of measurement can be modified using the scale ratio option provided in the context menu of the PDF Viewer control.

The Units of measurements support for the measurement annotations in the PDF Viewer are
- Inch
- Millimeter
- Centimeter
- Point
- Pica
- Feet

Setting default scale ratio settings during control initialization
The properties of scale ratio for measurement annotation can be set before creating the control using measurementSettings as shown in the following code snippet,
ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.resourceUrl = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib";
pdfviewer.measurementSettings = { scaleRatio: 2, conversionUnit: 'cm', displayUnit: 'cm' };
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer.Inject(
ej.pdfviewer.Toolbar,
ej.pdfviewer.Magnification,
ej.pdfviewer.Navigation,
ej.pdfviewer.Annotation,
ej.pdfviewer.LinkAnnotation,
ej.pdfviewer.ThumbnailView,
ej.pdfviewer.BookmarkView,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSelection,
ej.pdfviewer.TextSearch,
ej.pdfviewer.FormFields,
ej.pdfviewer.FormDesigner,
ej.pdfviewer.PageOrganizer
);
var pdfviewer = new ej.pdfviewer.PdfViewer();
pdfviewer.serviceUrl = 'https://document.syncfusion.com/web-services/pdf-viewer/api/pdfviewer/';
pdfviewer.documentPath = "https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/pdf-succinctly.pdf";
pdfviewer.measurementSettings = { scaleRatio: 2, conversionUnit: 'cm', displayUnit: 'cm' };
pdfviewer.appendTo('#PdfViewer');