Summary
Periscope provides fast drawing entity feedback in a compact tooltip-like scope window as you move the cursor over the objects (including objects nested in blocks). The displayed information is designed to supplement the visual information seen on the screen by showing “invisible” properties in an intuitive and compact fashion. Two common uses are to quickly get a grasp on the contents of drawings obtained from third parties and to check drawings for drafting standards conformance. Custom extenders may be created in VBA or .NET to extend or modify the information displayed in the scope window by providing text with HTML formatting. Periscope supports the following platforms:
AutoCAD R14 - 2027
Bricscad 9 - 24
ZWCAD+ 2014 - 2017
Periscope is free! Download and try it for yourself!
Features
Periscope displays DXF name, layer, linetype, color, and attached URL of all objects, along with information specific to the object type. Selected Architectural Desktop and Land Development Desktop objects are supported, including wall, window, and door styles, cogo point data, and other similar properties of common elements. The following table shows an abbreviated list of object-specific information:
| LINE | length, bearing (angle), delta X,Y,Z (3D lines) |
| POLYLINE | length, width, elevation, # segments, open/closed, spline type |
| LWPOLYLINE | length, width, elevation, # segments, open/closed |
| ARC | area, perimeter, radius |
| CIRCLE | area, perimeter, diameter |
| 3DSOLID | volume, surface area |
| REGION | area, perimeter |
| INSERT | block name, scale factor(s), rotation |
| IMAGE | image name, file name, scale, rotation |
| TEXT | style, height, width factor |
| VIEWPORT | scale, perspective, hidden line, and view-locked status |
| DIMENSION | style, override and default text status |
User settings include enabling and disabling the Periscope window from popping up automatically after the cursor pauses for a preset period of time, setting the length of the delay time, and setting whether Periscope loads automatically at startup. Periscope’s window can also be activated manually at any time by using the PEEK command. Easy access to user settings is provided by a small Periscope icon in the status bar, the PERISCOPE command, or the (periscope) LISP function.
Here is a screen capture showing the Periscope popup scope window over an AutoCAD REGION object:
Download
Download Periscope: Periscope7.msi (9.8 MB)
Periscope is free to use for any purpose subject to the terms of the license agreement.