diff --git a/README b/README
index 0723aa4..72e7561 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ pad "1" @ .
 Measurements
 - - - - - -
 
+*** This is obsolete - see the section on new-style mesurements at the end. ***
+
 Measurements show the distance between two points:
 
 meas <point-a> <point-b> <offset>
@@ -439,16 +441,15 @@ New-style measurements are placed in the root frame after all other
 items.
 
 Known issues:
-- they are currently not dumped and they can't be entered or edited
-  through the GUI
-- 
+- they currently can't be edited through the GUI
+- tie-breaking heuristics don't always do what one expects
 
 Syntax:
 
 <type> [<label>] <from> <op> <to> [<offset>]
 
 Types:
-- measxy: measure diagonally
+- meas: measure diagonally
 - measx: measure along the X axis
 - measy: measure along the y axis
 
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index b6ca810..cc662e4 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-Missing features:
+Major missing features:
 - populate input area (still needed: mm/mil, rezoom)
 - add default unit (combine with grid unit selection ?)
 - consider adding auto/mm/mil selection for each dimension
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ Missing features:
   non-trivial endpoints, e.g., some vector in last iteration of loop)
 - add KiCad output
 - add postscript output
-- add option to include/omit helper vecs and frames (display and postscript)
+- add option to include/omit helper vecs and frames (done for display, still
+  need postscript)
+
+Minor missing features:
 - reorder frames (can use text editor)
 - reorder rows in a table (can use text editor)
 - reorder columns in a table
@@ -17,6 +20,8 @@ Error detection:
 
 Style:
 - make column of entry field greedily consume all unallocated space
+- make menu bar consume all unallocated space instead of sharing it evenly with
+  upper toolbar
 - status area looks awful
 - add button with GTK_STOCK_UNDELETE for "undelete" to menu bar
 - edit names/values/etc. in place if possible
diff --git a/delete.c b/delete.c
index f150de6..810853e 100644
--- a/delete.c
+++ b/delete.c
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ static int obj_has_ref(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *ref)
 	case ot_arc:
 		return obj->u.arc.start == ref || obj->u.arc.end == ref;
 	case ot_meas:
+		return obj->u.meas.high == ref;
 	default:
 		abort();
 	}
@@ -203,7 +204,8 @@ static void destroy_obj(struct obj *obj)
 		free_expr(obj->u.arc.width);
 		break;
 	case ot_meas:
-		free_expr(obj->u.meas.offset);
+		if (obj->u.meas.offset)
+			free_expr(obj->u.meas.offset);
 		break;
 	default:
 		abort();
diff --git a/dump.c b/dump.c
index ccb8fc3..175012a 100644
--- a/dump.c
+++ b/dump.c
@@ -201,9 +201,7 @@ static int may_dump_obj_now(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev)
 		l |= later(obj->u.arc.end, prev);
 		break;
 	case ot_meas:
-		n |= need(obj->u.meas.other, prev);
-		l |= later(obj->u.meas.other, prev);
-		break;
+		return 0;
 	default:
 		abort();
 	}
@@ -212,6 +210,21 @@ static int may_dump_obj_now(const struct obj *obj, const struct vec *prev)
 }
 
 
+static const char *meas_type_name[mt_n] = {
+	"meas", "measx", "measy",
+	"meas", "measx", "measy",
+};
+
+
+
+static void print_meas_base(FILE *file, struct vec *base)
+{
+	if (base->frame != root_frame)
+		fprintf(file, "%s.", base->frame->name);
+	fprintf(file, "%s", base->name);
+}
+
+
 static void dump_obj(FILE *file, struct obj *obj, const char *indent,
     const struct vec *prev)
 {
@@ -262,11 +275,22 @@ static void dump_obj(FILE *file, struct obj *obj, const char *indent,
 		free(s3);
 		break;
 	case ot_meas:
-		s1 = obj_base_name(obj->u.meas.other, prev);
-		s2 = unparse(obj->u.meas.offset);
-		fprintf(file, "%smeas %s %s %s\n", indent, base, s1, s2);
-		free(s1);
-		free(s2);
+		fprintf(file, "%s%s ", indent,
+		    meas_type_name[obj->u.meas.type]);
+		if (obj->u.meas.label)
+			fprintf(file, "\"%s\" ", obj->u.meas.label);
+		print_meas_base(file, obj->base);
+		fprintf(file, " %s ",
+		    obj->u.meas.type < 3 ? obj->u.meas.inverted ? "<-" : "->" :
+		    obj->u.meas.inverted ? "<<" : ">>");
+		print_meas_base(file, obj->u.meas.high);
+		if (!obj->u.meas.offset)
+			fprintf(file, "\n");
+		else {
+			s1 = unparse(obj->u.meas.offset);
+			fprintf(file, " %s\n", s1);
+			free(s1);
+		}
 		break;
 	default:
 		abort();
@@ -340,7 +364,7 @@ static void dump_frame(FILE *file, const struct frame *frame,
 		obj->dumped = 0;
 	dump_vecs(file, frame->vecs, indent);
 
-	/* duh. do we need this ? */
+	/* do we need this for anything but measurements ? */
 	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
 		dump_obj(file, obj, indent, NULL);
 }
diff --git a/fpd.l b/fpd.l
index 90a6656..e5e5937 100644
--- a/fpd.l
+++ b/fpd.l
@@ -95,8 +95,6 @@ SP	[\t ]*
 				  return TOK_ARC; }
 <INITIAL>"meas"			{ BEGIN(NOKEYWORD);
 				  return TOK_MEAS; }
-<INITIAL>"measxy"		{ BEGIN(NOKEYWORD);
-				  return TOK_MEASXY; }
 <INITIAL>"measx"		{ BEGIN(NOKEYWORD);
 				  return TOK_MEASX; }
 <INITIAL>"measy"		{ BEGIN(NOKEYWORD);
diff --git a/fpd.y b/fpd.y
index f83852b..b59a3f8 100644
--- a/fpd.y
+++ b/fpd.y
@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@ static struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type)
 	struct value *value;
 	struct vec *vec;
 	struct obj *obj;
-	struct meas *meas;
 	enum meas_type mt;
 	struct {
 		int inverted;
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ static struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type)
 %token		START_FPD START_EXPR
 %token		TOK_SET TOK_LOOP TOK_PART TOK_FRAME TOK_TABLE TOK_VEC
 %token		TOK_PAD TOK_RECT TOK_LINE TOK_CIRC TOK_ARC
-%token		TOK_MEAS TOK_MEASXY TOK_MEASX TOK_MEASY
+%token		TOK_MEAS TOK_MEASX TOK_MEASY
 %token		TOK_NEXT TOK_NEXT_INVERTED TOK_MAX TOK_MAX_INVERTED
 
 %token	<num>	NUMBER
@@ -165,9 +164,8 @@ static struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type)
 %type	<row>	rows
 %type	<value>	row value
 %type	<vec>	vec base qbase
-%type	<obj>	obj
+%type	<obj>	obj meas
 %type	<expr>	expr opt_expr add_expr mult_expr unary_expr primary_expr
-%type	<meas>	measurements meas
 %type	<str>	opt_string
 %type	<mt>	meas_type
 %type	<mo>	meas_op
@@ -246,9 +244,6 @@ frame_def:
 
 frame_items:
 	measurements
-		{
-			measurements = $1;
-		}
 	| frame_item frame_items
 	;
 
@@ -455,13 +450,6 @@ obj:
 			$$->u.arc.end = $4;
 			$$->u.arc.width = $5;
 		}
-	| TOK_MEAS base base expr
-		{
-			$$ = new_obj(ot_meas);
-			$$->base = $2;
-			$$->u.meas.other = $3;
-			$$->u.meas.offset = $4;
-		}
 	| TOK_FRAME ID 
 		{ 
 		    $<num>$.n = lineno;
@@ -482,26 +470,26 @@ obj:
 	;
 
 measurements:
+	| measurements meas
 		{
-			$$ = NULL;
-		}
-	| meas measurements
-		{
-			$$ = $1;
-			$$->next = $2;
+			*next_obj = $2;
+			next_obj = &$2->next;
 		}
 	;
 
 meas:
 	meas_type opt_string qbase meas_op qbase opt_expr
 		{
-			$$ = alloc_type(struct meas);
-			$$->type = $4.max ? $1+3 : $1;
-			$$->label = $2;
-			$$->low = $3;
-			$$->inverted = $4.inverted;
-			$$->high = $5;
-			$$->offset = $6;
+			struct meas *meas;
+
+			$$ = new_obj(ot_meas);
+			meas = &$$->u.meas;
+			meas->type = $4.max ? $1+3 : $1;
+			meas->label = $2;
+			$$->base = $3;
+			meas->inverted = $4.inverted;
+			meas->high = $5;
+			meas->offset = $6;
 			$$->next = NULL;
 		}
 	;
@@ -529,7 +517,7 @@ qbase:
 	;
 
 meas_type:
-	TOK_MEASXY
+	TOK_MEAS
 		{
 			$$ = mt_xy_next;
 		}
diff --git a/gui_inst.c b/gui_inst.c
index fd3f27e..eccc178 100644
--- a/gui_inst.c
+++ b/gui_inst.c
@@ -358,15 +358,14 @@ void gui_draw_meas(struct inst *self)
 	struct coord a0, b0, a1, b1, off, c, d;
 	GdkGC *gc;
 	double len;
-	const char *label = self->u.meas.meas ?
-	    self->u.meas.meas->label ? self->u.meas.meas->label : "" : "";
+	const struct meas *meas = &self->obj->u.meas;
 	char *s;
 
 	a0 = translate(self->base);
 	b0 = translate(self->u.meas.end);
 	a1 = self->base;
 	b1 = self->u.meas.end;
-	switch (self->u.meas.meas ? self->u.meas.meas->type : mt_xy_next) {
+	switch (meas->type) {
 	case mt_xy_next:
 	case mt_xy_max:
 		break;
@@ -394,7 +393,7 @@ void gui_draw_meas(struct inst *self)
 
 	c = add_vec(a1, b1);
 	d = sub_vec(b1, a1);
-	s = stralloc_printf("%s%lgmm", label, len);
+	s = stralloc_printf("%s%lgmm", meas->label ? meas->label : "", len);
 	render_text(DA, gc, c.x/2, c.y/2, -atan2(d.y, d.x)/M_PI*180, s,
 	    MEAS_FONT, 0.5, -MEAS_BASELINE_OFFSET,
 	    dist_point(a1, b1)-1.5*MEAS_ARROW_LEN, 0);
diff --git a/gui_meas.c b/gui_meas.c
index 37b9bf2..9083b95 100644
--- a/gui_meas.c
+++ b/gui_meas.c
@@ -256,12 +256,15 @@ static void begin_drag_new_meas(struct inst *inst)
 
 static int end_new_meas(struct inst *from, struct inst *to)
 {
+	struct obj *obj;
 	struct meas *meas;
 
 	meas_inst = NULL;
 	if (from == to)
 		return 0;
-	meas = alloc_type(struct meas);
+	/* it's safe to pass "from" here, but we may change it later */
+	obj = new_obj(ot_meas, from);
+	meas = &obj->u.meas;
 	meas->label = NULL;
 	switch (mode) {
 	case min_to_next_or_max:
@@ -270,17 +273,17 @@ static int end_new_meas(struct inst *from, struct inst *to)
 		} else {
 			meas->type = meas_dsc->type+3;
 		}
-		meas->low = from->vec;
+		obj->base = from->vec;
 		meas->high = to->vec;
 		break;
 	case next_to_min:
 		meas->type = meas_dsc->type;
-		meas->low = to->vec;
+		obj->base = to->vec;
 		meas->high = from->vec;
 		break;
 	case max_to_min:
 		meas->type = meas_dsc->type+3;
-		meas->low = to->vec;
+		obj->base = to->vec;
 		meas->high = from->vec;
 		break;
 	default:
@@ -296,9 +299,7 @@ char *st[] = { "nxy", "nx", "ny", "mxy", "mx", "my" };
 fprintf(stderr, "mode %s type %s, inverted %d\n",
 sm[mode], st[meas->type], meas->inverted);
 }
-	meas->offset = parse_expr("0mm");
-	meas->next = measurements;
-	measurements = meas;
+	meas->offset = NULL;
 	meas_dsc = NULL;
 	return 1;
 }
diff --git a/gui_tool.c b/gui_tool.c
index a032065..6553c0e 100644
--- a/gui_tool.c
+++ b/gui_tool.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static struct vec *new_vec(struct inst *base)
 }
 
 
-static struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type, struct inst *base)
+struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type, struct inst *base)
 {
 	struct obj *obj, **walk;
 
diff --git a/gui_tool.h b/gui_tool.h
index 97a7a81..1e89cbf 100644
--- a/gui_tool.h
+++ b/gui_tool.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ void tool_redraw(void);
  * compilation unit.
  */
 
+struct obj *new_obj(enum obj_type type, struct inst *base);
 struct pix_buf *draw_move_line_common(struct inst *inst,
     struct coord end, struct coord pos, int i);
 struct pix_buf *drag_new_line(struct inst *from, struct coord to);
diff --git a/inst.c b/inst.c
index 159fe5e..2596c6b 100644
--- a/inst.c
+++ b/inst.c
@@ -677,10 +677,8 @@ static int meas_op_anchors(struct inst *inst, struct vec ***anchors)
 {
 	struct obj *obj = inst->obj;
 
-	if (!inst->obj)
-		return 0; /* @@@ new-style measurements */
 	anchors[0] = &obj->base;
-	anchors[1] = &obj->u.meas.other;
+	anchors[1] = &obj->u.meas.high;
 	return 2;
 }
 
@@ -695,7 +693,7 @@ static struct inst_ops meas_ops = {
 };
 
 
-int inst_meas(struct obj *obj, struct meas *meas,
+int inst_meas(struct obj *obj,
     struct coord from, struct coord to, unit_type offset)
 {
 	struct inst *inst;
@@ -704,9 +702,7 @@ int inst_meas(struct obj *obj, struct meas *meas,
 	inst->obj = obj;
 	inst->u.meas.end = to;
 	inst->u.meas.offset = offset;
-	inst->u.meas.meas = meas;
-	if (!obj)
-		inst->active = 1; /* @@@ new-style measurements */
+	inst->active = 1; /* measurements are always active */
 	/* @@@ our bbox is actually a bit more complex than this */
 	update_bbox(&inst->bbox, to);
 	propagate_bbox(inst);
diff --git a/inst.h b/inst.h
index a7224a3..efc3c82 100644
--- a/inst.h
+++ b/inst.h
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ struct inst {
 		struct {
 			struct coord end;
 			double offset;
-			struct meas *meas; /* new-style measurement */
 		} meas;
 	} u;
 	struct inst *next;
@@ -96,8 +95,8 @@ int inst_rect(struct obj *obj, struct coord a, struct coord b, unit_type width);
 int inst_pad(struct obj *obj, const char *name, struct coord a, struct coord b);
 int inst_arc(struct obj *obj, struct coord center, struct coord start,
     struct coord stop, unit_type width);
-int inst_meas(struct obj *obj, struct meas *meas,
-    struct coord from, struct coord to, unit_type offset);
+int inst_meas(struct obj *obj, struct coord from, struct coord to,
+    unit_type offset);
 
 void inst_begin_active(int active);
 void inst_end_active(void);
diff --git a/meas.c b/meas.c
index 790662b..d254b3b 100644
--- a/meas.c
+++ b/meas.c
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ struct sample {
 	struct sample *next;
 };
 
-struct meas *measurements = NULL;
-
 
 static void reset_samples(struct sample **samples)
 {
@@ -210,17 +208,21 @@ struct coord meas_find_max(lt_op_type lt, const struct sample *s)
 
 int instantiate_meas(void)
 {
-	struct meas *meas;
+	struct obj *obj;
+	const struct meas *meas;
 	struct coord a0, b0;
 	lt_op_type lt;
 	struct num offset;
 
-	for (meas = measurements; meas; meas = meas->next) {
-		if (!meas->low->samples || !meas->high->samples)
+	for (obj = root_frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next) {
+		if (obj->type != ot_meas)
 			continue;
+		meas = &obj->u.meas;
+		if (!obj->base->samples || !meas->high->samples)
+			return 1;
 
 		lt = lt_op[meas->type];
-		a0 = meas_find_min(lt, meas->low->samples);
+		a0 = meas_find_min(lt, obj->base->samples);
 		if (is_next[meas->type])
 			b0 = meas_find_next(lt, meas->high->samples, a0);
 		else
@@ -233,7 +235,7 @@ int instantiate_meas(void)
 			if (is_undef(offset))
 				return 0;
 		}
-		inst_meas(NULL, meas,
+		inst_meas(obj,
 		    meas->inverted ? b0 : a0, meas->inverted ? a0 : b0,
 		    offset.n);
 	}
diff --git a/meas.fpd b/meas.fpd
index c2ad1d2..a650cc4 100644
--- a/meas.fpd
+++ b/meas.fpd
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ C: vec @(0mm, 4mm)
 /*
  * If we measure (x, y), y trumps x
  */
-measxy "A -> B = " A -> B 0.2mm
-measxy "A <- B = " A <- B 0.5mm
+meas "A -> B = " A -> B 0.2mm
+meas "A <- B = " A <- B 0.5mm
 
-measxy "A >> B = " A >> B 1.5mm
+meas "A >> B = " A >> B 1.5mm
 
 measx "x(A -> B) = " A -> B -0.5mm
 measx "x(A >> B) = " A >> B -1mm
 measy "y(A -> B) = " A -> B -2mm
 measy "y(A >> B) = " A >> B -4.5mm
 
-measxy "B -> C = " B -> C 0.5mm
+meas "B -> C = " B -> C 0.5mm
diff --git a/meas.h b/meas.h
index 51d5abd..b32142b 100644
--- a/meas.h
+++ b/meas.h
@@ -14,11 +14,15 @@
 #ifndef MEAS_H
 #define MEAS_H
 
-#include "obj.h"
+
+#include "coord.h"
+#include "expr.h"
 
 
 typedef int (*lt_op_type)(struct coord a, struct coord b);
 
+struct vec;
+struct obj;
 
 struct meas {
 	enum meas_type {
@@ -32,18 +36,14 @@ struct meas {
 	} type;
 	char *label; /* or NULL */
 	int inverted;
-	struct vec *low;
+	/* low is obj->base */
 	struct vec *high;
 	struct expr *offset;
-	struct meas *next;
 };
 
 struct sample;
 
 
-extern struct meas *measurements;
-
-
 int lt_x(struct coord a, struct coord b);
 int lt_y(struct coord a, struct coord b);
 int lt_xy(struct coord a, struct coord b);
diff --git a/obj.c b/obj.c
index 5cd03ad..32bd0c1 100644
--- a/obj.c
+++ b/obj.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static int generate_objs(struct frame *frame, struct coord base, int active)
 	struct obj *obj;
 	char *name;
 	int ok;
-	struct num width, offset;
+	struct num width;
 
 	for (obj = frame->objs; obj; obj = obj->next)
 		switch (obj->type) {
@@ -145,14 +145,6 @@ static int generate_objs(struct frame *frame, struct coord base, int active)
 				return 0;
 			break;
 		case ot_meas:
-			offset = eval_unit(obj->u.meas.offset, frame);
-			if (is_undef(offset))
-				return 0;
-			if (!inst_meas(obj, NULL,
-			    obj->base ? obj->base->pos : base,
-			    obj->u.meas.other ? obj->u.meas.other->pos : base,
-			    offset.n))
-				return 0;
 			break;
 		default:
 			abort();
diff --git a/obj.h b/obj.h
index ed9d639..23fea67 100644
--- a/obj.h
+++ b/obj.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "expr.h"
 #include "coord.h"
+#include "meas.h"
 
 
 struct var {
@@ -152,11 +153,6 @@ struct arc {
 	struct expr *width;
 };
 
-struct old_meas {
-	struct vec *other; /* NULL if frame origin */
-	struct expr *offset;
-};
-
 struct obj {
 	enum obj_type type;
 	union {
@@ -165,7 +161,7 @@ struct obj {
 		struct rect line;
 		struct pad pad;
 		struct arc arc;
-		struct old_meas meas;
+		struct meas meas;
 	} u;
 	struct frame *frame;
 	struct vec *base;
diff --git a/qfn.fpd b/qfn.fpd
index 4b777cb..472aaee 100644
--- a/qfn.fpd
+++ b/qfn.fpd
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@
 
 frame pad_up {
 	c: vec @(-D/2, 0mm)
-	vec .(0mm, C)
-	meas c . 0.2mm
-	vec c(D, C)
+	o: vec c(D, C)
 	set pad = n+1
 	pad "$pad" c .
 }
@@ -71,3 +69,5 @@ x1 = 1+2*3
 x2 = (1+2)*3
 x3 = 1-(2+3)
 */
+
+measy pad_up.c -> pad_up.o 0.2mm
diff --git a/sc89.fpd b/sc89.fpd
index 054ec3f..7aa0157 100644
--- a/sc89.fpd
+++ b/sc89.fpd
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ frame pad {
 	se: vec sw(Px, 0mm)
 	nw: vec sw(0mm, Py)
 	pad "$pad" se nw
-//	meas sw se -0.1mm
-//	meas sw nw 0.1mm
 }
 
 frame pad_ne {