diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bbff33c..822b710 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ CFLAGS_GTK = `pkg-config --cflags gtk+-2.0`
 LIBS_GTK = `pkg-config --libs gtk+-2.0`
 
 CFLAGS_WARN=-Wall -Wshadow -Wmissing-prototypes \
-            -Wmissing-declarations
+            -Wmissing-declarations -Wno-format-zero-length
 CFLAGS=-g -std=gnu99 $(CFLAGS_GTK) -DCPP='"cpp"' $(CFLAGS_WARN)
 SLOPPY=-Wno-unused -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -Wno-missing-prototypes \
        -Wno-missing-declarations
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index ec9f086..5039336 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ Style:
 - status area looks awful
 - add button with GTK_STOCK_UNDELETE for "undelete" to menu bar
 - edit names/values/etc. in place if possible
+- maximizing pad name size creates uneven text sizes. Particularly "1" gets
+  excessively large.
+- pango_layout_get_size doesn't seem to consider rotation, so we currently
+  don't properly size rotated text.
 
 Bugs:
 - default silk width has no business being hard-coded in obj.c
diff --git a/error.c b/error.c
index aec4d94..719b3f4 100644
--- a/error.c
+++ b/error.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void yyerrorf(const char *fmt, ...)
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
 	vsnprintf(buf, n+1, fmt, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
-	fail(buf);
+	fail("%s", buf);
 	free(buf);
 }
 
diff --git a/error.h b/error.h
index 55b39ea..89be071 100644
--- a/error.h
+++ b/error.h
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@ extern int lineno;
 extern void (*reporter)(const char *s);
 
 
-void yyerrorf(const char *fmt, ...);
+void yyerrorf(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
 void yyerror(const char *s);
 
 void report_to_stderr(const char *s);
 void report_parse_error(const char *s);
-void fail(const char *fmt, ...);
+void fail(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
 
 #endif /* !ERROR_H */
diff --git a/gui_canvas.c b/gui_canvas.c
index 8c42d61..286eeb5 100644
--- a/gui_canvas.c
+++ b/gui_canvas.c
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ static void update_pos(struct coord pos)
 }
 
 
+void refresh_pos(void)
+{
+	update_pos(curr_pos);
+}
+
+
 /* ----- coordinate system ------------------------------------------------- */
 
 
diff --git a/gui_canvas.h b/gui_canvas.h
index 64a15a8..ed21864 100644
--- a/gui_canvas.h
+++ b/gui_canvas.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 extern void (*highlight)(void);
 
 
+void refresh_pos(void);
+
 void redraw(void);
 
 GtkWidget *make_canvas(void);
diff --git a/gui_inst.c b/gui_inst.c
index 79086d7..72af68c 100644
--- a/gui_inst.c
+++ b/gui_inst.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "gui.h"
 #include "gui_util.h"
 #include "gui_style.h"
+#include "gui_status.h"
 #include "gui_inst.h"
 
 
@@ -378,7 +379,7 @@ static struct coord offset_vec(struct coord a, struct coord b,
 }
 
 
-static void project_meas(struct inst *inst, struct coord *a1, struct coord *b1)
+void project_meas(const struct inst *inst, struct coord *a1, struct coord *b1)
 {
 	const struct meas *meas = &inst->obj->u.meas;
 	struct coord off;
@@ -417,6 +418,35 @@ unit_type gui_dist_meas(struct inst *self, struct coord pos, unit_type scale)
 }
 
 
+char *format_len(const char *label, unit_type len, enum curr_unit unit)
+{
+	const char *u = "";
+	double n;
+	int mm;
+
+	switch (unit) {
+	case curr_unit_mm:
+		n = units_to_mm(len);
+		mm = 1;
+		break;
+	case curr_unit_mil:
+		n = units_to_mil(len);
+		mm = 0;
+		break;
+	case curr_unit_auto:
+		n = units_to_best(len, &mm);
+		u = mm ? "mm" : "mil";
+		break;
+	default:
+		abort();
+	}
+	return stralloc_printf(mm ?
+	    "%s" MM_FORMAT_SHORT "%s" : 
+	    "%s" MIL_FORMAT_SHORT "%s",
+	    label, n, u);
+}
+
+
 void gui_draw_meas(struct inst *self)
 {
 	const struct meas *meas = &self->obj->u.meas;
@@ -429,7 +459,7 @@ void gui_draw_meas(struct inst *self)
 	b0 = translate(self->u.meas.end);
 	project_meas(self, &a1, &b1);
 
-	len = units_to_mm(dist_point(a1, b1));
+	len = dist_point(a1, b1);
 	a1 = translate(a1);
 	b1 = translate(b1);
 	gc = gc_meas[get_mode(self)];
@@ -441,7 +471,7 @@ void gui_draw_meas(struct inst *self)
 
 	c = add_vec(a1, b1);
 	d = sub_vec(b1, a1);
-	s = stralloc_printf("%s%lgmm", meas->label ? meas->label : "", len);
+	s = format_len(meas->label ? meas->label : "", len, curr_unit);
 	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_inst.h b/gui_inst.h
index 6205fd1..3397365 100644
--- a/gui_inst.h
+++ b/gui_inst.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 #include "coord.h"
 #include "inst.h"
+#include "gui_status.h"
 
 
 struct coord translate(struct coord pos);
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ unit_type gui_dist_frame(struct inst *self, struct coord pos, unit_type scale);
 unit_type gui_dist_frame_eye(struct inst *self, struct coord pos,
     unit_type scale);
 
+void project_meas(const struct inst *inst, struct coord *a1, struct coord *b1);
+char *format_len(const char *label, unit_type len, enum curr_unit unit);
+
 void gui_draw_vec(struct inst *self);
 void gui_draw_line(struct inst *self);
 void gui_draw_rect(struct inst *self);
diff --git a/gui_status.c b/gui_status.c
index 9ce94f5..babd245 100644
--- a/gui_status.c
+++ b/gui_status.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "unparse.h"
 #include "gui_util.h"
 #include "gui_style.h"
+#include "gui_canvas.h"
 #include "gui.h"
 #include "gui_status.h"
 
@@ -43,12 +44,7 @@ struct edit_ops {
 };
 
 
-static enum curr_unit {
-	unit_mm,
-	unit_mil,
-	unit_auto,
-	unit_n
-} curr_unit = unit_mm;
+enum curr_unit curr_unit = curr_unit_mm;
 
 
 static GtkWidget *open_edits = NULL;
@@ -116,15 +112,15 @@ void set_with_units(void (*set)(const char *fmt, ...), const char *prefix,
 	int mm;
 
 	switch (curr_unit) {
-	case unit_mm:
+	case curr_unit_mm:
 		n = units_to_mm(u);
 		mm = 1;
 		break;
-	case unit_mil:
+	case curr_unit_mil:
 		n = units_to_mil(u);
 		mm = 0;
 		break;
-	case unit_auto:
+	case curr_unit_auto:
 		n = units_to_best(u, &mm);
 		break;
 	default:
@@ -132,10 +128,10 @@ void set_with_units(void (*set)(const char *fmt, ...), const char *prefix,
 	}
 	if (mm) {
 		/* -NNN.NNN mm */
-		set("%s%8.3f mm", prefix, n);
+		set("%s" MM_FORMAT_FIXED " mm", prefix, n);
 	} else {
 		/* -NNNN.N mil */
-		set("%s%7.1f mil", prefix, n);
+		set("%s" MIL_FORMAT_FIXED " mil", prefix, n);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -745,15 +741,15 @@ static gboolean unit_button_press_event(GtkWidget *widget,
 {
 	switch (event->button) {
 	case 1:
-		curr_unit = (curr_unit+1) % unit_n;
+		curr_unit = (curr_unit+1) % curr_unit_n;
 		switch (curr_unit) {
-		case unit_mm:
+		case curr_unit_mm:
 			status_set_unit("mm");
 			break;
-		case unit_mil:
+		case curr_unit_mil:
 			status_set_unit("mil");
 			break;
-		case unit_auto:
+		case curr_unit_auto:
 			status_set_unit("auto");
 			break;
 		default:
@@ -761,6 +757,8 @@ static gboolean unit_button_press_event(GtkWidget *widget,
 		}
 		break;
 	}
+	refresh_pos();
+	change_world();
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -860,6 +858,7 @@ void make_status_area(GtkWidget *vbox)
 
 	/* unit selection */
 
+	label_in_box_bg(status_unit, COLOR_UNIT_SELECTOR);
 	status_set_unit("mm");
 	g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(box_of_label(status_unit)),
 	    "button_press_event", G_CALLBACK(unit_button_press_event), NULL);
diff --git a/gui_status.h b/gui_status.h
index 325cd38..195f162 100644
--- a/gui_status.h
+++ b/gui_status.h
@@ -20,6 +20,17 @@
 #include "expr.h"
 
 
+enum curr_unit {
+	curr_unit_mm,
+	curr_unit_mil,
+	curr_unit_auto,
+	curr_unit_n
+};
+
+
+extern enum curr_unit curr_unit;
+
+
 void edit_unique(const char **s, int (*validate)(const char *s, void *ctx),
     void *ctx);
 void edit_unique_null(const char **s, int (*validate)(const char *s, void *ctx),
@@ -40,21 +51,36 @@ void edit_nothing(void);
 void set_with_units(void (*set)(const char *fmt, ...), const char *prefix,
     unit_type u);
 
-void status_set_type_x(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_type_y(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_type_entry(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_name(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_x(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_y(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_r(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_angle(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_sys_x(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_sys_y(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_user_x(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_user_y(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_zoom(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_grid(const char *fmt, ...);
-void status_set_unit(const char *fmt, ...);
+void status_set_type_x(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_type_y(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_type_entry(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_name(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_x(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_y(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_r(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_angle(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_sys_x(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_sys_y(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_user_x(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_user_y(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_zoom(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_grid(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
+void status_set_unit(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
 
 void status_set_xy(struct coord coord);
 
diff --git a/gui_style.h b/gui_style.h
index 87fe575..1fbdb0a 100644
--- a/gui_style.h
+++ b/gui_style.h
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@
 
 #define	MIN_FONT_SCALE		0.20	/* don't scale fonts below this */
 
+#define	MM_FORMAT_FIXED		"%8.3f"	/* -NNN.NNN */
+#define	MIL_FORMAT_FIXED	"%7.1f"	/* -NNNN.N */
+#define	MM_FORMAT_SHORT		"%.4g"
+#define	MIL_FORMAT_SHORT	"%.4g"
+
 
 /* ----- assorted colors --------------------------------------------------- */
 
@@ -90,6 +95,8 @@
 #define	COLOR_ITEM_SELECTED	COLOR_FRAME_SELECTED
 #define	COLOR_ITEM_ERROR	"red"
 
+#define	COLOR_UNIT_SELECTOR	"white"
+
 
 /* ----- canvas drawing styles --------------------------------------------- */
 
diff --git a/postscript.c b/postscript.c
index 7220eef..6285abb 100644
--- a/postscript.c
+++ b/postscript.c
@@ -16,14 +16,21 @@
 
 #include "coord.h"
 #include "inst.h"
+#include "gui_status.h"
+#include "gui_inst.h"
 #include "postscript.h"
 
 
-#define	DOT_DIST	mm_to_units(0.03)
-#define	DOT_DIAM	mm_to_units(0.01)
-#define	HATCH		mm_to_units(0.1)
-#define	HATCH_LINE	mm_to_units(0.02)
-#define	FONT_OUTLINE	mm_to_units(0.025)
+#define	PS_DOT_DIST		mm_to_units(0.03)
+#define	PS_DOT_DIAM		mm_to_units(0.01)
+#define	PS_HATCH		mm_to_units(0.1)
+#define	PS_HATCH_LINE		mm_to_units(0.015)
+#define	PS_FONT_OUTLINE		mm_to_units(0.025)
+#define	PS_MEAS_LINE		mm_to_units(0.015)
+#define	PS_MEAS_ARROW_LEN	mm_to_units(0.07)
+#define	PS_MEAS_ARROW_ANGLE	30
+#define	PS_MEAS_TEXT_HEIGHT	mm_to_units(0.2)
+#define	PS_MEAS_BASE_OFFSET	mm_to_units(0.05)
 
 
 struct postscript_params postscript_params = {
@@ -31,7 +38,7 @@ struct postscript_params postscript_params = {
 	.show_pad_names	= 1,
 	.show_stuff	= 0,
 	.label_vecs	= 0,
-	.show_meas	= 0,
+	.show_meas	= 1,
 };
 
 
@@ -53,7 +60,7 @@ static void ps_pad_name(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst)
 	fprintf(file, "   maxfont scalefont setfont\n");
 	fprintf(file, "   %d %d moveto\n", (a.x+b.x)/2, (a.y+b.y)/2);
 	fprintf(file, "   (%s) center %d showoutlined newpath\n",
-	    inst->u.pad.name, FONT_OUTLINE);
+	    inst->u.pad.name, PS_FONT_OUTLINE);
 }
 
 
@@ -62,12 +69,12 @@ static void ps_pad(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst, int show_name)
 	struct coord a = inst->base;
 	struct coord b = inst->u.pad.other;
 
-	fprintf(file, "0 setgray %d setlinewidth\n", HATCH_LINE);
+	fprintf(file, "0 setgray %d setlinewidth\n", PS_HATCH_LINE);
 	fprintf(file, "  %d %d moveto\n", a.x, a.y);
 	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", b.x, a.y);
 	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", b.x, b.y);
 	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", a.x, b.y);
-	fprintf(file, "  closepath gsave hatchpath grestore stroke\n");
+	fprintf(file, "  closepath gsave crosspath grestore stroke\n");
 
 	if (show_name)
 		ps_pad_name(file, inst);
@@ -83,7 +90,7 @@ static void ps_rpad(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst, int show_name)
 	sort_coord(&a, &b);
 	h = b.y-a.y;
 	w = b.x-a.x;
-	fprintf(file, "0 setgray %d setlinewidth\n", HATCH_LINE);
+	fprintf(file, "0 setgray %d setlinewidth\n", PS_HATCH_LINE);
 	if (h > w) {
 		r = w/2;
 		fprintf(file, "  %d %d moveto\n", b.x, b.y-r);
@@ -157,8 +164,65 @@ static void ps_vec(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst)
 }
 
 
-static void ps_meas(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst)
+static void ps_arrow(FILE *file, struct coord from, struct coord to, int len,
+    int angle)
 {
+	struct coord side, p;
+
+	if (from.x == to.x && from.y == to.y) {
+		side.x = 0;
+		side.y = -len;
+	} else {
+		side = normalize(sub_vec(to, from), len);
+	}
+
+	p = add_vec(to, rotate(side, 180-angle));
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d moveto\n", p.x, p.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", to.x, to.y);
+
+	p = add_vec(to, rotate(side, 180+angle));
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d moveto\n", p.x, p.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", to.x, to.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  stroke\n");
+}
+
+
+static void ps_meas(FILE *file, const struct inst *inst,
+    enum curr_unit unit)
+{
+	struct coord a0, b0, a1, b1;
+	struct coord c, d;
+	char *s;
+
+	a0 = inst->base;
+	b0 = inst->u.meas.end;
+	project_meas(inst, &a1, &b1);
+	fprintf(file, "1 setlinecap 0 setgray %d setlinewidth\n", PS_MEAS_LINE);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d moveto\n", a0.x, a0.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", a1.x, a1.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", b1.x, b1.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  %d %d lineto\n", b0.x, b0.y);
+	fprintf(file, "  stroke\n");
+
+	ps_arrow(file, a1, b1, PS_MEAS_ARROW_LEN, PS_MEAS_ARROW_ANGLE);
+	ps_arrow(file, b1, a1, PS_MEAS_ARROW_LEN, PS_MEAS_ARROW_ANGLE);
+
+	s = format_len(inst->obj->u.meas.label ? inst->obj->u.meas.label : "",
+	    dist_point(a1, b1), unit);
+
+	c = add_vec(a1, b1);
+	d = sub_vec(b1, a1);
+//s = stralloc_printf("%s%lgmm", meas->label ? meas->label : "", len);
+	fprintf(file, "gsave %d %d moveto\n", c.x/2, c.y/2);
+	fprintf(file, "    /Helvetica-Bold findfont dup\n");
+	fprintf(file, "    (%s) %d %d\n", s,
+	    (int) (dist_point(a1, b1)-1.5*PS_MEAS_ARROW_LEN),
+	    PS_MEAS_TEXT_HEIGHT);
+	fprintf(file, "    4 copy 100 maxfont maxfont scalefont setfont\n");
+	fprintf(file, "    %f rotate\n", atan2(d.y, d.x)/M_PI*180);
+	fprintf(file, "    (%s) %d hcenter\n", s, PS_MEAS_BASE_OFFSET);
+	fprintf(file, "    show grestore\n");
+	free(s);
 }
 
 
@@ -202,7 +266,7 @@ static void ps_foreground(FILE *file, enum inst_prio prio,
 		break;
 	case ip_meas:
 		if (postscript_params.show_meas)
-			ps_meas(file, inst);
+			ps_meas(file, inst, curr_unit);
 		break;
 	default:
 		break;
@@ -235,7 +299,7 @@ int postscript(FILE *file)
 "	    1 index exch moveto 0 0 rlineto stroke\n"
 "	} for\n"
 "    } for\n"
-"    grestore newpath } def\n", DOT_DIAM, DOT_DIST, DOT_DIST);
+"    grestore newpath } def\n", PS_DOT_DIAM, PS_DOT_DIST, PS_DOT_DIST);
 
 	fprintf(file,
 "/hatchpath {\n"
@@ -245,7 +309,21 @@ int postscript(FILE *file)
 "	llx add dup lly moveto\n"
 "	ury lly sub add ury lineto stroke\n"
 "    } for\n"
-"    grestore newpath } def\n", HATCH);
+"    grestore newpath } def\n", PS_HATCH);
+
+	fprintf(file,
+"/backhatchpath {\n"
+"     gsave pathbbox clip newpath\n"
+"    /ury exch def /urx exch def /lly exch def /llx exch def\n"
+"    0 %d ury lly sub urx llx sub add {\n"	/* for 0 to urx-llx_ury-lly */
+"	llx add dup lly moveto\n"
+"	ury lly sub sub ury lineto stroke\n"
+"    } for\n"
+"    grestore newpath } def\n", PS_HATCH);
+
+fprintf(file,
+"/crosspath {\n"
+"    gsave hatchpath grestore backhatchpath } def\n");
 
 	/*
 	 * Stack: font string width height factor -> factor
@@ -272,6 +350,19 @@ int postscript(FILE *file)
 "    grestore\n"
 "    llx urx sub 2 div lly ury sub 2 div rmoveto } def\n");
 
+	/*
+	 * Stack: string dist -> string
+	 */
+
+	fprintf(file,
+"/hcenter {\n"
+"    /off exch def\n"
+"    gsave dup false charpath pathbbox\n"
+"    /ury exch def /urx exch def /lly exch def /llx exch def\n"
+"    grestore\n"
+"    llx urx sub 2 div\n"
+"    currentpoint exch pop lly sub off add rmoveto } def\n");
+
 	/*
 	 * Stack: string outline_width -> -
 	 */
diff --git a/util.h b/util.h
index 639984a..173b38f 100644
--- a/util.h
+++ b/util.h
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@
 
 
 char *stralloc_vprintf(const char *fmt, va_list ap);
-char *stralloc_printf(const char *fmt, ...);
+char *stralloc_printf(const char *fmt, ...)
+    __attribute__((format(printf, 1, 2)));
 
 int is_id_char(char c, int first);
 int is_id(const char *s);