diff --git a/gui_inst.c b/gui_inst.c
index fb25329..53d20bc 100644
--- a/gui_inst.c
+++ b/gui_inst.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ unit_type gui_dist_vec(struct inst *self, struct coord pos, unit_type scale)
 {
 	unit_type d;
 
-	d = dist_point(pos, self->u.rect.end)/scale;
+	d = dist_point(pos, self->u.vec.end)/scale;
 	return d > VEC_EYE_R ? -1 : d;
 }
 
@@ -138,14 +138,14 @@ unit_type gui_dist_vec_fallback(struct inst *self, struct coord pos,
 {
 	unit_type d;
 
-	d = dist_line(pos, self->base, self->u.rect.end)/scale;
+	d = dist_line(pos, self->base, self->u.vec.end)/scale;
 	return d > SELECT_R ? -1 : d;
 }
 
 
 void gui_highlight_vec(struct inst *self)
 {
-	struct coord center = translate(self->u.rect.end);
+	struct coord center = translate(self->u.vec.end);
 
 	draw_circle(DA, gc_highlight, FALSE, center.x, center.y, VEC_EYE_R);
 }
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void gui_highlight_vec(struct inst *self)
 void gui_draw_vec(struct inst *self)
 {
 	struct coord from = translate(self->base);
-	struct coord to = translate(self->u.rect.end);
+	struct coord to = translate(self->u.vec.end);
 	GdkGC *gc;
 
 	gc = gc_vec[get_mode(self)];
diff --git a/gui_meas.c b/gui_meas.c
index 5c4254a..86b5161 100644
--- a/gui_meas.c
+++ b/gui_meas.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static int is_min(lt_op_type lt, const struct inst *inst)
 	struct coord min;
 
 	min = meas_find_min(lt, active_pkg->samples[inst->vec->n]);
-	return coord_eq(inst->u.rect.end, min);
+	return coord_eq(inst->u.vec.end, min);
 }
 
 
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ static int is_next(lt_op_type lt,
 	struct coord next;
 
 	next = meas_find_next(lt, active_pkg->samples[inst->vec->n],
-	    ref->u.rect.end);
-	return coord_eq(inst->u.rect.end, next);
+	    ref->u.vec.end);
+	return coord_eq(inst->u.vec.end, next);
 }
 
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static int is_max(lt_op_type lt, const struct inst *inst)
 	struct coord max;
 
 	max = meas_find_max(lt, active_pkg->samples[inst->vec->n]);
-	return coord_eq(inst->u.rect.end, max);
+	return coord_eq(inst->u.vec.end, max);
 }
 
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static int is_a_next(lt_op_type lt, struct inst *inst)
 		min = meas_find_min(lt, active_pkg->samples[a->vec->n]);
 		next = meas_find_next(lt, active_pkg->samples[inst->vec->n],
 		    min);
-		if (coord_eq(next, inst->u.rect.end))
+		if (coord_eq(next, inst->u.vec.end))
 			return 1;
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static int is_min_of_next(lt_op_type lt,
 
 	min = meas_find_min(lt, inst->vec->samples);
 	next = meas_find_next(lt, ref->vec->samples, min);
-	return coord_eq(next, ref->u.rect.end);
+	return coord_eq(next, ref->u.vec.end);
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -234,12 +234,15 @@ static void tool_deselected_meas(void)
 /* ----- find start point (new measurement) -------------------------------- */
 
 
+static int is_highlighted(struct inst *inst, void *user)
+{
+	return inst->u.vec.highlighted;
+}
+
+
 static struct inst *find_point_meas_new(struct coord pos)
 {
-	if (meas_inst)
-		return inst_find_vec(pos, meas_pick_vec_b, meas_inst);
-	else
-		return inst_find_vec(pos, meas_pick_vec_a, NULL);
+	return inst_find_vec(pos, is_highlighted, NULL);
 }
 
 
@@ -302,14 +305,8 @@ static int end_new_meas(struct inst *from, struct inst *to)
 	}
 	meas->inverted =
 	    mode == min_to_next_or_max && is_min(meas_dsc->lt, to) ? 0 :
-	    meas_dsc->lt(from->u.rect.end, to->u.rect.end) !=
+	    meas_dsc->lt(from->u.vec.end, to->u.vec.end) !=
 	    (mode == min_to_next_or_max);
-{
-char *sm[] = { "min_to", "max_to", "next_to" };
-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 = NULL;
 	meas_dsc = NULL;
 	return 1;
@@ -388,7 +385,7 @@ void begin_drag_move_meas(struct inst *inst, int i)
 
 struct inst *find_point_meas_move(struct inst *inst, struct coord pos)
 {
-	return inst_find_vec(pos, meas_pick_vec_b, meas_inst);
+	return inst_find_vec(pos, is_highlighted, NULL);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/gui_tool.c b/gui_tool.c
index fa25f45..754230d 100644
--- a/gui_tool.c
+++ b/gui_tool.c
@@ -274,14 +274,14 @@ static struct pix_buf *drag_new_vec(struct inst *from, struct coord to)
 struct pix_buf *draw_move_vec(struct inst *inst, struct coord pos, int i)
 {
 	return draw_move_line_common(inst,
-	    add_vec(sub_vec(inst->u.rect.end, inst->base), pos), pos, i);
+	    add_vec(sub_vec(inst->u.vec.end, inst->base), pos), pos, i);
 }
 
 
 struct pix_buf *gui_hover_vec(struct inst *self)
 {
 	return hover_common(gc_vec[mode_hover],
-	    self->u.rect.end, VEC_EYE_R);
+	    self->u.vec.end, VEC_EYE_R);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/inst.c b/inst.c
index 5f4542b..13a6f35 100644
--- a/inst.c
+++ b/inst.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ int inst_find_point_selected(struct coord pos, struct inst **res)
 struct coord inst_get_point(const struct inst *inst)
 {
 	if (inst->ops == &vec_ops)
-		return inst->u.rect.end;
+		return inst->u.vec.end;
 	if (inst->ops == &frame_ops)
 		return inst->base;
 	abort();
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ static void vec_op_select(struct inst *self)
 {
 	status_set_type_entry("ref =");
 	status_set_name("%s", self->vec->name ? self->vec->name : "");
-	rect_status(self->base, self->u.rect.end, -1, 0);
+	rect_status(self->base, self->u.vec.end, -1, 0);
 	vec_edit(self->vec);
 }
 
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ int inst_vec(struct vec *vec, struct coord base)
 
 	inst = add_inst(&vec_ops, ip_vec, base);
 	inst->vec = vec;
-	inst->u.rect.end = vec->pos;
+	inst->u.vec.end = vec->pos;
 	update_bbox(&inst->bbox, vec->pos);
 	propagate_bbox(inst);
 	return 1;
@@ -1199,9 +1199,11 @@ void inst_highlight_vecs(int (*pick)(struct inst *inst, void *user), void *user)
 	struct inst *inst;
 	int i;
 
-	FOR_ALL_INSTS(i, ip_vec, inst)
-		if (pick(inst, user))
+	FOR_ALL_INSTS(i, ip_vec, inst) {
+		inst->u.vec.highlighted = pick(inst, user);
+		if (inst->u.vec.highlighted)
 			gui_highlight_vec(inst);
+	}
 }
 
 
diff --git a/inst.h b/inst.h
index 749a35a..61c20e3 100644
--- a/inst.h
+++ b/inst.h
@@ -78,14 +78,18 @@ struct inst {
 	struct inst *outer; /* frame containing this item */
 	int active;
 	union {
+		struct {
+			int highlighted; /* for measurements */
+			struct coord end;
+		} vec;
 		struct {
 			struct frame *ref;
 			int active;
 		} frame;
 		const char *name;
 		struct {
-			struct coord end;
 			unit_type width;
+			struct coord end;
 		} rect;
 		struct {
 			char *name;