Steve,
Depending on version, you may use the secret debugger tool.
I always use the Telegraphics Patharea filter.
I am afraid, in either case the area is the sum of the areas of (all) the paths, including the counters.
This means that:
- For a simple/single path it is simple,
- For a compound path you must also Direct Select the/each counter path and subtract twice the area,
- If you have any (hidden) copies of paths you must subtract them or delete them first.
You may also Print at a suitable scale along with a reference area, use the Scissors Tool (or similar), and then use the Milligram Tool. That was the way I did when determining eligible land for the single farm payment, until the controller turned up with the smurflike GPS equipment and plodded along eveywhere, eventually confirming my weighing of fields. It was quite nice to have it done because after that no one could question the figures.
