diff --git a/butils.py b/butils.py
index 7dd696f..1982546 100644
--- a/butils.py
+++ b/butils.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import mathutils
 import queue
 import importlib
 import os
+import re
 # import time # for debugging performance
 
 # then import dependencies for our addon
@@ -559,6 +560,7 @@ def set_text_on_curve(text_properties):
                 if advance == next_line_advance:
                     # self.report({'INFO'}, f"would like to add new line for {text_properties.text} please")
                     print(f"would like to add new line for {text_properties.text} please")
+                    # TODO: add a new line
                 advance = next_line_advance
                 continue
             is_command = False
@@ -643,3 +645,251 @@ def set_text_on_curve(text_properties):
     # elapsedtime = endtime - starttime
 
     return True
+
+# blender bound_box vertices
+# 
+# 3------7.    
+# |`.    | `.       +y
+# |  `2------6  -z   |
+# |   |  |   |    `. |
+# 0---|--4.  |      `+--- +x
+#  `. |    `.| 
+#    `1------5 
+
+def add_metrics_obj_from_bound_box(glyph, bound_box=None):
+    mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(f"{glyph.name}_metrics")  # add the new mesh
+    obj = bpy.data.objects.new(mesh.name, mesh)
+    col = glyph.users_collection[0]
+    col.objects.link(obj)
+    # bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = obj
+    obj.parent = glyph
+
+    if type(bound_box) == type(None):
+        bound_box = glyph.bound_box
+    
+    verts = [bound_box[0],
+             bound_box[1],
+             bound_box[2],
+             bound_box[3],
+             bound_box[4],
+             bound_box[5],
+             bound_box[6],
+             bound_box[7],
+             ]
+    edges = [[0,1],[1,2],[2,3],[3,0],
+             [0,4],[1,5],[2,6],[3,7],
+             [4,5],[5,6],[6,7],[7,4],
+             ]
+    faces = []
+    
+    mesh.from_pydata(verts, edges, faces)
+
+def is_mesh(o):
+    return type(o.data) == bpy.types.Mesh
+
+def is_metrics_object(o):
+    return (re.match("[\w]*_metrics$", o.name) != None or re.match("[\w]*_metrics.[\d]{3}$", o.name) != None) and is_mesh(o)
+
+def is_glyph(o):
+    try:
+        return type(o.parent) is not type(None) \
+                and "glyphs" in o.parent.name \
+                and is_mesh(o) \
+                and not is_metrics_object(o)
+    except ReferenceError as e:
+        return False
+# duplicate
+# def remove_metrics_from_selection():
+    # for o in bpy.context.selected_objects:
+        # is_possibly_glyph = is_mesh(o)
+        # if is_possibly_glyph:
+            # metrics = []
+            # for c in o.children:
+                # if is_metrics_object(c):
+                    # metrics.append(c)
+            # completely_delete_objs(metrics)
+
+def get_max_bound_box(bb_1, bb_2 = None):
+    if type(bb_2) == type(None):
+        bb_2 = bb_1
+    x_max = max(bb_1[4][0], bb_2[4][0])
+    x_min = min(bb_1[0][0], bb_2[0][0])
+    y_max = max(bb_1[3][1], bb_2[3][1]) 
+    y_min = min(bb_1[0][1], bb_2[0][1]) 
+    z_max = max(bb_1[1][2], bb_2[1][2])
+    z_min = min(bb_1[0][2], bb_2[0][2])
+    return [
+            mathutils.Vector((x_min, y_min, z_min)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_min, y_min, z_max)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_min, y_max, z_max)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_min, y_max, z_min)),
+
+            mathutils.Vector((x_max, y_min, z_min)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_max, y_min, z_max)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_max, y_max, z_max)),
+            mathutils.Vector((x_max, y_max, z_min)),
+            ]
+
+# blender bound_box vertices
+# 
+# 3------7.    
+# |`.    | `.     +y
+# |  `2------6     |
+# |   |  |   |     |
+# 0---|--4.  |     +--- +x
+#  `. |    `.|      `.  
+#    `1------5        `+z
+
+# why not [ [0] * 3 ] * 8
+# https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2397141/how-to-initialize-a-two-dimensional-array-list-of-lists-if-not-using-numpy-in
+def bound_box_as_array(bound_box):
+    array = [ [0] * 3 for i in range(8) ]
+    for i in range(0, len(bound_box)):
+        for j in range(0, len(bound_box[i])):
+            array[i][j] = bound_box[i][j]
+    return array
+
+##
+# @brief get_metrics_bound_box 
+#        generates a metrics bounding box
+#        where x-width comes from bb
+#        and y-height + z-depth from bb_uebermetrics
+#
+# @param bb
+# @param bb_uebermetrics
+#
+# @return metrics
+def get_metrics_bound_box(bb, bb_uebermetrics):
+    metrics = [[0] * 3] * 8
+    # hurrays
+    if type(bb_uebermetrics) == bpy.types.bpy_prop_array:
+        metrics = bound_box_as_array(bb_uebermetrics)
+    else:
+        metrics = bb_uebermetrics.copy()
+    metrics[0][0] = bb[0][0]
+    metrics[1][0] = bb[1][0]
+    metrics[2][0] = bb[2][0]
+    metrics[3][0] = bb[3][0]
+    metrics[4][0] = bb[4][0]
+    metrics[5][0] = bb[5][0]
+    metrics[6][0] = bb[6][0]
+    metrics[7][0] = bb[7][0]
+    return metrics
+
+def add_default_metrics_to_objects(objects=None, overwrite_existing=False):
+    if type(objects) == type(None):
+        objects=bpy.context.selected_objects
+    targets = []
+    reference_bound_box = None
+    for o in objects:
+        is_possibly_glyph = is_glyph(o)
+        if is_possibly_glyph:
+            metrics = []
+            for c in o.children:
+                if is_metrics_object(c):
+                    metrics.append(c)
+
+            if len(metrics) == 0:
+                targets.append(o)
+                reference_bound_box = get_max_bound_box(o.bound_box, reference_bound_box)
+            elif len(metrics) >= 0 and overwrite_existing:
+                completely_delete_objs(metrics)
+                targets.append(o)
+                reference_bound_box = get_max_bound_box(o.bound_box, reference_bound_box)
+            else:
+                for m in metrics:
+                    reference_bound_box = get_max_bound_box(m.bound_box, reference_bound_box)
+    for t in targets:
+        bound_box = get_metrics_bound_box(t.bound_box, reference_bound_box)
+        add_metrics_obj_from_bound_box(t, bound_box)
+
+def remove_metrics_from_objects(objects=None):
+    if type(objects) == type(None):
+        objects=bpy.context.selected_objects
+    metrics = []
+    for o in objects:
+        for c in o.children:
+            if is_metrics_object(c):
+                metrics.append(c)
+    completely_delete_objs(metrics)
+
+def align_metrics_of_objects_to_active_object(objects=None):
+    if type(objects) == type(None):
+        objects=bpy.context.selected_objects
+        if len(objects) == 0:
+            return "no objects selected"
+
+    # define the reference_bound_box
+    reference_bound_box = None
+    if type(bpy.context.active_object) == type(None):
+        return "no active_object, but align_to_active_object is True"
+    for c in bpy.context.active_object.children:
+        if is_metrics_object(c):
+            reference_bound_box = bound_box_as_array(c.bound_box)
+            break
+    if type(reference_bound_box) == type(None):
+        if not is_mesh(bpy.context.active_object):
+            return "active_object is not a mesh and does not have a metrics child"
+        reference_bound_box = bound_box_as_array(bpy.context.active_object.bound_box)
+
+    # do it
+    for o in objects:
+        is_possibly_glyph = is_glyph(o)
+        if is_possibly_glyph:
+            metrics = []
+            for c in o.children:
+                if is_metrics_object(c):
+                    metrics.append(c)
+
+            bb = None
+            if len(metrics) == 0:
+                bb = get_metrics_bound_box(o.bound_box,
+                                           reference_bound_box)
+            else:
+                bb = get_metrics_bound_box(metrics[0].bound_box,
+                                           reference_bound_box)
+            if len(metrics) > 0:
+                completely_delete_objs(metrics)
+            
+            add_metrics_obj_from_bound_box(o, bb)
+    return ""
+
+def align_metrics_of_objects(objects=None):
+    if type(objects) == type(None):
+        objects=bpy.context.selected_objects
+        if len(objects) == 0:
+            return "no objects selected"
+
+    targets = []
+    reference_bound_box = None
+    for o in objects:
+        is_possibly_glyph = is_glyph(o)
+        if is_possibly_glyph:
+            metrics = []
+            for c in o.children:
+                if is_metrics_object(c):
+                    metrics.append(c)
+
+            if len(metrics) == 0:
+                reference_bound_box = get_max_bound_box(o.bound_box,
+                                                        reference_bound_box)
+            elif len(metrics) > 0:
+                reference_bound_box = get_max_bound_box(metrics[0].bound_box,
+                                                        reference_bound_box)
+            targets.append(o)
+    for t in targets:
+        metrics = []
+        for c in t.children:
+            if is_metrics_object(c):
+                metrics.append(c)
+        bound_box = None
+        if len(metrics) == 0:
+            bound_box = get_metrics_bound_box(t.bound_box,
+                                              reference_bound_box)
+        else:
+            bound_box = get_metrics_bound_box(metrics[0].bound_box,
+                                              reference_bound_box)
+            completely_delete_objs(metrics)
+        
+        add_metrics_obj_from_bound_box(t, bound_box)
+    return ""