When performing measurements with the legacy measure tool, users were able to select objects, faces, edges, etc. and then use Shift + Select to deselect any items that were selected.
This same interaction no longer works in the new NX12 measure tool.
Solution
To accomplish the continual measurement of objects relative to the first one, merely single pick on the little spere created on the second object and then pick the next object, then the next object, and so on. This new interaction design is actually fewer picks that the legacy function.
Notes and References
Hardware/Software Configuration
Platform: INTEL
OS: window
OS Version: 1064
Product: NX
Application: DESIGN
Version: V12.0.2
Function: INFO_ANALYSIS
Ref: 001-9335559