A method for controlling a shape measuring apparatus which includes a probe having a stylus head at a tip and a moving mechanism to move the probe, and measures a shape of a workpiece by detecting contact between the stylus head and a surface of the workpiece, the method comprising: preparing in advance a menu for a nominal scanning measurement; allowing a user to select a shape of the workpiece from a geometric shape menu prepared in advance; allowing the user to select a measurement path from a measurement path menu prepared in advance; allowing the user to input, according to the selected geometric shape, a parameter to specify the geometric shape; allowing the user to input, according to the selected measurement path, a parameter to specify the measurement path; calculating, based on the selected geometric shape and the selected measurement path, measurement points and a normal line direction at each of the measurement points on the measurement path using a calculation formula prepared in advance; calculating a path for scanning measurement to move while scanning a sequence of the measurement points, and performing the scanning measurement to scan the path for the scanning measurement; and calculating, based on the selected geometric shape, the input parameter of the geometric shape, the selected measurement path, and the input parameter of the measurement path, measurement points and a normal line direction at each of the measurement points on a workpiece using a calculation formula prepared in advance, the method being characterized in that the menu for the nominal scanning measurement prepared in advance uses approximation functions instead of CAD data; the scanning measurement is performed without design data of the workpiece. preparing in advance a menu for a nominal scanning measurement; allowing a user to select a shape of the workpiece from a geometric shape menu prepared in advance; allowing the user to select a measurement path from a measurement path menu prepared in advance; allowing the user to input, according to the selected geometric shape, a parameter to specify the geometric shape; allowing the user to input, according to the selected measurement path, a parameter to specify the measurement path; calculating, based on the selected geometric shape and the selected measurement path, measurement points and a normal line direction at each of the measurement points on the measurement path using a calculation formula prepared in advance; calculating a path for scanning measurement to move while scanning a sequence of the measurement points, and performing the scanning measurement to scan the path for the scanning measurement; and calculating, based on the selected geometric shape, the input parameter of the geometric shape, the selected measurement path, and the input parameter of the measurement path, measurement points and a normal line direction at each of the measurement points on a workpiece using a calculation formula prepared in advance, the method being characterized in that the menu for the nominal scanning measurement prepared in advance uses approximation functions instead of CAD data; the scanning measurement is performed without design data of the workpiece.