A new Lock Size button has been added to the Text menu when Text Scale is active. This setting will control the size of text such that it always prints at the absolute size you define, regardless of the plot scale. Text which has this property assigned will change its size each time you change the current plot scale. In the case of a Multi-Layout Detail, the relative size of the text changes based on the scale of the detail, resulting in printed text of the defined absolute size. For example, you could place a detail on a sheet at 1/4" scale and have the text print 1/8” high. You could then place the same detail on a different sheet at 3/8” scale, but the text will still print 1/8” high, without requiring you to change the size of the text. Single line text, ParaText, MText and Symbol Attribute text are all supported.
Adding scale independent text to your drawing:
When you add the text to the drawing, DataCAD calculates the size relative to the current plot scale (because Text Scale is on) and draws the text. For example, if your text size is 1/8” high, and your current plot scale it 1/8” = 1’, DataCAD will draw 1’ high text.
What makes Lock Size different is that the 1/8” height of the text is locked to the text entity. If you change the plot scale to 1/16” = 1’, for example, DataCAD will automatically change the height of the text to 2’. You can [Ctrl]+[Right-click] on a text entity and mouse over Lock Size to change this property after you have added text to the drawing. You can also use the Change/Text/Lock Size menu option to adjust this property for multiple text entities using the standard selection menu.
There are new extended character codes that can turn Lock Size on and off in the Text menu:
(V= in toolbar button, or 10XX# in keyboard macro)
1048 = Lock Size ON
1049 = Lock Size OFF
When you change the current plot scale, any text which has Lock Size enabled will also change its size. As a result, the position of the text will also change. This change in position is relative to the anchor point defined in the Text/Alignment menu, so you need to pay attention to this setting when creating your text.
A minor change to the Text menu has also been added to automatically adjust the current text size setting when you turn Text Scale on and off. If you go to the Text menu and Text Scale is off with Size set to 6”, and the current plot scale is 1/4"=1’, when you turn Text Scale on, DataCAD will automatically change the Size to 1/8”. It is no longer necessary for you to set the size. Conversely, if you go to the Text menu and Text Scale is on, Size is set to 1/8”, and the Plot Scale is 1/4" = 1’, when you turn Text Scale off, DataCAD will automatically set the text Size to 6”.
When you export your drawing to DXF or DWG format, DataCAD automatically converts the scaled text to the real-world size so that it looks the same.
Adding scale independent text to your drawing:
- Toggle Text Scale on in the Text menu.
- Toggle Lock Size on.
- Click Size and define the size as the absolute height that you want the text to appear on the printed page, for example 1/8” high.
- Add your text to the drawing.
When you add the text to the drawing, DataCAD calculates the size relative to the current plot scale (because Text Scale is on) and draws the text. For example, if your text size is 1/8” high, and your current plot scale it 1/8” = 1’, DataCAD will draw 1’ high text.
What makes Lock Size different is that the 1/8” height of the text is locked to the text entity. If you change the plot scale to 1/16” = 1’, for example, DataCAD will automatically change the height of the text to 2’. You can [Ctrl]+[Right-click] on a text entity and mouse over Lock Size to change this property after you have added text to the drawing. You can also use the Change/Text/Lock Size menu option to adjust this property for multiple text entities using the standard selection menu.
There are new extended character codes that can turn Lock Size on and off in the Text menu:
(V= in toolbar button, or 10XX# in keyboard macro)
1048 = Lock Size ON
1049 = Lock Size OFF
When you change the current plot scale, any text which has Lock Size enabled will also change its size. As a result, the position of the text will also change. This change in position is relative to the anchor point defined in the Text/Alignment menu, so you need to pay attention to this setting when creating your text.
A minor change to the Text menu has also been added to automatically adjust the current text size setting when you turn Text Scale on and off. If you go to the Text menu and Text Scale is off with Size set to 6”, and the current plot scale is 1/4"=1’, when you turn Text Scale on, DataCAD will automatically change the Size to 1/8”. It is no longer necessary for you to set the size. Conversely, if you go to the Text menu and Text Scale is on, Size is set to 1/8”, and the Plot Scale is 1/4" = 1’, when you turn Text Scale off, DataCAD will automatically set the text Size to 6”.
When you export your drawing to DXF or DWG format, DataCAD automatically converts the scaled text to the real-world size so that it looks the same.
