Hi Everyone. So my question is this. I have a set of notes for a given jurisdiction that I need to show on mumltiple layout tabs within the same file. However, the notes need to change their width, number of columns, height, etc. for each layout tab to work with viewports and other drawing elements within each tab. My question is this- is there way using fields, blocks, rtext, something that will allow me to create one master copy of the note and basically have instances of the note on those other tabs that I can adjust the wrapping, height, columns etc.? I could just create a bunck of copies of the same note, but then if we get a comment from an AHJ about the notes, we need to make sure the comment is addressed in each instance of the note instead of just one master note. Is there way to do what Im asking, or is the technology just not there yet? Thanks.
-Tristan
This might duplicate a suggestion in one of Jay_B's referenced threads - I didn't read through them thoroughly - but I would suggest something I've implemented here: to create a dynamic block with each possible variation of the notes' configuration as a visiblity state. This is essentially "creating a bunch of copies of the same note", but it still makes changes easier. (In my case, there are only two versions of the notes, a "portrait" and a "landscape".)
Check the Word2Cad application from DotSoft -- if i remember correctly, that can essentially 'xref' in a word document, letting you have a master in .doc format, and multiple instances on multiple drawings.
Thanks for the mention. Word2CAD is great for linking in lengthy documents, but during creation it's width is fixed. You can of course change the style and click update to quickly change the width, but it has to wake up Word to retrieve the document, etc.
An approach to consider for multiple short notes would be ToolPac's Linked Mtext, which lets you create mtext objects or link by picking an existing object and a RTF file. The user can keep notes in RTF format, easily edit them in Word and the next time the drawing is opened (or on demand) the mtext will change to reflect the external files contents. The width of the mtext won't change, only it's contents.
Thanks for the info Terry. Sounds like that will be the straightforward way to get my Libre Office docs into Acad. I just installed MSOffice 2013 last friday, and am far from happy with it. Barely worth the $9.95 price.
Would be nice to be able to mport CALC OpenDoc spreadsheets as tables. that and a better svg conversion would be awesome additions.
Do you keep your files in ODS or XLSx? Are you can existing user? Drop me an email at dotson [at] dotsoft [dot] com.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We are investigating Word2CAD right now, and will likely either do that one or go the attribute block route with fields referencing it. Again, thank you all for the helpful input and advice!
-Tristan
You can also link two or more text/mtext objects using Fields. Any change in the original text will be propagated to other texts (even in other layouts). The LinkText utility can automate this linking - see www.cadstudio.cz/freeware
Vladimir Michl, www.cadstudio.cz www.cadforum.cz