topic Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT) in AutoCAD Forum

how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 15:40:29 GMT

Most everything in Autocad saves what you did if you hit the escape key. but when I get to entering single line text, I keep loosing my content everytime since my personal automatic response is to hit the escape key after most every command.

Is there some way to change the setting so that it will save, not erase, what I typed when i hit the ESC key?

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

imadHabash — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:13:18 GMT

Hi,

>> ... since my personal automatic response is to hit the escape key after most every command.

double enter will solve your issue , isn't it ? 😉

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Ed__Jobe — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:54:14 GMT

@jetted4 wrote:

Most everything in Autocad saves what you did if you hit the escape key.

No, the {ESC} key sends a Cancel command to the command line. Your thinking is counter to the way commands should work. I don't know anyone who has gotten into this habit. Switch to using the {ENTER} key to end a command. Or if you are using the mouse while editing text, just pick somewhere outside the text box.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:20:00 GMT

ESC is actually faster since my right hand is on the mouse and the far left of the keyboard makes the esc key quick to press w my left hand.

esc usually releases a command without erasing what you already created - including for multi-line text...that makes a lot of sense to me so I'd love it if single line text would do the same - hoping there's a way to change the settings for it...

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:06:01 GMT

@jetted4 wrote:

....

esc usually releases a command without erasing what you already created - including for multi-line text...

... only if you have it set that way. By default, ESCape results in it asking you whether you want your text saved [answering which would be more work than the other suggestions here], but there's an "Always perform my current choice" button that you have presumably checked.

To suggest that Autodesk incorporate such a feature into the TEXT command, go to the >Product Feedback< page.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:36:59 GMT

Thanks 🙂

Where is the "always perform my current choice" button?

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:07:44 GMT

@jetted4 wrote:

.... Where is the "always perform my current choice" button?

That's what I get when I hit ESCape when typing in Mtext content. But once that has been picked along with either the Yes or No option, I don't know what it would take to get the choice back [I haven't investigated at all]. And it's only an Mtext thing, as you can see from the heading.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

pendean — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:37:07 GMT

Did you hide that choice from yourself by ticking this box recently (or whenever it stopped appearing)

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

GrantsPirate — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:58:32 GMT

After entering your text, pick on screen off of the text, hit escape key. Since your hand is on the mouse it should be quick enough, although I don't know how you enter text with one hand on the mouse.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 02:53:31 GMT

That's what I end up doing, so I'll just keep going with that. Thanks 🙂

(usually the only text I need to enter is reference numbers for our drawings, so one handed typing works...)

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:52:54 GMT

Mostly what I'd really love is to have some consistency...

DTEXT if I hit the escape key, it releases the pointer but loses everything I typed.

But MTEXT if I hit enter, enter, it just gives me two extra blank lines, but if I hit escape, it saves the entry and releases the pointer.

The Escape key in most commands in autocad, releases the command without losing your work (such as to release/end the copy command), or to deselect an item you were just making changes to...

And - Escape key in Adobe Illustrator is the only way I know to release Text editing...

...so it all just makes it harder to remember to *avoid* the escape key when using DTEXT...

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:47:31 GMT

i use the exit key to save text, to bring the dialog box back and change setting, see the link below, to see the dialog box that allow you to set your preference

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Pressing-the-Escape-button-while-editing-an-MTEXT-does-not-prompt-a-choice-in-AutoCAD.html

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:09:18 GMT

Thanks 🙂

my multiline text settings are right for using the ESC to exit and save...I just find it a little frustrating that the single line text is the opposite (hit the ESC key and you *lose* everything you typed), especially since hitting the ESC key to exit and save your text is necessary when using Adobe Illustrator, which I also work with regularly.

So I frequently end up hitting the ESC key from single line text in Autocad and having to retype it 😕

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Charles.Stokes — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:26:57 GMT

In case anyone is interested in finding the option for bringing that message back after ticking "always perform...."
Options > System > General Options > Hidden Message Settings
There is a check box in there labelled "Multiline text" that will bring that dialog back

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

TomBeauford — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:26:41 GMT

The {ESC} key is used to escape most AutoCAD commands.

The {ESC} key works the same way for DTEXT as it does for LINE or PLINE.
Pick multiple points and the LINE or PLINE command will draw segments as you pick points, {ESC} exits the command leaving whatever lines you've already finished drawing.

Using {ESC} while creating DTEXT also exits the command leaving whatever lines of text you've already finished drawing.

MTEXT or MTEDIT work as a Word Processor so enter is used to go to the next line of multiline text. As those lines of text are just one object {ESC} is needed to escape from it when you finish.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:48:12 GMT

That doesn't seem to be the case for me for some reason.

When I use DTEXT to add text to a drawing, if I hit the ESC, it loses the text and I have to retype it. I have to remember to hit ENTER first to save the current text, then I can hit ESC in order to exit the DTEXT command.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

TomBeauford — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:43:04 GMT

Exactly how I just told you ESC works for DTEXT, LINE, PLINE & most AutoCAD commands!

With DTEXT you enter to add another line of text or pick a point to start a new line of text, ESC exits the command but leaves all the TEXT you've already added.
Commands like LINE or PLINE work exactly the same way ESC exits the command but leaves all the segments you've already added.

The fastest way to add TEXT to multiple locations in your drawing after you add each one just pick the point you want the next one to start instead. Just use ESC after you've finished entering all your text.
Try it!

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:17:48 GMT

@TomBeauford wrote:
....
Using {ESC} while creating DTEXT also exits the command leaving whatever lines of text you've already finished drawing.
....

That may depend on what you mean by "already finished." It leaves whatever lines you have completed by hitting Enter for another below, or before picking elsewhere on-screen to start a new Text object. But it does not leave whatever you have typed so far in the current Text object. So putting in a single line of plain Text cannot be ended with just ESCape but retaining what you've done so far, as LINE/PLINE can be. @jetted4 , is that what you're talking about?

If it's of any use to you, the other thing you can do is to pick anywhere on-screen away from the current Text you're typing [which by itself would end an MTEXT command], then you can hit either ESCape or Enter to end it.

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

jetted4 — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:45:54 GMT

Yes, thank you. The latter (text that I've written but haven't hit enter) is what I was meaning by "already finished" (finished typing).

In Adobe Illustrator, the way you have to exit text mode is to hit ESC. Pressing enter first merely adds another carriage return to the content of your text box.

In Autocad, using MTEXT you can hit ESC to exit without needing to press Enter first.

Since I use Ai and Autocad both regularly, I find I am having to relearn every time I need to use the DText since when working quickly my auto-response is to hit the ESC key means I lose the text I have just typed

I just am wishing the Esc worked consistently and would allow you to exit the command in DText like it does with the others instead of losing my current line of text... the inconsistency leaves me having to fight against the automatic <don't have to think about it> actions you learn through repeated use which are normally supposed to help you work faster...

(and in case you are wondering - we add a lot of reference numbers to our drawings and they are faster to edit, and also to add a bunch of, when needed if done in DText instead of MText, which if why I still gravitated toward using DText in spite of the frustrating inconsistency.)

Re: how to get ESC key to save text when using single line text (DTEXT)

pendean — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:55:14 GMT

@jetted4 your desired "dtext" wishlist has been around for 30+years now, so far Autodesk has never gotten around to doing much about it. Perhaps a different CAD program is needed if this is a dire need?