topic Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing in AutoCAD Forum

MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

ChrisRS — Wed, 24 May 2017 14:57:55 GMT

I use MTEXT in paper space for numbered notes, legal descriptions etc. The text height is 01.25" to 0.25".

Paragraph spacing is limited to 0.25" to 4". I cannot set an appropriate paragraph spacing or 0.04 to 0.10 directly.

For years I have used scale up, set paragraph space, scale down work around. Recently I ran across the set to minimum, exit MTEXT editor, Reset to a value less than minimum and it works.

This is a big waste of time. Is there a setting that can be changed? If not it seems like it is time to fix this.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

chriscowgill7373 — Wed, 24 May 2017 15:52:52 GMT

Can you post some screen shots of what you are seeing in your dialog/properties palette? I've always just set my spacing to 1 and if I needed an extra line inbetween notes, add the space using enter. There are a couple of options, you can hit enter twice, go up and backspace the previous number, or just wait to number your list to the end. AutoCAD is no different than Word, bullited lists think they know what you want, but really have no clue.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

pendean — Wed, 24 May 2017 15:55:18 GMT

TSPACEFAC (System Variable) controls the spacing as defined here https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2015/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-F88F3D78-2EE8-4A7D-B2D5-B5DDD7303800-htm.html

Are you using stick fonts or TTF fonts? Do you have fractions? Other special characters?

IMHO if you want text-perfection type your notes in MSWORD and link that into your DWG file.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

ChrisRS — Wed, 24 May 2017 17:53:54 GMT

Chris C.,

Thanks,

I understand double spacing Like "A"

I am trying to get line and one- half spacing like in "D"

Starting with "B", I use the Paragraph spacing after opinion on the Paragraph setting dialog. You get an error if the spacing is not in 0.25" to 4" range.

If you set to the 0.25 minimum, the result is "C". If you then format the paragraph again, you can set a space after less than the 0.25 minimum; it is then accepted resulting in "D", as desired.

This is a work around. There is a hardcoded range that does not work well. I am just asking that Autodesk fix an error, not for something new,

Often the difference between double space and space and one-half requires addition sheets.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

chriscowgill7373 — Wed, 24 May 2017 18:05:08 GMT

That defininently clears it up. Here is the current location to submit feature requests:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794

I can see where your request would be useful

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

ChrisRS — Wed, 24 May 2017 20:43:41 GMT

Thanks, Dean.

I generally use TRUETYPE fonts, but the issue is the same with stick fonts. I don't generally use symbols or stacked fractions, but do know about setting line spacing to exactly.

I could have been more clear that my difficulty was with the use space after paragraph values.

I will consider the MS WORD workaround, but it should not be necessary. I have never had good luck linking word or excel into AutoCAD. Proper scale seems difficult. Do you have a good workflow?

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

pendean — Wed, 24 May 2017 21:07:13 GMT

Sure thing: you need a professional grade add-on http://dotsoft.com/word2cad.htm if the free OLE linking method is not what you want to use https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-civil-3d-forum/data-link-for-ms-word/m-p/5760774#M280448 and http://www.brighthubengineering.com/cad-autocad-reviews-tips/43179-inserting-a-word-document-into-autocad-in-five-steps/

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

ChrisRS — Thu, 25 May 2017 16:41:57 GMT

Thank you, Dean.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

john.vellek — Mon, 29 May 2017 22:56:15 GMT

HI @ChrisRS,

Thank you for posting about this issue in the forums.

You are welcome to contact the product team directly. If you have additional comments specific to the software or its functionality for future consideration, please use the Product Feedback page. How to provide feedback on Autodesk products goes into more detail.

Another great option is to participate in the AutoCAD Customer Council. This is an opportunity for our customers to partner with the AutoCAD development team to improve future releases of AutoCAD by giving continuous feedback on ideas, designs, and early builds.
In order to get involved email autocad.beta@autodesk.com or autocad.lt.council@autodesk.com

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

dharperG89FG — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 20:21:48 GMT

I've suffered with the same issue for as long as you. Especially when using bullets, numbered, lettered paragraphs

My work round is after the text is in place , I temporally scale the text up to 1 “ tall using the primary, text justification grip as the base point (scaling it keeps the MText box proportional)

Then I do the edit the text Paragraph Spacing to be 1” or whatever is needed , but using the now 8x or 4x depending on the original text size, for the needed spacing.

Next I rescale the text back down to 1/8” ( or 1/4”) using the same grip as was used earlier.

I know its extra steps but it makes the drawings and paragraphs correctly spaced.

David

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

wizard_ettore — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:35:19 GMT

Still broken in 2024.

Anyhow, to circumvent this bug: set the paragraph spacing of things with bullets and things without bullets on their own. If you have both selected, the 1/4" minimum is enforced. So, if you have something like this:
GENERAL NOTES:
1. This is a note.

2. This is also a note.

Put your cursor in the GENERAL NOTES text (I'd suggest not highlighting) and set whatever paragraph settings you want. Then highlight the 1. and 2. rows and do it again; you won't have that 1/4" limit.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

braeden7YADA — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:17:28 GMT

This issue is an almost daily frustration for me. I have resorted to making pre-formatted text boxes that I can copy-and-paste into any file in paper space that contain dummy text that is formatted with good line spacing. But this isn't a perfect solution. There are plenty of times already I have a block of multiline text established that I need to edit and add in a few new lines. But when I go to do that, the program just can't automatically make a carriage return that matches the rest of the text. Then I need to fumble around with tedious formatting tricks to get things to appear the way they ought to, with the program fighting me all the way.

If only...

1. Autodesk changed the whole line spacing interface to something entirely different that didn't require you to click through various drop-downs and options widows every single time you need to change line spacing.

2. AutoCAD didn't arbitrarily decide that the paragraph line spacing should have a minimum and maximum value. WHAT PRACTICAL USE COULD THAT POSSIBLY HAVE ANYWAYS!?

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

pendean — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:08:17 GMT

Share a problem DWG file here along with one or more of your solution-blocks please @braeden7YADA

Most of us rarely struggle with such so it may be hard for many of us to replicate your exact issue.

Re: MTEXT Paragraph Spacing

wizard_ettore — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:56:06 GMT

His experience is trivial to replicate based solely on what everyone in this thread has mentioned; it applies to all versions of AutoCAD (including 2026, just checked).