topic Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions? in Civil 3D Forum

Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

qchalmersKACEH — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:35:02 GMT

I have just transitioned from C3D 2024 to 2026. In 2024 I used to be able to double click in any Mtext and immediately start editing it. In 2026 when I double click in Mtext I am instead prompted to select an Mtext object to edit:

I have no idea why after double clicking twice a user would want to then select the same Mtext object again.

I have tried setting DBLCLKEDIT to 1, PICKFIRST to 1 and made sure "Keyboard entry except script" is selected under OPTIONS > User Preferences tab > Priority for Coordinate Data Entry. Nothing changes the double click behavior with Mtext.

I even reset my C3D 2026 installation just in case, no change.

How can I get 2026 to behave the same as previous versions of C3D where a simple double click was all I needed to edit Mtext?

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

jroot — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:15:56 GMT

Try setting QAFLAGS to zero.

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

qchalmersKACEH — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:23:29 GMT

Thank you!! Not sure what this does exactly but it works.

Edit: Unfortunately this causes other issues, see my further reply below.

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

AllenJessup — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 18:01:03 GMT

See here for what it does.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/visual-lisp-autolisp-and-general/qaflags-23-what-does-that-do/m-p/12876829#M12198

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

qchalmersKACEH — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 21:23:46 GMT

"Some of these options could have unpredictable or unwanted side-effects"

Unfortunately this is exactly what's happening. When I have QAFLAGS set to 0, I now am having issues with the join command. When I run it and try to drag a window to select objects, I no longer can even with PICKFIRST set to 1 😞

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

Pointdump — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 06:52:54 GMT

Hi Quentin,
I can't reproduce the problem. Double-click allows me to immediately edit MText in C3D 2026. Here's a couple of things to check:
System Variable Monitor. See if something is getting changed.
System Variables. Check the MTEXT section.
Dave

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

neilyj666 — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:32:16 GMT

Don't know what is happening here but double clicking MTEXT takes me into the editor

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

qchalmersKACEH — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 17:59:30 GMT

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the response. To be clear, setting QAFLAGS to 0 does fix the issue with double clicking to edit Mtext. However it introduces another issue with the JOIN command. When I select two polylines and then run the JOIN command the expected behavior is for CAD to join them. This is what happens when I have QAFLAGS set to 1. However, with QAFLAGS set to 0, C3D 2026 deselects the polylines I had already selected prior to the command, and then prompts me to reselect them. What's even more odd is I can't reselect the polylines with a dragged window, and have to click on each one.

Here is my system variables setup in C3D 2026:

I have done some testing on C3D 2024 and with QAFLAGS set to 0 I have no issues with double clicking to edit Mtext OR selecting polylines prior to using the JOIN command. I even confirmed that I have the exact same settings for ALL system variables in the window above in 2024 to match 2026. There is something else going on with C3D 2026 that is causing this issue.

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

Pointdump — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:47:12 GMT

Quentin,
I had never heard of QAFLAGS, so I typed it into my command line. No such command. I also looked in System Variables in Express Tools, but can't find it. How are you setting QAFLAGS?
Dave

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

AllenJessup — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:31:18 GMT

@Pointdump Dave, It doesn't show as a valid command. But if you hit Enter. It should work. I'm in 2026 one AutoCAD 2026.0.1.

Command:
QAFLAGS
Enter new value for QAFLAGS <0>:

Re: Why does C3D 2026 force users to use 3 actions to edit Mtext rather than 2 like previous versions?

Pointdump — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:25:42 GMT

Hi Allen,
It's as you say. I hit Enter and mine shows <0>.
Dave