Attribute Text Wrapping

[Anonymous]

I am working on an circuit in which one component has enough contacts to extend past another line.  I've been trying to find out how to wrap the text of the attribute so it has a limited width, and have seen solutions mentioning ATTDEF, but I am having embarrassing difficulty in using it.  I can create the attribute to have multiple lines, but then there is no way I can find to then link this new attribute to the existing block.

I have also tried to make a copy of the tag, both with a new name or getting rid of the old one to make an identical replacement.  In both cases, the attribute then lost its variability, and simply didn't change regarding the contacts.

Before I started working on this, though, someone else had apparently found a solution to this issue and applied it to only one instance of it.  In the attached file, the selected list of contacts is an mtext, not an attribute.  However, if any contacts are added or removed from CR-AS, the text updates.  The contents of the text is {\W0.8;0708,0719,1009,1018,\P1119,1117} .  The relay shown is not on line 8.  Duplication of this, whether the same text being added to a new piece, or making a direct copy, does not reproduce what is expressed here. The person who did this is no longer reachable, and thus can't share what they did.

If you can, please lend a hand with this.

[pendean]

Multi-Line Attribute does that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakurPMU9no

[TRLitsey]

Hi there,

Not sure if you know about these tools.  Sorry if I am saying some thing you already know.  As a quick down and dirty I would right click on an attribute to get the pop up tools.  Use the MOVE and then the SQUEEZE tools.  Note that in the attached picture I moved and then squeezed the cross ref. attribute for M1427.  I should warn you that if you use the squeeze, the attribute will go back to its default size when it is updated with another reference.

Please mark as a solution if this works for you, kudos are always welcome  -  thank you

Good luck

There is also the attribute size tool on the list  ...

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the advice, but unfortunately this does not solve my problem.  I am looking for a way to make it so the text splits into 2 separate lines; one above, one below.  Although the attribute manipulation is useful, I have a standard code I must follow, and adjusting the text style is not good news.

[TRLitsey]

Hi again,

I just learned something,  I know the xref is an attribute so this be start you toward your goal.  I imagine that if you edit the coil xref have the mult-line property it might work for you.  I just did a little test.  Ran the ATT at the command line.  Selected only the Muliple lines check box then filled out the rest.

Once the attribute was created I created a block with it inside.  Now when I insert the block the attribute text will wrap when I hit the enter key. 

In the help screen for Attribute Definition Dialog Box it says you can set a boundy so the text will automatically wrap.  If you can set this up for the coil xref attribute you will probably get where you want be.

Good luck

[jseefdrumr]

Or, you could just use the ready-made tool meant for this...see image.

FWIW, it looks like the single-applied solution you mentioned was done with this command.

Hope this helps,

Jim

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU!! Thank you so much.

I knew this retched button was somewhere, but apparently no one on the internet knows where it is! I tried to find it through more than several searches, but nobody seemed to know that it existed.

Jim, you're knowledge on such subjects exceeds many, many others.

[TRLitsey]

Thank you, I had not seen this one before.  Learned something else new here today 🙂

[jseefdrumr]

You're very welcome, and thanks for the compliment.

FWIW, 60% of what I know about this software I gleaned off of these forums. I have found forums to be a necessity with software like Autodesk's, which lumps Beta testers and end users into the same group, at the same time. I would feel remiss if I didn't contribute back, I'm glad someone was able to put my info to good use.

One thing, if you ever use the CTRL key when selecting attributes, changing them to MTEXT kills that functionality, but only on the MTEXT attributes.

Also, I'm unaware of any way to revert back to a single-line ATTDEF once this has been done. But then, I can't imagine why you'd need to either, so.