AutoCAD 2017 "Use tab delimiter only" option

[Anonymous]

In AutoCAD 2015, there was a "use tab delimiter only" option in the right-click menu of a mtext object (right above the "allow bullets and lists" menu option.)

In AutoCAD 2017 that option is no longer there. Where did it go???

(here's a thread some time back where I figured out that I needed this option: http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-2013-2014-2015-2016-2017/mtext-does-this-weird-thing/m-p/54678...

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I wonder if you had a customization to show this as my 2015 does not have the option you are describing! Can you send me a screenshot from 2015 if you still have it installed?

[pendean]

So what does this function do exactly? Explain its use, someone can find it if it's still there.

Wait a minute: are you looking for the DATAEXTRACTION feature to create a delimited text files to import into Excel?

[Anonymous]

Nothing to do with data extraction.

It simply meant that if you wanted a piece of text to be a bullet, you typed: text.-tab. Now "text.-space" creates a bullet item. NOT HELPFUL WHEN USING ABBREVIATIONS!

I attached a picture as requested. I had AutoCAD 2015 (I guess that's plain vanilla) and now I have AutoCAD 2017 (also plain vanilla).

I found an item from the 2012 help section that lists it: http://docs.autodesk.com/ACAD_E/2012/ENU/filesACR/WS1a9193826455f5ff-54f556ca1166ac9ee9e-7715.htm

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous, I do not see this option in product or in help for AutoCAD 2017. I will check to see if it is there in 2016 (as soon as my computer frees up after finsihing a render).

[pendean]

Your link says its under NUMBERING when you right-click, and all it does (when you have numbering,aka bullets but with numbers) is to...

NUMBERING

Use Tab Delimiter Only: Limits the Allow Auto-list and Allow Bullets and Lists options. List formatting is applied to text only when the space after the letter, number, or bullet character was created by Tab, not Space.

So, do you have bullets/numbers on in your MTEXT editor first?

[Anonymous]

No, bullets are NOT turned on.

I first noticed this problem in 2017 when I was trying to type the note: "HORIZ. BRACING". When I type this in a new piece of mtext it is okay. But if I copy & paste just the text into another mtext object, the word "HORIZ." is now a bulleted item. Bullets are not turned on in either piece (until that text is copied in), and "auto list" option is also off/unchecked.

I understand that because the abbreviated word is the first word in the paragraph that it thinks it may be a bullet, but I don't understand that it does this when it's pasted in without the original being a bullet first.

In 2015, this whole problem went away when the "use tab delimiter only" option was selected because the space after "HORIZ." didn't trigger a bullet.

It's the space and not tab that's the problem.

[pendean]

"use tab delimiter only" only applies to tab spacing, nothing else, in AutoCAD regardless of year-version (well, at least since R2012). Try it.

[Anonymous]

I'm not going to argue with you about the function of the option. It worked as needed in 2015.

I can't "try it" because it's not there anymore - that was the point of my original question.

Apparently AutoDesk detrimentally took it away.  @john.vellek, if you or someone else happen to find it or its equivalent, please let me know. Thanks!

[pendean]

No argument, just validation. BTW it's not in 2016 either: you'll have to wait for someone with R2015 to confirm this ability that you say did things that R2012 link you provided said it could not do.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

This did indeed disappear from the menu.

I am unsure why it is gone.  I created a mtext with numbering turned on. And, when I try to delete the tab that is part of the numbering, it does remove the number as well.

Is this the behavior you are trying to eliminate? If I turn off Allow Bullet and lists then I can delete the space without removing the number.  Does this help accomplish what you want?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Does the turning off of Allow Bullet and Lists fix the problem for you?

[Anonymous]

This thread seems to have died. I have a similar problem to yours, but a wee bit different. You see, with 2014 I relied on the "use tab delimiter only" option to guarantee that I can use whatever numbers in a list that I want. So, say I start with 1, then go to 2, and then to 7, I could do that simply by typing "1." "TAB" and then continuing on, then enter, which would give me "2.". But then, if I wanted to go to 7, I could simply hit enter, backspace back to the left margin, and then type "7." TAB and it would keep going on item 7. 

Nowadays, if I try to do that it doesn't turn into a numbered object, so I can no longer have a non-sequential list. I've attached photos below. The 1st shows my non-sequential and yet still functional list of ASDFs from 2014, in which the "TAB DELIMITER ONLY" option is turned on, and then below is my nightmare from 2017.

HELP!!!

 

[pendean]

before you start, right-click while inside the MTEXT editor, select BULLETS AND LISTS, make sure ALLOW BULLETS AND LISTS< then ALLOW AUTONUMBERING, then any other options you would like to be active first.

Experiment.

Note: these become the default for ALL of your MTEXT everywhere moving forward until you cancel the settings.

[Anonymous]

Good morning @pendean & @john.vellek,

I'm having trouble getting AutoCAD 2018 (along with others in my office using ACAD 2017) to auto-number a list starting with anything other than 1. or A.

I have enabled ALLOW BULLETS AND LISTS and ALLOW AUTONUMBERING.  I presume "Use tab delimiter only" was removed in a previous release but its functionality remained built into the Autonumber function.

At any rate, I'm seeing partial functionality here in that ACAD will automatically create a list if I start with 1. or A., but when I start with, say, 8. [TAB] text [ENTER], I am seeing the same result as @Anonymous in that it doesn't turn it into a numbered list as I expect.

Do you have any ideas?

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

I agree that the auto-number is a bit tricky to get going.

try these steps and let me know if they work for you:

• start Mtext and create the Mtext box on your screen
• Go to the bullets and numbering options and turn on Numbered and Allow Auto Bullets and Numbering
• You should see a number 1 on the first line.
• Backspace over it and enter your desired number and a period. Then tab to enter some text.
• Then click outside of the box to exit the Mtext entry.
• Then double-click the Mtext and hit an ENTER after the first line and you will see the next line numbered properly.

Is this what you are trying to accomplish?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Yes sir, that is what we're looking to do, and your suggestion was indeed the secret combination needed for it to work!