Constant Text Height in Paper space regardless of scale

[george.bodnar]

My company does not use consistent scales and I am asked to change the zoom level often.  I would like text in paper space to be a constant height regardless of zoom level.  Is it possible to make the text height always 2 (or any other height) regardless of scale?  Therefore, if they ask me to change the zoom for a plot, I do not have to change the text height each time.

[ara_neresesian]

HI

Select parametric Object and change the "CONSTRAINT FORM" to  Annotaional .

SEE PIC.

good luck

[Kent1Cooper]

This is exactly what annotative text styles are for.  Learn about them in Help, or search for videos, etc.   But be aware that you may need to reposition such things at different scales to avoid clashes.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> Is it possible to make the text height always 2 (or any

>> other height) regardless of scale? 

Just to add one idea ... are you using plain AutoCAD (Vanilla) or do you have access to Map 3D or Civil 3D?

In both applications there exist other methods to have the option to not depend on annotative scale, but have the option to get symbols and text scaled in reference to the paper and not to the model.

- alfred -

[george.bodnar]

I am using (vanilla) AutoCAD

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I am using (vanilla) AutoCAD

Then sorry, you'll need to use the annotative settings to get that done.

- alfred -

[RobDraw]

---

@george.bodnar wrote:

I am asked to change the zoom level often. 

---

This is the problem. Someone needs to determine the desired scale before the bulk of the work is done. The people asking you to change scale need to realize that that seemingly simple request requires additional work on your part, especially if the scale gets smaller and text/symbols start to overlap.

Annotative scaling is great for consistent sizing for paper space but it is not the solution for changing scales on the fly. I'd be pretty frustrated if I were asked to change scale on a consistent basis and would do whatever I could to prevent this from happening.

[murray-clack]

I wrote a short tutorial for my office on how to use Annotation Scaling.  Feel free to use and share

The OTHER trick is to physically put your annotation objects in paperspace so that if the Viewport scale needs to change, the text stays put in both position and height.  You will have to redirect some leaders and whatnot

UPDATE - if DIMASSOC is set to a value of 2, the leader arrowheads will automatically redirect themselves if they are object snapped to the item you are labelling.

[dbroad]

As @RobDraw  explained, AutoCAD's annotative scaling system isn't designed to support arbitrary scaling or zoom on the fly.

Although autoscaling text is possible, such capabilities would require customization and would require that the zooming happen in a paper space viewport and that the text be in model space. If it's worth it, then get your company to invest in adding that feature by hiring a consultant.  Otherwise, annotative text styles along with sticking with a limited number of pre-defined scales would be your best choice. Annotative text objects are worth using and are already built-in.

[s.borello]

You need to use annotative text... this way the text will appear the same size in a viewport regardless of scale.  Youtube has videos showing how to do this. 

[a.zwegers]

Simplest solution: put paper-objects like texts and (annotative, associative) dimensions in paper space.

Model space is the 1on1 representation of the real world... you don't see large pieces of text floating by outside your window either, do you? 😉

[ara_neresesian]

HI   

if any one knows about reactors  maybe  can help you to create a text with dynamic height regardless of scale,

just watch how  Parametric dimensions works, by zooming  in and out the height of  text is fixed  .

you can put this condition for reactor 

if  (custom scale)  changed  in paper space  then change  text height in mode space  

i am trying to create that text 

good luck

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> if  (custom scale)  changed  in paper space  then change  text height in mode space 

Not that easy, think about having 2 viewports side-by-side, one viewport is 1:1 and the other is 1:2

You can't modify a text height in modelspace so both viewports show the same text object in the same size measured in paper units.

You need to have overrides of objects for the display so you can catch the DRAW function for each of the viewports separately, you can't do that with changing the text object itself.

- alfred -

[george.bodnar]

Thanks.  But if the scale changes then the text placement in paper space will not match the scale changes in model.  The text size will be correct but the text will be in the "wrong place."

[george.bodnar]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.  As I suspected, it is not possible to do to have a constant text size after zooming in or out.  Annotative text only accomplishes this with set scales and therefore will not work.

[dbroad]

I understand the need to mark a solution, but this issue hasn't solved as much as "accepted".  We need a new button that will never be added to the forums, with an X symbol rather than a checkmark and text such as "Uncle", "Can't be solved", "I give up", "Let' move on", or "Software limitation".

[TiStars]

Agree with you, so I marked it back to "unsolved"

[m.roseP2SQE]

This is by far one of the best and most thorough documents I've seen that explains annotative objects, scaling and their relationships to model space and layout space yet.  Excellent article.

[murray-clack]

Glad you liked it!  I have several other tutorials that I've written for my office to use.

My Sheet Set Manager tutorial is especially good 😉

[TiStars]

Sheet Set is really good tool to manage drawings!