Fixed Length Text and Attribute Property - Autocalc Width Factor

[Anonymous]

Often times text and attributes are contained within a shape or box.  Generally in most cases the text is fine at a normal width factor of 1.00,  but when you have overflow and need to adjust the width factor it really is a guess and check game to get something visually appealing.

  Having a property that sets a maximum physical/visual length on the text object would save a lot of fumbling around with width factors.  

The fit justification option of text often misses the mark because I never want a width factor larger than 1 and you also dont get the various other justification options.

 So as long as the visual length of the text does not exceed the maximum set length (distance may be a better term) it should remain as width of 1. 

 If it Exceeds then automatically recalc the width factor so that the text stays within the max set distance.

I think basic formula would be:

MSL = maximum set length

CVL = current visual length

CWF current width factor

NWF = new width factor

NWF = 1.00

 if (CVL > MSL)

{

  NWF = MSL\CVL;

}

CWF = NWF

Im sure there's a hell of a lot more to it than that on the code side, but you get the picture.

This behavoir would be a massive help with attributed Title Blocks and could have many other uses as well.

[dan908 · Accepted solution]

This is a good request. We saw the feedback email you sent earlier. It is not something we are currently looking at, but the development team understands the request and thinks it is reasonable. So, this might be the start of floating around the idea as an enhancement. 

[pavanjella]

Thanks for the idea and sending us this note.

MTEXT command offers WIDTH property to set physical length. One can set the width property via Property Palette - 'Defined Width' or while using the MTEXT/-MTEXT command - 'W' option. Does this option work you or is this not solving the issue are calling out here. 

Thanks,

Pavan Jella

AutoCAD Test Development

[Anonymous]

MTEXT does not seem to provide the desired effect.

Adding 5 more "a" characters.

The text still wants to overlap its desired bounds and requires manual editing of the width factor to make it fit the box.

The time saving factor of an automatic width factor calculation is to not have to manually adjust the width factor in the event of the overlap of the border.

User gets to define this distance and no matter how many characters get added the width factor automatically adjusts to keep the text within its limits.

Hope this clears up my original post.

[Designer_1E]

Did anything ever come of this?

[dan908]

So far this has not been implemented. I still really like this idea.

[dtenhave]

Has there been any development on this or is an update available? This is a feature that would be quite useful

[cadffm]

No, still  justification FIT or nothing.

[brendanchambers]

I'm sure it will be implemented any day now. After all, it's only been 11 years.