Symbol shortcuts in properties?

[Anonymous]

I've noticed that in the item properties, particularly for dimension text properties, you can use "<>" and it will return the length of the item in question along any other override text, so that the internal variable for the length isn't affected and is represented, even though you are using overwrite text.

Are there any other "symbolic shortcuts?"

[Ed__Jobe]

"<>" only works for dimensions. It has special meaning. It means that AutoCAD will use the measured value for the dimension text. It acts like a field. If you double click on the dimension text to edit it, the <> are highlighted like a field and it displays the measured value. You can type next to it to add text, e.g. "<> Ft.". If you override the dimension, you can get the measured value back by entering "<>".

[Anonymous]

Ed,

Are there any other symbols that can be used that aren't just text symbols? I don't mean %%d or anything with a character: I mean variables.

[Ed__Jobe]

Not that I'm aware of.

[gotphish001]

In the text override field that you are talking about, you can use <> to have it put in the actual dimension. A couple other things you can use in that override field are:   with no quotes   "\X" the text following this will be put under the dimension line instead of above. You don't need a space after the X and the X must be capitalized. So you could put <>\XTotal Length    which would use the actual dimension and add Total length below the dim line.

"\P" is the other one that I'm aware of. That adds a new line above the dim line. It works basically as a return, but moves everything up so it stays above the line. 

You could put them together like in my picture example. Also the reason to use <> instead of just overriding the text and typing in something new like 7'-9" is that with <> if you change the length of what is being dimensioned the text will change. If you just override it with new text and you change the length it will still read whatever you changed it to instead of updating.