How do put text in a circle, triangle etc ballon?

[sschulteH6WZ3]

Hi all, how do you put things like numbers and letters inside shapes (balloons)? I want to mark revisions I have done on the body of the print. All the other cad programs I have used lets you put text inside shapes like a circle, triangle etc.. They automatically let you select what you want around the text. In other systems it is usually associated with a balloon or symbol command. In Mechanical it seems like the only thing you can use balloons for is bom items. I realize I can draw the shape and then put the text inside make a block or some such which is idiotic if it has to be done that way. 

[Patchy · Accepted solution]

Tcircle command?

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @sschulteH6WZ3,

Thank you for your post.  Did the post from @Patchy help with your problem?

Please add a post letting the community know.

All the best, 

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Please Accept As Solution any post(s) that answer your question or solve the problem.

[sschulteH6WZ3]

No not really. I don't think AutoCAD Mechanical can do it. I know other systems can do it and if memory serves me straight AutoCAD used to be able to do it some 15+ or so years ago. It seem ridiculous to not be able to have a the option to automatically put a basic shape around a leader text number or letter with out it having to be associated with a bill or going through the rigmarole of what patchy suggested. We are talking basic out of the box functions on other systems that have been available for decades.

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @sschulteH6WZ3,

I am not aware of another command other than MLEADER and TCIRCLEthat @Patchy suggested that creates a circle (square or slot) around text without it having to be a leader.  When I tested it in AutoCAD Mechanical 2016-2019 it worked as expected. 

Please check that you have the latest updates and hot fixes installed on you system for your version. Note that for AutoCAD Mechanical (and all Toolsets), there will be 2 updates to install, one for Mechanical, and one for core AutoCAD. 

How To: Installing AutoCAD Mechanical Updates

Also, TCIRCLE is an Express Tool, if Express Tools is not installed, it will not be available. How to install or uninstall Express Tools in AutoCAD

Please test these and let me know if this resolves the issue, if not, please create a ScreenCast showing the issue occurring. 

All the best,

[nickdamico]

HOW ABOUT MAKING IT A BLOCK WHEN AFTER YOU INSERT, YOU TYPE IN THE VALUE THAT GOES INSIDE THE CIRCLE, YOU CAN ALSO HAVE THE INSERTION POINT AT THE CENTER OR ON THE QUADRANT.