Create arrows at different scales.

[johnc11]

Hi All, 

I have become stuck trying to create an arrow that will change size based on the scale factor set in the drawing. We do all of you drafitng in model space and create different sized text based on the required print scale. We do not use annnotative text. 

I would like an arrow that is basically the same as a mleader at a scale of 1:1000 has an arrow head size of 2.5 with a arrow head looking like the symbol "Open 30". When changing the scale to 1:500 the arrow head size will be 1.25 and when scaled to 1:2000 the arrow head size will be 5. I should mention this is all metric. 

At this point I am stuck. I have a macro to create the mleader. 

^C^C(setvar "CMLEADERSTYLE" "SGV_LEADER1");-layer;m;NS-ARROWS-LEADERS;;mld;\\;

Is there a  way to scale the mleader based on the scale of the drawing. 

Alternatively (and likley a lot of work) I can create a mleader style for each size I want (about 25), is there an easy way to then select the required mleader style based on the drawing scale from 1 macro button. 

Any thought or suggestions are most wecome. 

[Kent1Cooper]

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@johnc11 wrote:

.... We do not use annnotative text. .... 

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[Maybe you should.  Isn't just this kind of thing exactly what annotative text and dimensions are all about?]

[pendean]

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@johnc11 wrote:

...I have become stuck trying to create an arrow that will change size based on the scale factor set in the drawing...

...We do not use annnotative text. ...

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You literally just passed on the solution you seek: annotative text/dims/mleaders/leaders and blocks are the way to do for your exact want and need.

What's holding you back from adopting it friend? There are lots of easy to follow online tutorials to help get you started. Let us know.

[scot-65 · Accepted solution]

Investigate MLEADSERSCALE.
You may be able to set this value based on the current DIMSCALE value.

(setvar 'MLEADERSCALE (getvar 'DIMSCALE))

Hope this helps.

[johnc11]

Thanks Scot-65

That idea worked a treat. We are not changing the DIM Scale but the scale factor scl. I also decided the end of the macro will also reset the mleader scale back to the DIm scale of the drawing (which is always 1).  

^C^C(setvar "CMLEADERSTYLE" "SGV_LEADER1");(setvar "mleaderscale" scl);-layer;m;NS-ARROWS-LEADERS;;mld;\\(setvar "mleaderscale" (getvar 'DIMSCALE))

[johnc11]

We have limited use for annotative text. Where text is required to be printed on different pages at different scales it is rarely required in the same position, so is duplicated anyway. I have also found in the past to either work with everything as annotative or northing. 

To introduce annotative objects now would require a lot or reprogramming and for the sake of an arrow or two , its not worth it.

[scot-65]

>>We have limited use for annotative text.

Ditto here.
Our environment does not require the same annotative object(s) to be displayed at unique scales. I do see a use for these, but not here in our environment for our 8 plan-type drawings and 8 elevation-type drawings in a given document set.