Create Text

This form allows text to be created at any height using the units the model is being designed in.

Watch this video to see this in action:

Text/Text in a Box

Switch between standard Text tool and Text in a Box Tool modes.

Entering Text

To enter text:

  • Click in the 2D view to choose the anchor position
  • Enter the text in the Text box
  • Edit the styling options. All changes are automatically applied

Font Selection

Vertical Fonts

Fonts that start with the @ character are drawn vertically downwards and are always left justified.

Engraving Fonts

The Single Line Radio Button changes the Fonts list to show a selection of fonts that are very quick to engrave.

Text Alignment

Positions text relative to the full body of text, this only has a noticeable effect when writing multiple lines of text.

Anchor

Sets the position of your text block. Either enter values directly, or use the mouse cursor to set the position values interactively:

  • For new text simply left click in 2D view in the desired location
  • For existing text object, left click the anchor point handle and drag it to the desired location

Text in a Box Mode

The Standard Text tools are replaced with specialist Text In a Box tools.

Watch this video to see this in action:

Bounding Box Dimensions

These are the actual size of the box into which the text will be fitted. If the text is scaled interactively (by left clicking twice on the text) or precisely using the scale tool, the new bounding box is updated and displayed as a light gray rectangle.

Margin Size

The distance between the text and the bounding box where:

  • None - Scales text to fit the rectangle width or height of the bounding box
  • Normal - Scales text to fit within 80% of the bounding leaving a 10% border to the left and right.
  • Wide - Reduces the size to 60% of the rectangle width leaving a 20% border to the left and right.

Vertical Stretch

When the text fits the width of the box and there is space above and below it, the text can be made to fill that vertical space using one these methods:

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No Vertical Stretch
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Stretch Line Space to fit
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Stretch Characters to fit

Horizontal Stretch

When the text fits the height of the box and there is space at the sides, the text can be made to fill that horizontal space using one these methods:

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No Horizontal Stretch
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Stretch Spaces between words
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Stretch Kerning (space between letters)
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Stretch Character size

Editing Text

To edit text properties or content of previously created text:

  • If the Create Text form is open, click the text you wish to edit or
  • If the Create Text form is closed, click the left mouse button on the text in the 2D View to select it before opening this form. The form will now allow you to edit the properties of the selected text.

Spell Checker

The Text tool has a spell checking feature to assist with spelling errors.

  • The software checks the spelling for the user and underlines the misspelled words with red.
  • When an underlined word is clicked. It suggest corrections for the user.
  • There is an add word feature if you want to add a new word.
  • There is a remove word feature if you want to remove a word you added by mistake ( it has to be a word added by the user).
  • The language of the spell checker is the same as the language of the software.
  • All the Software supported languages are supported by the spell checker except for Japanese

Usable In Both Views

This tool can be used in both the 2D and 3D View.

2D View offers a more direct way to view your vectors while the 3D view offers more flexibility to work with Vectors in 3D Designs and to make use of the Edit Boxes.

When in the 2D view, a number of the forms tools will be driven by options in the form only.

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt and move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (Hold Alt for scaling non-proportionally, Shift to scale around the centre)
  • Edges (White) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
  • Corner (Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to Rotate in 15° increments) about the Rotation Center.

In the 3D view, there is an expanded number of handles to directly edit the vector within the view, without needing to use the creation form on the left.

In the 3D View, the Handles are:

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt to Move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (HoldAlt for scaling non-proportionally, orShift to scale around the centre)
  • Edges (Black) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
  • Rotation Arrow (Top Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to rotate in 15° increments)
  • White circles are properties unique to this tool to allow direct mouse editing of values in the tool form from within the view.

When you select a Transform Handle, it will activate the appropriate Edit Box for that Handle.

If you need an exact value for a field while dragging it, release the mouse button and type in the desired value, followed by Enter to accept the new value.