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Text, Dtext, Textstyle

UNIT 6

TEXT, DTEXT AND

TEXTSTYLE

OBJECTIVES

General Objective : To understand and apply the concept of creating and editing text

Specific Objectives : At the end of the unit you will be able to:

 Create lines of text in a drawing using Text and Dtext.

 Create and format paragraph text using Mtext.
 Create text styles with the Style command.
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Text, Dtext, Textstyle

INPUT 6a

6.0 INTRODUCTION

Annotating a drawing lets you present information that cannot be presented graphically.
This information can be included as text in dimensions, notes, and titles. AutoCAD provides
you with a number of techniques that let you effectively create and place text in a drawing.

Text in technical drawings is typically in the form of notes concerning information

or descriptions of the objects contained in the drawing. For example an architectural
drawing might have writing description of rooms or spaces, special instructions for
construction or notes concerning materials or furnishing. An engineering drawing may
contain in addition to the dimensions, manufacturing notes, or tables.

In AutoCAD, the commands related to creating or editing text include;

Places one line of text in a drawing, but the text is not visible until after
Text
pressing Enter
Places individual lines of text in a drawing and allow you to see each
Dtext
letter as it is typed
Places text in paragraph form ( with word wrap ) within a text boundary
Mtext
and allow many methods of formatting the appearance of the text.
Creates text styles for use with any of the text creation commands. You
Style can select from font files, specify other parameter to design the
appearance of the letters, and assign a name for each style.
6.1 TEXT CREATION COMMANDS

The commands for creating text are formally named Dtext, Mtext and Text ( these are the
commands used for typing ). The Draw pull-down menu provides access to the two
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commonly used text commands, Multiline Text… ( Mtext ) and Single-Line Text ( Dtext )
( Figure 6.1 ). Only the Mtext command has an icon button ( by default ) near the bottom of
the draw toolbar ( Figure 6.2 ). The Text command must be typed at the command line.

Mtext Toolbar

Figure 6.1 : Getting text from Pull-down menu Figure 6.2 : Mtext toolbar

6.1.1 Dtext

Dtext ( Dynamic text ) lets you insert text into an AutoCAD drawing. Dtext displays each
character in the drawing as it is typed. You can enter multiple lines of text without exiting
the Dtext Command. The lines of text do not ‘wrap’.

Methods for invoking the Dtext Command include :

Pull Down-Menu : Draw > Text > Single Line Text

Command : Dtext

If we use the type command, the options are presented below:

Command: dtext
Justify/Style/< Start point>:

Start Point
The start point for a line of text is the left end of the baseline for the text ( Figure 6.3 ).
Height is the distance from the baseline to the top of upper case letters. Additional lines of
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text are automatically spaced below and left justified. The rotation angle is the angle of the
baseline ( Figure 6.4 )

Figure 6.3 Figure 6.4

The command sequence for this option is:

Command: Dtext
Justify/Style/<Start point>; PICK or ( coordinates )
Height < 0.20 >: Enter or ( value )
Rotation Angle < 0 >: Enter or ( value )
Text: ( Type the desired line of text and press Enter. )
Text: ( Type another line of text and press Enter. )
Text: Enter
Command:

NOTE: When the “Text;” prompt appears, you can also PICK a new location for the next
line of text anywhere in the drawing.

Justify

If you want to use one of the justification methods, invoking this option displays the choices
at the prompt:
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Text, Dtext, Textstyle

Command: Dtext

Justify/Style/<Start point>: J ( Invokes the justification options.)

Align/Fit/Center/Middle/Right/TL/TC/TR/ML/MC/MR/BL/BC/BR: ( choice ) ( Type

capital letters)

After specifying a justification option, you can enter the desired text in response to the
“Text:” prompt. The text is not justified until after you press Enter.

Align

Aligns the line of text between the two points specified ( P1,P2 ). The text height is adjusted
automatically ( Figure 6.5 )

Figure 6.5

Fit

Fits ( compresses or extends ) the line of text between the two points specified (P1,P2 ). The
text height does not change ( Figure 6.5 )

Center

Centers the baseline of the first line of text at the specified point. Additional lines of text are
centered below the first ( Figure 6.6 ).
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Figure 6.6

Middle

Centers the first line of text both vertically and horizontally about the specified point.
Additional lines of text are centered below it (Figure. 6.6 ).

Right

Creates text that is right justified from the specified point ( Figure. 6.6 ).

TL

Top Left. Places the text in the drawing so the top line (of the first line of text) is at the point
specified and additional lines of text are left justified below the point. The top line is defined
by the upper case and tall lower case letters ( Figure. 6.6 ).

TC

Top Center. Places the text so the top line of text is at the point specified and the line(s) of
text are centered below the point ( Figure. 6.6 ).

TR

Top Right. Places the text so that the top right corner of the text is at the point specified and
additional lines of text are right justified below that point ( Figure. 6.6 ).
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ML

Middle Left. Places text so that it is left justified and the middle line of the first line of text
aligns with the point specified. The middle line is half way between the top line and the
baseline, not considering the bottom (extender) line ( Figure 6.6 ).

MC

Middle Center. Centers the first line of text both vertically and horizontally about the
midpoint of the middle line. Additional lines of text are centered below that point (Figure
6.6 ).

MR

Middle Right. Justifies the first line of text at the right end of the middle line. Additional
lines of text are right justified ( Figure 6.6 ).

BL

Bottom Left. Attaches the bottom (extender) line of the first line of text to the specified
point. The bottom line is determined by the lowest point of lower case extended letters such
as y, p, q, j, and g. If only upper-case letters are used, the letters appear to be located above
the specified point. Additional lines of text are left justified ( Figure 6.6 ).

BC
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Bottom Center. Centers the first line of text horizontally about the bottom (extender) line (
Figure 6.6 ).

BR

Bottom Right. Aligns the bottom (extender) line of the first line of text at the specified
point. Additional lines of text are right justified ( Figure 6.6 ).
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Text, Dtext, Textstyle

ACTIVITY 6a

ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS BELOW.

6.1 What is DTEXT and how we access DTEXT Command.?

6.2 By default the justification mode used by the DTEXT command is left justified.
Study the following prompt sequence to place the text string “ELECTRICAL.”
Start New Drawing and select Start from scratch and select English setting. At
your drawing area mark the “A” and “B” point with the distance 2.0 inches. The
figure below shows “A” and “B” point.

Figure: 6.7: The “A” and “B” Point with a distance of 3 inches

Follow these instruction to learn about DTEXT

a. Command: DTEXT

Justify/Style/<Start point:’: (Pick the point at “A”)

Height <0.20>: 0.40

Rotation angle <0>: (Press Enter to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

b Command: DTEXT
. Justify/Style/<Start point>: Justify ( or enter shortcut ‘J’ )
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Align/Fit/Center/Middle/Right/TL/TC/TR/ML/MC/MR/BL/BC/BR: TC

Top/center point: (Pick a point at “A”)

Height <0.20>: 0.40

Rotation angle <0>: (Press Enter to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

c. Command: DTEXT

Justify/Style/<Start point>: Middle

Middle point: (Pick a point at “A”)

Height <0.20>: 0.40

Rotation angIe <0 >: (Press Enter to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

d Command: DTEXT
. Justify/Style!<Start point>: Align

First text line point: (Pick the point at “A”)

Second text line point: (Pick the point at “B”)

Rotation angle <0>: (Press Enter to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

e. Command: DTEXT
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Justify/Style/<Start point>: Fit

First text line point: (Pick the point at “A”)

Second text line point: (Pickthe point at “B”)

Height <0.20>: 0.40

Rotation angle <0>: (Press Enter to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

f. Command: DTEXT

Justify/Style/<Start point>: Right

End point: (Pick the point at “A”)

Height <0.20>: 0.40

Rotation angle <0>: (Press to accept this default)

Text: ELECTRICAL

Text: (Press Enter to exit Dtext and return to the command prompt)

FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY 6a

ANSWERS.

6.1 The DTEXT command stands for Dynamic Text mode and allows you to place text
in a drawing and view the text as you typed it in. This command can be selected by
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picking “Draw” from the pull-down menu area followed by “Text” and finally
“Single Line Text. Multiline

6.2
a.

Figure 6.8 : Justifying text by default

b.

Figure 6.9 :Justifying text by a center point.

c.

Figure 6.10 : Justifying text by a middle point.

d.

Figure 6.11: Justifying text by aligning the text between two points. The text height is
automatically scaled depending on the length of the points and the number of letters that
make up the text.

e.

Figure 6.12 :Justifying text by fitting the text in between two points and specifying the text
height. Notice how the text appears compressed due to the large text height and short
distance of the text line.

f.
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Figure 6.13: Justifying text by a point at the right.

INPUT 6b
6.1.2 TEXT

Text is essentially the same as Dtext except that the text is not dynamically displayed one
letter at a time as you type, but rather appears in the drawing only after pressing Enter. The
other difference is that Dtext repeatedly displays the “Text:” prompt to allow entering
multiple lines of text, whereas Text allows only one line. Otherwise, all the options and
capabilities of Text are identical to Dtext.
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Text, Dtext, Textstyle

Command: text

Justify/Style/<Start point>: PICK

Height <0.2000>: Enter or (value)

Rotation angle <0>: Enter or (value)

Text: sample line of text. (The line of text appears in the drawing after pressing Enter.)

Command:

If you want to type another line of text below the previous line with the Text command, use
Text again, but press ‘Enter’ at the first prompt. The Text command then responds with the
“Text:” prompt, at which time you can enter the next line of text. The new line is
automatically spaced below and uses the same height, justification, and other options as the
previous line.

6.1.3 MTEXT

Multiline Text ( Mtext ) has more editing options than other text commands. You can apply
underlining, color, bold, italic, font, and height changes to individual characters or words
within a paragraph or multiple paragraphs of text.

Mtext allows you to create paragraph text defined by a text boundary. The text
boundary is a reference rectangle that specifies the paragraph width. The Mtext object that
you create can be a line, one paragraph, or several paragraphs. AutoCAD references Mtext
(created with one use of the Mtext command) as one object, regardless of the amount of text
supplied. Like Text and Dtext, several justification methods are possible.

Command: Mtext

Current text style: STANDARD. Text height: 0.2000

Specify first corner: PICK

Specify opposite corner or : PICK or (option)

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You can PICK two corners to invoke the Multiline Text Editor, or enter the first letter of
one of these options: Height, Justify, Rotation, Style, or Width. All of the options can also be
accessed within the Multiline Text Editor.

Using the default option the Mtext command, you supply a “first corner” and “opposite
corner” to define the diagonal corners of the text boundary (like a window). Although this
boundary confines the text on two or three sides, one or two arrows indicate the direction
text flows if it “spills” out of the boundary ( Figure 6.14 ).

Figure 6.14

After you PICK the two points defining the text boundary, the Multiline Text Editor appears
ready for you to enter the text ( Figure. 6.15 ). Enter the desired text. The text wraps based
on the width you defined for the text boundary. You can right-click for a menu allowing you
to Cut, Copy, and Paste selected text. Select the OK button to have the text entered into the
drawing within the text boundary.
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Figure 6.15: Multiline Text Editor

There are three tabs in the Multiline Text Editor: Character tab, Properties tab , and Find
and Replace tab. Using the options in these tabs is interactive text in the editor immediately
reflects the changes made for most options in these tabs. There is also a button to Import
Text.

Import Text

Importing External Text into AutoCAD.

Find/Replace Tab

We can find text in multiline text editor and replace or editing the text .

Properties Tab

Use the properties tab to specify the format of the entire paragraph Although this is the
second tab, it is recommended that you format the entire paragraph(s) here before editing
individual characters using the Character tab ( Figure. 6.16 ). The following options are
available.
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Figure 6.16

Style

Choose from a drop-down list of existing text styles.

Justification

This property determines how the paragraph is located and direction of flow with respect to
the text boundary.

Width

Previous paragraph widths used are displayed in this drop-down list. You can enter a new
value in the edit box to change the width of the existing text boundary. If a Width of 0 is
entered or “no wrap” is selected, the lines of text will not “wrap” within the text boundary.

Rotation

The entire paragraph can be rotated to any angle. Changes made here are not reflected in the
text appearing in the editor but only in the drawing itself. You can type MTPROP at the
command line to directly access the Properties tab of the Multiline Text Editor.

Character Tab

After formatting the entire paragraph, use the character tab to alter individual characters in
the paragraph(s) ( Figure 6.17 ). using the option in this tab, first select ( highlight ) the
desired character or words, then set the desired options. The following options are available.
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Figure 6.17

Font

Choose from any font in the drop-down list. Your selection here overrides the text Style
used for the entire paragraph(s). Even though you can change the font for the entire Mtext
object (paragraph), it is recommended to set the paragraph to the desired Style (in the
Properties tab), rather than changing all characters to a different font here. See following
NOTE.

Height

Select from the list or enter a new value for the height of selected words or letters. Your
selection overrides the text Height used globally for the paragraph.

Bold, Italic, Underline

Select (highlight) the desired letters or words then PICK the desired button. Only authentic
TrueType fonts (not the AutoCAD-supplied .SHX equivalents) can be bolded or italicized.

Stack/Unstack

If creating a stacked fraction, use a / (slash) between the numerator and denominator. If
creating stacked text, place a ^ (caret) before the bottom text. Highlight the fraction or text,
then use this option to stack or unstack the fraction or text.
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Text Color

Select individual text, and then use this drop-down list to select a color for the selected text.
This selection overrides the layer color.

Symbol

Common symbols (plus/minus, diameter, degrees) can be inserted. Selecting Other...

produces a character map to select symbols ( Figure 6.18 ).

Figure 6.18
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ACTIVITY 6B

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

6.3 What is the difference between ‘Dtext’ and ‘Text’.

6.4 Create a Title Block

i. Begin a New drawing and assign the name TBLOCK. Create the title block as shown in
Figure 6.19 or design your own, allowing space for eight text entries. The dimensions
are set for an A size sheet. Use Pline with 0.02 width for the boundary and Lines for the
interior divisions. ( No Lines are needed on the right side and bottom because the title
block will fit against the border lines. )
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Figure 6.19

ii. Insert test similar to that shown in Figure 6.20. Examples of the fields to create are:

Company or School Name

Part Name or Project Title
Scale
Designer Name
Checker or Instructor name

Figure 6.19

6.5 Create the text below using Multiline Text Editor with Font = RomanC and Height = 0.2
After that adjust the text as shown in Figure 6.20

RomanC

Impact
Height = 0.36

Arial Arial

Figure 6.20
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FEEDBACK TO ACTIVITY 9B

ANSWERS.
6.3 Text - Text is essentially the same as Mtext except that the text is not dynamically
displayed one letter at a time as you type, but rather appears in the drawing only
after pressing Enter.
Mtext - Multiline Text ( Mtext ) has more editing options than other text commands.
We can apply underlining, color, bold, italic, font, and height changes to individual
characters or words within a paragraph or multiple paragraphs of text.
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QUESTION 6-1 : ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS BELOW.

a)

i. Create New drawing. Use Style to create a new style using the romans.shx font.
Use whatever justification methods you need to align the text information (not
the titles) as shown in Figure 6.21.

ii. Next, type the Style command to create a new style that you name as ROMANS-
ITAL. Use the romans.shx font file and specify a 15 degree obliquing angle. Use
this style for the NO., PART NAME, and MATERIAL. SaveAs BILLMAT.
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Figure 6.21

b) Open the CBRACKET drawing from unit 5 ( Activity 5c ). Using romans.shx font,
use Dtext to place the part name and METRIC annotation (Figure 6.22 ). Use a
Height of 5 and 4, respectively, and the Center Justification option. For the notes,
use Mtext to create the boundary as shown. Use the default Justify method (TL) and
a Height of 3. Use Ddedit or Ddmodify if necessary. SaveAs CBRACTXT.

Figure 6.22
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Feedback To Self-Assessment

Please discuss with your lecturer if you have any problem.