Changing Point Markers and Text

AutoCAD Land Desktop Tutorial

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Changing Point Markers and Text

You can use either custom markers or AutoCAD points to designate point nodes. If you choose to use AutoCAD points as markers, the marker style can be adjusted with the DDPTYPE command.

In this exercise, you will select a new custom marker and superimposed symbol, and then size the marker in absolute units.

  1. On the View menu, click Named Views to display the View dialog box. Under Name, select 3, click Set Current, and then click OK.

  2. Select point number 758, right-click and click Display Properties to display the Point Display Properties dialog box.

  3. On the Marker tab, in the Custom Marker Symbol section, select the fourth marker symbol, and then in the Superimposed section, select the circle symbol.

  4. In the Custom Marker Size section, select Size in Absolute Units, and then enter 2 for the Size.

    You can change the visibility and color of number, elevation, and description text.

    Use the following steps to turn off the visibility of the elevation text, change the color of the description text, and size the text in absolute units.

  5. Click the Text tab, and then in the Color and Visibility section, clear the (Elevation) Visible check box.

  6. Click the Description color box to display the Select a Color dialog box. From the Standard Colors palette select cyan (light blue), and then click OK to return to the Point Display Properties dialog box.

  7. In the Style and Size section, select Absolute Units, enter 2 for the Text Size, and then click OK.

    For point number 758, the point marker and text now appear smaller, and the number and description text strings are centered on the marker. The appearance of point 247 remains unchanged since its text size is still relative to the view area of the screen.

    Click here to see an illustration of the new point 758 display parameters.

    As you zoom in and out of the drawing, points with markers and text sized relative to the view area of the screen are resized each time that the points are regenerated.

  8. On the Points menu, click Point Settings to display the Point Settings dialog box.

  9. Click the Preferences tab. In the Point Display section, clear the Always Regenerate Point Display After Zoom check box, and then click OK.

  10. On the View menu, click Named Views to display the View dialog box. Under Name, select 1, click Set Current, and then click OK.

  11. On the command line enter REGEN to regenerate the drawing.

    Point number 247 is resized proportionally, while point number 758 maintains its absolute size. If all of the points in the drawing have their markers and text set to absolute size, it is recommended that you turn off the Always Regenerate Point Display After Zoom check box to improve display performance.

    Use the following steps to reposition point text relative to the point marker.

  12. Select point number 247 to display its grips.

  13. Select the grip and drag down to the right, and then click to fix the point text in its new position.

    A leader is automatically drawn between the text and marker.

    Click here to see an illustration of the point leader.