If you have read the Adding Text in AutoCAD post, you understand how to add text in a drawing, either by keying in the information or by importing it from a text file. In this post, you will learn how to manipulate multiline text with grips and adjust its various settings in the Properties palette. However, changing the text’s layer and copying, moving, and rotating the text can be achieved using standard AutoCAD commands and processes.
Editing Multiline Text
You can edit existing multiline text in the Text Editor.
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Double-click on a text object to open the Text Editor. The Text Editor contextual tab also opens.
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You can also right-click on the selected text and select Mtext Edit.
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Edit the text, as shown below.
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In the Text Editor contextual tab, click
(Close Text Editor) or click in the drawing window to finish editing the text.
Changing the Text Width and Height
After you have placed multiline text in your drawing, you can control the text boundary box width and length using grips or the Text Editor.
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Select some multiline text without any commands running. Grips display at the location point and at the column width and height, as shown below. Click on a grip to select it (it turns red) and then move the cursor and select another point to stretch the column width or height to a different size. To clear the grips, press <Esc>.
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The location grip (square grip box) moves the entire multiline text. It also designates the justification of the object.
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You can modify the text width and length in the Text Editor by hovering the cursor over the edges or the corner of the Text Editor and then dragging the double arrows. You can also use the horizontal diamond on the right end of the ruler to modify the text box width, as shown below.
Changing Text Properties
The Properties palette is useful for changing multiple instances of text. You can change general properties (such as the layer) or specific properties (such as style, height, or justification).
You can add a text frame around multiline text. In the Properties palette, change the Text frame field to Yes, as shown below.
The text frame is offset from the text by the value of the Border offset factor in the Background Mask dialog box, as shown below.
Spell Checking
While you are in the Text Editor, you can have spell checking on and fix spelling errors on the fly. You can also check the spelling in an entire drawing or part of a drawing.
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In the Annotate tab>Text panel, click
(Check Spelling).
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In the Check Spelling dialog box, expand the Where to check drop-down list and select Entire drawing, Current space/layout, or Selected objects.
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You can also click
(Select Objects) to specify which objects to check.
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Click Start.
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The AutoCAD software zooms to the text being checked and highlights any misspelled words. As with other spell checkers, you can:
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Click Change or Change All to change the word to the selected suggestion.
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Click Ignore or Ignore All to maintain the spelling.
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Click Add to Dictionary to add a word to your custom dictionary.
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Click Undo if you modify a spelling error by mistake.
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When the spelling check is complete, a message box opens. Click OK and then Close in the Check Spelling dialog box.
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Click Dictionaries... to specify the main and custom dictionaries and add words to your custom dictionary.
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Click Settings... to specify the types of items you want to check and how you want the checker to deal with specific variations of words.
Editing multiline text in AutoCAD is an important feature that enhances the clarity of your drawings. By utilizing grips, the Text Editor, and the Properties palette, you can efficiently control text formatting, placement, and appearance. By incorporating these text-editing techniques into your daily drafting routine, you can make your notes error-free and precise.
The information above was taken from ASCENT’s AutoCAD 2027: Essentials guide, which is available for you on Amazon or on our ASCENT eStore.
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