Independent annotation objects

We recommend you define a firm folder for symbols, because the default folders are
overwritten when you upgrade to a newer version of Tekla Structures. Add the firm folder
to the advanced option DXK_SYMBOLPATH.
See also Defining a firm folder for images and symbols on page 520
4.6 Independent annotation objects
Independent annotation objects are not linked or connected to the Tekla Structures model in
any way. Texts, text files, DWG/DXF files, symbols, revision marks, links and hyperlinks are all
independent annotation objects.
See also Drawing objects on page 17
Adding text on page 186
Adding links to text files on page 188
Adding links to other drawings on page 189
Adding hyperlinks on page 190
Adding links to DWG and DXF files on page 191
Adding revision marks on page 192
Adding symbols in drawings on page 238
Modifying the properties of independent annotation objects on page 193
Adding text
You can add text in the drawings.
To add text:
Editing drawings
186
Independent annotation objects
1. Hold down Shift and click Annotating --> Add Text and then select one of the
following commands to create a single line or multiple lines of text:
•
Text: Add text without a leader line at the position you pick.
•
Text with Leader Line: Add text with a leader line at the position you pick.
•
Text along Line: Add text along a line at the position you pick.
•
Along Line, Arrow at End Point: Add text along a line at the position you pick. An
arrow is inserted at the second position you pick.
•
Along Line, Arrow at Start Point: Add text along a line at the position you pick. An
arrow is inserted at the first position you pick.
2. Enter the text in the Text box.
Press Enter to make a line break.
3. Modify the text color, height, font, angle and alignment as required.
4. Select a frame type, leader line and color.
5. Select the leader line arrow type and size.
6. To exactly place the text in the position you pick, and keep it there, click the Place...
button and select fixed in the Placing list.
7. Click OK or Apply.
8. Pick the point where you want to place the text. Depending on the command, you have
to pick one to three times.
Text is aligned to left by default. Line spacing is automatically adjusted by the font size
you select.
You can continue picking to add the same line of text in another location.
See below for examples of the different text options. From left: Text; Text with Leader Line;
Text along Line; Along Line, Arrow at End Point; and Along Line, Arrow at Start Point.
You can drag the base point of the text leader line freely after adding the text.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Editing drawings
187
Independent annotation objects
Using superscript in text
You can use superscript in texts in all your text objects, dimension marks, other marks and
associative notes.
Before you can use superscript, set the advanced option
XS_SUPERSCRIPT_USED_IN_DRAWING_TEXTS to TRUE.
To use superscript text:
1. Open the properties dialog box of the text object, mark or associative note.
2. Do one of the following:
•
For text objects, enter the desired text in the Text box.
•
For marks and associative notes, open the Mark Content - text dialog box by
double-clicking Text in the Available elements list and enter the desired text in the
Text box.
3. Enter circumflexes (^) around the characters that you want to have in superscript.
4. Click Modify or OK and Modify as required.
Example This example shows how the superscript is entered in the Text box and what it looks like in
the text.
See also Adding text on page 186
Associative annotation objects on page 175
Dimensions on page 141
XS_SUPERSCRIPT_USED_IN_DRAWING_TEXTS
Adding links to text files
You can insert a text file inside a frame in a drawing. Tekla Structures adds the text file using
the properties in the Text File Properties dialog box.Tekla Structures creates a link to the
text file. If you change the text in the file, it will change in all drawings containing a link to
the text file.
To add a link to a text file:
1. Open the drawing where you want to add the text file.
2. Click Annotating --> Add Text --> From Text File .
Editing drawings
188
Independent annotation objects
3. Set the text color, height, and font.
4. Set the frame line type and color.
5. Select if you want to scale the text.
If you select No scaling, you only need to pick the upper left corner of the frame. Tekla
Structures inserts the object in its original size. If you select Scale to fit, you need to
pick two points to define the frame. Tekla Structures adjusts the object size to fit the
frame.
6. Browse for the file.
7. Click OK or Apply.
8. Pick one or two points in the drawing to indicate the corners of the text file frame.
•
To edit a text file, double-click the text inside the frame. Tekla Structures
opens the original text file.
•
To modify the text file properties, double-click the frame around the text.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Adding links to other drawings
You can insert a link to a drawing in a frame in a drawing. Tekla Structures adds the link to
the drawing using the properties in the Drawing Link Properties dialog box.
To add a link to another drawing:
1. Open the drawing.
2. Click Annotating --> Add Link --> To Other Drawing... .
3. Modify the text color, height, font and effect.
4. Modify the frame line type and color.
5. Select if you want to scale the link. If you select No scaling, Tekla Structures inserts the
link in its original size.
If you select Scale to fit, Tekla Structures adjusts the object size to fit the frame.
6. In the Drawing list, select the drawing to link to.
The drawings in the list are the drawings in the current model.
7. If you want to display text for the link instead of the drawing name, enter the text in the
Text box.
8. Pick two points to define the frame and add the link.
9. Click OK or Apply.
Editing drawings
189
Independent annotation objects
You can open the linked drawing by double-clicking the link.
Example In the example below, Scale to fit has been selected, and the link contains the name of the
drawing.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Adding hyperlinks
You can add links to Internet addresses (URLs) within a frame in a drawing.
To add a hyperlink:
1. Open a drawing where you want to add a hyperlink.
2. Click Annotating --> Add Link --> Hyperlink...
3. Modify the text color, height, font and effect.
4. Modify the frame line type and color.
5. Select if you want to scale the link.
If you select No scaling, you only need pick the upper left corner of the frame when you
insert the link. Tekla Structures inserts the link in its original size. If you select Scale to
fit, you need to pick two points to define the frame. Tekla Structures adjusts the link size
to fit the frame.
6. In the File or URL text box, enter an Internet address or filename and path.
If you need to locate the file, click Browse.... Tekla Structures inserts an active hyperlink
to the location you specify.
Editing drawings
190
Independent annotation objects
7. If you want to display text for the hyperlink instead of the hyperlink, enter the text in the
Text box.
8. Click OK or Apply.
9. Pick one or two points in the drawing to indicate the corners of the hyperlink frame.
Example In the example below, Scale to fit has been selected. The Internet address for the hyperlink is
shown.
Double-click the hyperlink text in the drawing to jump to the Internet address.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Adding links to DWG and DXF files
You can insert a DWG or DXF file inside a frame in a drawing. Tekla Structures adds the DWG
or DXF file using the properties in the DWG/DXF Properties dialog box. Tekla Structures
creates a link to the selected DWG or DXF file. When you modify the file, Tekla Structures
also modifies all the links in the drawing.
In DWG/DXF links, Tekla Structures supports Autocad version 2010 and earlier.
To add a link to a DWG or DXF file:
1. Open the drawing where you want to insert a link to a DWG/DXF file.
2. Click View --> Add DWG / DXF File .
3. Select the scaling options:
•
Scaling type:
•
X: Pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can only set the
drawing scale in the x direction.
•
XY: Pick the left upper corner of the frame to insert the file. You can set the
drawing scale in both the x and y direction.
Editing drawings
191
Independent annotation objects
•
•
Scale to fit: Pick the left upper and bottom right corners of the frame to size and
create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit the frame.
•
Best fit: Pick the left upper and bottom right corners of the frame to size and
create the frame. Tekla Structures scales the file to fit, maintaining its original
aspect ratio.
Scale in X:
•
•
Scales the file in the x direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for
example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to X or
XY.
Scale in Y:
•
Scales the file in the y direction. Enter a coefficient to indicate the scale, for
example, 1.0 for 100%, 1.5 for 150%, etc. The scaling type must be set to XY.
4. Select the link frame line type and color.
5. In Name, browse for the DWG or DXF file you want to use.
6. Pick one or two points in the drawing to place the frame.
7. Click OK or Apply.
Tekla Structures adds the DWG or DXF drawing inside a frame in the drawing.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Adding revision marks
Revision marks are symbols that you can add in the drawing when you want to indicate a
change in the Tekla Structures model or drawing, containing information about the
change.Tekla Structures creates the revision mark using the properties in the Revision Mark
Properties dialog box. If you create revisions through the Drawing List, Tekla Structures will
not create any marks inside the drawing. Using revision marks you can indicate the parts that
have changed in your drawing.
To add revision marks:
1. Open the drawing.
2. Click Annotating --> Add Revision Mark and select Arrow on Left, Arrow on Right,
Along Line, Arrow on Left... or Along Line, Arrow on Right.
3. Enter the mark, date, and information on the changes.
Tekla Structures shows these in the revision table of the drawing.
4. To place the revision mark exactly in the position you pick and keep it there, click the
Place... button and select fixed in the Placing list.
5. Go to the Appearance tab and set the text color, height, font and angle, the frame color,
leader line and type, and the leader line arrow type and size.
Editing drawings
192
Independent annotation objects
Some revision mark types need to have a leader line, otherwise you cannot
place them:
6. Click OK or Apply.
7. Pick a point or points to place the mark.
Tekla Structures creates the revisions and revision marks. You can also see the new
revisions on the Drawing List.
See below for some examples of the revision marks.
See also Independent annotation objects on page 186
Leader line types on page 553
Revising drawings on page 276
Modifying the properties of independent annotation objects
You can modify the properties of texts, symbols, links, hyperlinks, links to DWG and DXF files,
and revision marks in an open drawing.
To modify the properties of the independent annotation objects:
1. Double-click the object.
2. Switch all the check boxes off in the dialog box by clicking the on/off switch
at the bottom of the dialog box.
Editing drawings
193
Independent annotation objects