Annotation

Info: Multiline text is the preferred method in WisDOT for typing or inserting general notes.

1. Open acad-annotatn-begin.dwg
2. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel
   1. text style dropdown: CalibriLight
   2. textsize: 0.10
3.  Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Multiline Text
   1. Specify first corner:
      1. Use Osnaps to pick upper left corner of title block box
   2. Specify opposite corner:
      1. Use Osnaps to pick lower right corner of title block box

      

   3. Type notes in Mtext box
   4. Open maintainence crossover.txt in Notepad
      1. Copy text content
      2. Paste text content into Mtext box
4. Select previously created Mtext with single click
   1. Observe insertion, column height and column width Grips displayed
   2. esc
5. Double click previously created Mtext
   1. Observe Mtext contextual Ribbon displayed
   2. Mtext Ribbon
      1.  Formatting panel > Text style dropdown
         1. Choose alternative Text style
         2. Set back to CallibriLight
      2. Style panel > Text height field
         1. Key in new Text height
         2. Set back to 0.1000
      3. Paragraph panel > Justification dropdown
         1. Choose Middle Center
   3. Left-click outside Mtext editing box
6. Select Mtext object
   1. Use Geometric Center Osnap to place insertion point at centroid of title block area
   2. esc
7. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Mulitline Text
   1. Specify first corner:
      1. Pick lower endpoint of green guiding Line
   2. Specify opposite corner:

      

      

   3. Type general notes into Mtext box
   4. Highlight general notes text content
   5. Mtext Ribbon > Formatting panel > Change case dropdown
      1. Uppercase
   6. Mtext Ribbon > Tools panel flyout > Import Text
      1. Browse to general notes.txt
      2. Open
   7. Select part of the Mtext content
   8. Mtext Ribbon
      1.  Formatting panel > Text style dropdown
         1. Change Text style
      2. Style panel > Text height field
         1. Change Text height
      3. Formatting panel > Match
         1. Highlight Text content with source formatting
         2. Highlight Text content for which to apply formatting
      4. Highlight entire Mtext content
         1. Style panel > Text height field
            1. Text height = 0.1250
      5. Insert panel > Columns dropdown > No Columns
         1. Right click top of Mext box
            1. Set Mtext width = 38
            2. OK
   9. Left-click outside Mtext box to finish editing

In this exercise, you will learn some time-saving text editing functions including Change Case, Convert to Mtext, Text Align, Match Properties, Check Spelling, and Find/ Replace as well as the differences between Multiline Text (Mtext) and Text (aka Dtext). Essentially, Text is the old version of Mtext. Where Mtext can have multiple lines of text content sorted into columns and rows as desired, Text is single line and has no column sorting ability built in. You can type mulitple lines of text content in a Text object, but each line will result in its own individual Text object. There is much less editing ability with Text vs Mtext and no associated contextual Ribbon. All that said, many older drawings or Civil 3D drawings with content imported from Microstation will contain the older legacy Text.

1. Continue working in acad-annotatn-begin.dwg
2. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Multiline text dropdown > Single Line
   1. Specify start point of text or
      1. Pick bottom endpoint of the green Line above SECTION B-B detail
   2. Specify paper height <0.1000>
      1. enter
   3. Specify rotation angle of text <0>
      1. enter
   4. Type section a-a
      1. Left-click outside of Text object
      2. esc
3. Select section a-aText
   1. tcase enter
   2. TCASE dialog box : UPPER CASE
   3. OK

4. Ribbon > Home tab > Clipboard panel > Match properties

   Info: Command can also be invoked at command line using MA

   1. Select source object

      1. Left click SECTION B-B Text

   2. Select destination object

      1. Left click SECTION A-A Text

5. Select SECTION A-A Text
   1. Properties palette > Text
      1. Justify = Center
6. Ribbon > Express tools tab > Text panel > Convert to Mtext
   1. Select objects
      1. Select STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF Text
      2. Select TRANSPORTATION Text
      3. enter
7. Select STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Mtext
   1. Properties palette > Text
      1. Justify = Middle Center
      2. esc
8. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Text Align
   1. Select text objects to align
      1. SECTION B-B Text
      2. SECTION A-A Text
      3. enter
      4. Select text object to align to
         1.  SECTION A-A Text
         2. Pick second point
            1. shift + left click below SECTION A-A Text
9. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Check Spelling
   1. Start
   2. Add to Dictionary
   3. Close
10. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel
    1. Find and Replace field: shld
    2. Find and Replace
       1. Replace with: SHOULDER
       2. Replace All
       3. Done

Whenever creating either Mtext or Text, the first step is to choose a Text Style. You pick this from a dropdown list on your Ribbon. As with other Civil 3D and AutoCAD Styles, the Text Styles available are associated with a drawing or template. The WisDOT Design templates come with the standard WisDOT Text Styles pre-loaded, though you may need to create or edit one when working with a drawing not created from the WisDOT template. A Text Style mainly controls font, text height, and annotative scaling functionality. In the following exercise you will learn how to interface with, edit and create a Text Style.

1. Continue with acad-annotatn-begin.dwg
2. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Text panel > Text Style flyout button or type STYLE at the command line.

3. Current Text Style: CalibriLight
4. New
   1. Style Name: style 2
   2. OK
      1. Font Name: Cambria
      2. Font Style: Regular
      3. Paper Text Height = 0.0000

      

      Info: When Paper Text Height = 0 in a Text Style, the height set in the TEXTSIZE system variable or the last Text Height used is applied.

      4. Font Name: cdm.shx

      

      Info: Two basic font types can be used in Civil 3D. They are True Type or SHX. Whereas True Type fonts such as Arial and Calibri can have unique shapes and thickness, the older, SHX fonts are only one pixel wide and are more limited in styling options. WisDOT Text Styles as well as most design firms and software applications in general use True Type fonts. Note the different icons in the Font Name dropdown.

A Multileader (aka Mleader) is an annotation object consisting of a combination of a text and one or more leader/pointers. It is used to manually add notes pointing to a specific area of interest. The text portion behaves just like Mtext and the leader portion is dynamically attached to the text portion. The behavior of an Mleader is quite flexible. For instance, you can add multiple leaders on one or both sides of the text portion of an Mleader if you like. A typical use case for an Mleader would be for manual annotation of construction details or title sheets. In the following exercise, you will learn how to create and edit Mleaders.

Keep in mind that Civil 3D objects have their own automatically generated Civil 3D Labels that will automatically annotate key information like Alignment stationing, Points of Curvature/Tangency, PVIs, Corridor Cross Section information, etc and thus do not require manually created Mleaders for annotation. More information on Civil 3D Label Styles will be covered in other training modules. Use of Mleaders should be reserved for cases where you are either not dealing with a Civil 3D object or need to add extra information not feasible to put into a Civil 3D Label.

1. Open acad-annotatn-01.dwg
2. Select BOTTOM OF MEDIAN Mleader on right of SECTION A-A detail
   1. Double-click on the text portion
   2. Observe Mtext contextual Ribbon populated
   3. Left-click away from Mleader
3. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Multileader
   1. Specify leader arrowhead location
      1. Use Nearest Osnap to pick bottom of TOPSOIL Line on right side of SECTION A-A detail
   2. Specify leader landing location
      1. Pick below and left of arrowhead location
   3. Type TOPSOIL
      1. Left-click away from Mleader
4. Repeat Steps 3.A - 3.C for 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleader

5. Select TOPSOIL Mleader
   1. Select arrow Grip
      1. Specify stretch point
         1. Pick to left of TOPSOIL text portion

         Info: Note that the Leader portion of the Mleader is dynamically attached to the text portion. Once the specified location of the Leader arrow crosses the middle of the text portion, the Leader landing will automatically flip to the other side of the text.

   2. Select text insertion Grip
      1. Specify stretch point
         1. Left-click a new location
   3. Hover cursor over Leader landing Grip to reveal menu options
      1. Stretch
         1. Move text location just as in previous step
      2. Lengthen landing
         1. Specify leader landing endpoint
            1. Left-click new location
      3. Add Leader
         1. Specify leader arrowhead location
            1. Left-click multiple new locations
   4. Hover cursor over arrow Grip
      1. Remove Leader
   5. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Remove Leader
      1. Specify leaders to remove
         1. Select Leader
         2. enter
   6. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Align
      1. Select multileaders
         1. Select TOPSOIL and 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleaders
         2. enter
      2. Select Multilieader to align to
         1. Select 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleader
      3. Specify direction
         1. shift + left-click left of 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleader

Whenever creating an Mleader, you want to be aware of the currently set Mleader Style. You set this through the Ribbon Mleader Style Manager button. Mleader Styles control what Text Style is used for the Text portion, what the Leader and arrow portion looks like, whether a user-defined Block is used for either the arrow or in place of the text, and whether the Mleader is affected by Annotative Scaling among other things. Through the following exercise, you will learn how to set the current Mleader Style, how to create or edit an Mleader Style, and what key Mleader parameters are set through the Mleader Style. The WisDOT templates come pre-loaded with standard WisDOT Mleader Styles and as with other Civil 3D or AutoCAD Styles, these should be used to streamline the plan production workflow and maintain a standard appearance across WisDOT plan sets.

1. Continue working in acad-annotatn-01.dwg
2. Select TOPSOIL Mleader
   1. Properties palette > Misc
      1. Observe Multileader style = 070
3. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Mleader Style Manager flyout button or type MLEADERSTYLE at the command line.

    

   

   1. Current mulitleader style: 070
   2. Modify
   3. Leader Format tab:
      1. General
         1. Type = Straight
      2. Arrowhead
         1. Symbol = Dot
      3. OK
   4. Close
   5. Observe update to existing Mleaders with 070 Mleader Style

   

4. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Mleader Style Manager flyout button
   1. Modify
   2. Leader Format tab
      1. Arrowhead
         1. Symbol = Closed filled
      2. Leader break
         1. Break size = 0.0700
      3. OK
   3. Close
5. Select TOPSOIL and 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleaders
   1. Use Mleader Grips to relocate Leader landings such that Leader lines cross
6. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Break
   1. Select dimension to add/remove break
      1. Select 10:1 MAX 20:1 NORMAL Mleader
   2. Select object to break dimension
      1. Select TOPSOIL Mleader
      2. enter

      Tip: The "object to break dimension" does not need to be an Mleader or Dimension. This could be most any Civil 3D or AutoCAD object

   

7. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Mleader Style Manager flyout button
   1. Modify
   2. Leader Structure tab
      1. Constraints
         1. Maximum leader points = 3

      Info: Setting Maximum leader points = 3 or greater means you will be prompted for intermediate vertex points between the arrowhead and Leader landing when creating an Mleader. If Maximum leader points = 2, you can still place additional Leader vertices manually by hovering your cursor over an Mleader arrowhead Grip and choosing Add vertex.

   3. OK
   4. Close
8. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Multileader
   1. Specify leader arrowhead location
      1. Pick any location for arrowhead
   2. Specify next point
      1. Pick any location to place break in leader line
   3. Specify leader landing location
   4. Pick any location for landing placement

   Info: This can also be achieved even if Maximum leader points is set to 2 by right-clicking on the arrow and selecting Add Vertex.

9. Repeat above steps to change Maximum leader points back to 2.
10. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Mleader Style Manager flyout button
    1. Content tab
       1. Multileader type = Block
          1. Block options
             1. Source block = Detail Callout
    2. OK
11. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Leaders panel > Multileader
    1. Specify leader arrowhead location
       1. Pick any location
    2. Specify leader landing location
       1. Pick any location
    3. Edit Attributes
       1. Enter view number = 1
       2. Enter sheet number = 2
    4. OK
12. Place a multileader in the drawing
    1. Multileader type = Mtext
       1. Text options
          1. Text Style = Calibri Light
          2. The button to the right opens the Text Style Manager

          

          1. Cancel
       2. Leader connection
          1. Observe options affecting Horizontal, Vertical Leader landing attachment

In Civil 3D, a Dimension is an object used to call out an angle or distance (length, radius, etc) in your drawing. It is made up of Dimension lines, Tick marks, and an automatically generated and dynamic Dimension value derived from the object or points you specify, the drawing units, and the Dimension Style units. The following exercise will walk you though how to create a Dimension as well as the importance of setting the correct Dimension Style.

1. Open both acad-annotatn-02.dwg and acad-annotatn-end.dwg
2. acad-annotatn-end filetab
   1. Observe 20'-0"V.C. Dimension in SECTION B-B detail
   2. Observe 3' CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE and 12' Dimensions in SECTION A-A detail
3. acad-annotatn-02 filetab
   1. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style dropdown > 070-PLAN-CONVENTIONAL
   2. Dim Layer Override = Use Current
   3. Ribbon Home tab > Layers panel > Layer dropdown > P_MISC
   4. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension type dropdown > Linear
   5. Linear
      1. Specify first extension line origin
         1. Left end of arc in SECTION B-B
      2. Specify first extension line origin
         1. Right end of arc in SECTION B-B
      3. Specify dimension line location
         1. Above arc

      

4. acad-annotatn-end filetab
   1. Double click 20'-0" V.C. Dimension
      1. Observe that all text in cell is highlighted
      Info: The highlighted text in a Dimension is automatically generated based on the geometry of the Dimension along with the Dimension Style. It can include a prefix or suffix such as "ft" etc. among other things

1. Continue with both acad-annotatn-02.dwg and acad-annotatn-end.dwg
2. acad-annotatn-02 filetab
   1. Select 20.00' Dimension
      1. Properties palette > Misc
         1. Observe Dim Style = 070-PLAN-CONVENTIONAL
      2. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style Manager flyout button or type DIMSTYLE at the command line.

      

      3. Styles
         1.  Select 070-PLAN-CONVENTIONAL
            1. Set Current
      4. New...
         1. Annotative: checked
         2. Continue
         3. New Dimension Style dialog
            1.  Primary Units tab
               1. Unit format = Engineering
               2. Precision = 0'-0"
               3. Suffix = V.C.
         4. OK
      5. Close
3. Select 20.00' Dimension
   1. Properties palette > Misc
      1. Dim Style = Copy(2) of 070-PLAN CONVENTIONAL
4. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style Manager flyout button
   1. Select Copy(2) of 070-PLAN CONVENTIONAL Dimension Style
   2. Modify
      1. Primary Units tab
         1. Linear dimensions
            1. Scale factor = 12
         2. Place a space before V.C. in the suffix
         3. Zero suppression
            1. 0 feet = unchecked
            2. 0 inches = unchecked

      

   3. OK
   4. Close

 

1. Continue with both acad-annotatn-02.dwg and acad-annotatn-end.dwg
2. acad-annotatn-end filetab
   1. Observe dimensions for SECTION A-A
3. acad-annotatn-02 filetab
4.  Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Dimension Style dropdown
   1. Select Copy of 070-PLAN CONVENTIONAL
5. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Linear
   1. Specify first extension line origin
      1. Left endpoint of pavement in SECTION A-A
   2. Specify second extension line origin
      1. Crown endpoint of pavement in SECTION A-A
   3. Specify dimesion line location
      1. Above SECTION A-A detail
6. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Continue
   1. Specify Second extension line origin
      1. Right endpoint of pavement in SECTION A-A
   2. Specify second extension line origin
      1. Right endpoint of SECTION A-A Crushed Aggregate Shoulder
      2. enter
7. Select previously drawn Dimensions
8. delete
9. Status bar > Selection cycling = on
10. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Quick
    1. Select geometry to dimension
       1. Select Lines on top of SECTION A-A Pavement
       2. enter
    2. Specify dimension line position
       1. Above SECTION A-A detail
11. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimensions panel > Quick
    1. Select geometry to dimension
       1. Select the four arcs in SECTION A-A
       2. enter
       3. Right-click Radius
       4. Delete these dimensions when finished.
12. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimension panel > Continue
    1. Specify Second extension line origin
       1. Select the right side linear dimension in SECTION A-A from the previous steps
    2. Specify second extension line origin
       1. Select endpoint of subgrade line in SECTION A-A
13. Repeat the last step on the left side of SECTION A-A
14. Double click 3' Dimension
    1. Place cursor after auto-generated Dimension text
    2. Type CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE SHOULDER
15. Repeat the last step for other 3' Dimension
16. Select 3' CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE SHOULDER Dimension
    1. Hover cursor over text Insertion Grip
       1. Move Text Only
       2. Relocate Dimension text beside outer Dimension extension line
17. Repeat the last step for other 3' CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE SHOULDER Dimension
18. Double-click 3' CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE SHOULDER Dimension
    1. Right-click width icon Set Mtext Width
    2. Reset width to 12 units
19. Repeat the last step for other 3' CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE SHOULDER Dimension
20. Ribbon > Annotate tab > Dimension panel > Dimension

Info: This is a dynamic dimension tool which will intuitively place the appropriate dimension type according to the selected objects.