Introduction

Whenever you come across a new functionality in any software, not only AutoCAD, pause for a moment and think about what problem that functionality is meant to solve. Understanding the purpose behind a feature is often the key to using it effectively.

Exploring Annotative Styles in AutoCAD

To understand the concept of annotative styles in AutoCAD, let’s take a look at the drawing architectural_-_annotation_scaling_and_multileaders.dwg.

You can download it from Autodesk’s website using this link:

In the Model Space environment, open the second drawing on the left.

Figure 1 – Stair section

I recommend that you open this drawing in your own AutoCAD so that you can zoom in on the details and follow the explanation more easily.

Observing Text and Leader Differences

The first thing you probably noticed is that the text on the dimensions is not the same height everywhere.
Also, the multileaders pointing to details 1 and 2 are completely different in size. This is likely not how you would expect a drawing to look, and you probably wouldn’t produce one that way yourself.

However, keep in mind that this drawing comes from Autodesk and is intended for training purposes. Its appearance is not a mistake! It is designed to demonstrate the correct way AutoCAD handles annotation scaling.

At first, all this may look confusing because it goes against your usual way of working. But take a look at the Paper Space version of the drawing.

Switch to Paper Space and find the viewport labeled STAIR SECTION 1, and here comes the magic. The text on the leaders and dimensions now appears the same size. Notice that there is only Leader 1 A-05, while the second one that existed in Model Space is not there.

Now, if you look at the viewport STAIR DETAIL 1, you’ll notice that Leader 2 A-05 appears there instead. Also pay attention that in these two views, some dimensions appear only in one viewport and not in the other, and vice versa.

This is the correct and intended workflow. Even though it may seem very different from what you are used to, it offers a number of significant advantages.

Important Note on Text Height

Before we explain how this functionality works, note one important thing: If you select any text and measure its height, it will be 0.078” (or 2 mm). This is very important for documentation. No matter which viewport scale you use, your text will always remain readable and will always have the same assigned height value.

How Is This Achieved?

This is where annotative styles come into play – and they are surprisingly easy to use. Let’s go back to Model Space. Place your crosshair over a dimension, and you’ll see a three-pointed star appear next to it.

Figure 2 – Indication of annotative style

You’ll see something similar if you do the same with a multileader.

Figure 3 – Leader in annotative style

Now let’s take a closer look at an MText object that is also annotative and visible only in the viewport STAIR DETAIL 1.

Figure 4 – MText in annotative style

Select the MText and look at its properties.

Figure 5 – Properties for MText

The text style being used must be annotative (ROMANS). You must also define the scale of the viewport where the text will appear and the text height for that viewport. This means that if you look at this text in the viewport STAIR DETAIL 1 and measure it, you’ll find that its height is 0.06”.

Figure 6 – Text size in paper space

If you now check the scale of that viewport, you’ll see that it matches the one listed in the MText properties: ½” = 1’-0”.

Figure 7 – Scale for Stair detail

In this drawing, all dimensions, leaders, and text are assigned only one scale in which they are displayed.
That’s why this particular text is not visible in the viewport STAIR SECTION 1, which uses a scale of ¼” = 1’-0”.

Figure 8 – Missing text in viewport

Making the Same Text Visible in Both Viewports

To make this text visible in both viewports, we need to follow these steps:

1.Switch to Model Space.

2.Select the text ELEV. 11’-9” TOP OF SECOND FLR.

3.In the Properties palette, find the Annotative Scale field.

4.Click on the current value (½” = 1’-0”) and you’ll see this icon

5.Click it, and a dialog box for selecting scales will appear.

Figure 9 – Adding new scale for showing MText

6.Click the Add… button and from the list, select ¼” = 1’-0”.

7.Click OK to close the window. The new scale is now added.

8.Click OK again to confirm.

9.Go back to Paper Space and check the viewport STAIR SECTION 1.

Now the text is visible because we added another scale in which it will be displayed.

Figure 10 – MText is visible

You may notice that it’s not perfectly aligned as it is in STAIR DETAIL 1.
Let’s fix that too.

1.Return to Model Space.

2.Hover over the text—you’ll now see two three-pointed stars, indicating that the text is used in more than one scale.

Figure 11 – Indication of using more than one scale

3.Select the text and you’ll notice that two versions overlap—one smaller, one larger.

That’s normal. Since we’re using two scales, AutoCAD generates two text sizes.
We’re interested in repositioning the larger one correctly.

4.Move the text to the desired position.

Figure 12 – Allocate each MText size

5.Switch back to Paper Space to check the result.

Everything should now look perfect.

How to Create an Annotative Style

It only takes a few clicks to set up this functionality. Let’s start with text, and then move on to dimensions and leaders.

1.Use the command STYLE to open the Text Style dialog box.Figure 13 – Creating annotative text style

2.In this drawing, there are already a few annotative text styles.

When creating a new style, make sure to check the “Annotative” box. You can then define the text height in Paper Space. Pay attention to the tooltip that appears. It explains how height behaves when you enter 0.00 as the value.

3.After clicking Apply, you’ve created an annotative text style that can be used for dimensions and leaders as well.

To make dimensions and leaders annotative, enable the corresponding Annotative option in their style settings.

Figure 14 – Creating annotative dimension

Figure 15 – Creating leader annotative style

You can also apply annotative styles to hatch patterns, ensuring that the spacing between lines remains consistent regardless of the viewport scale.

Conclusion

Hopefully, it’s now clearer how to properly use Model Space with annotative styles and Paper Space with viewports set to desired scales. Once you understand how annotation scaling works, you’ll realize how much time it saves and how much consistency it brings to your documentation.

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Nedeljko Šovljanski

Software developer at CADonist

He has over twenty years of experience with Autodesk software and in training users to work correctly and efficiently.
He is a certified AutoCAD Professional, Inventor Professional, and Autodesk Certified Instructor.
His specialty is automating AutoCAD and Inventor software through custom add-ins.

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