Research: Text and Callouts

[WHirsch]

It would be wonderful If some really cool and revolutionary gui innovation came out of this discussion, but I think the answer to most of our prayers would be simple to implement, and it should be simple to use.

1- Wendy's idea for a new tool that globally inserts section flags and a column grid would be unique, super, and most certainly welcomed. I've long since figured out how to work around that issue by putting my section flags and grid on a separate layer and blocking them. It takes me just a few seconds to transpose the block onto the next floor. This is not my first priority, but I'd be glad to have it available.

2- It would be nice to have the leader line attach to the left side of left justified text, and to the right side of right justified text, or the option to make it behave another way. Vertical alignment of the leader line to the first or last line of text is something that, for me, is a function of the note placement and available space in the proximity of the object that I am noting. I don't mind making the minor vertical adjustment, but the default alignment of the leader line to the vertical center of a multi-line text object is contrary to convention. Default to first or last line would at least be correct half the time.

3- An option to fill section flags is long overdue. I work around this deficiency with blocks too, but the workaround is not elegant or particularly fast. It's just something that's necessary, and there's no other way to accomplish it.

4- Individual users will have different ways of working, and this is going to be difficult to implement without breaking something that some of us like or are accustomed to. This issue stems directly from having essentially only one text style and one dimension style available: the default. To me, default implies that other options are available, but all that you can do in Chief, without first creating the dimension, is change the defaults. If you do a full set with details in multiple scales, this becomes a huge time sink. When dimension defaults change, they change globally and retroactively. The best I can say for this is that it *****. The time that I waste repetitively changing dimension properties for individual (or small groups) of detail dimensions that scale at double, triple, or 6X the plan scale translates to real lost productivity. In the long run, its still more trouble to detail in another cad program and import the drawings, but not a great deal more trouble.

Inserting additional text and dimension layers is something that any user can do. Automatic default text and dimension layers for each layerset is only part of the solution, That is not the answer to scaling problems, which is the greater part of the problem. Dimension and text styles that include all of the current settings plus a layer assignment is the answer. Implementation need be nothing more than a drop down list for selecting from the preset styles, although hotkey customization would be a good alternative. I'd shave 30% of my time off the annotation for a typical plan set if I could select pre-set text styles with pre-set custom properties for layer, text size, justification, color, arrow type, and arrow size. Ideally, the same thing would be available for dimensions. At the very minimum, there should be some way to quickly rescale dimensions. Why, in vers 10 and XI, can I select a dimension object, and open the transform dialogue, but not have access to the resize function? That would be a pretty crude way to manage dimension scaling, but it would be better than what is currently available.

[sdsinc]

Wow - a lot of traffic here.

I agree with most things stated here - particularly simplifying the multi-tab option comments.

I don't always want the text to be on the layer that I am in. I think the way it is set up is pretty universal and comfortable. Sometimes I am drawing insulation and I will label as I go - I can't imagine why I would want the text on that layer so please leave the option open to user, not a global.

The leader tool is excellent and requires no change but one - when I hit the ESC key while in the command, I would like it to cancel the command. Not leave the first segment there so I have to jump out of the leader command and remove the stray leg.

Finally, I would like to have an actual table command that gives me normal, intuitive tabbed areas to work with like any normal WP program. A true WYSIWYG type setup. If you want to see how not to do it, check out how autocad does tables.

Thanks

[Kelly K]

Wow - a lot of traffic here.

I agree with most things stated here - particularly simplifying the multi-tab option comments......

What he said.

"Finally, I would like to have an actual table command that gives me normal, intuitive tabbed areas to work with like any normal WP program. A true WYSIWYG type setup. If you want to see how not to do it, check out how autocad does tables."

I like this idea better than mine with the menus (still stuck in the 20th century with dos). I liked drop down menus because it was like having a check list to edit my plan work. Of course the tabs and tables would have to be user definable, with the ability to add tabs & tables.

Back in ver. 9 the people at chief suggested that we create a plan file and place objects that we commonly copy paste. That I did, then discovered the hot keys in ver 10 that I mapped to my third mouse. I became a copy paste wizard. With X1 the power of copy has been improved immensely, but at the sacrifice of my prior methodology.

I have migrated some of my text work to the library, but to me this is less than satisfactory because the library items retains focus until I esc. out of them. The use of multiple mice, or flat forgetting that I have a library item selected (I get mesmerized and don't pay attention to my cursor), for me lead to accidental button clicks that place unwanted library items. I've tried to use 'The place library' for text work, but the icons are too small to see text.

The column grid is an okay idea but not a high priority for me. I personally found them only useful on complex commercial projects. A house framer can be confused by all the extra lines on a page sometimes misinterpreting them for a dimension leader for example. Global section flags, and global or page definable details would be greatly appreciated.

Kelly

[marty]

My biggest single issue is that a text block and its associated arrow should always remain linked. If the arrow is moved to start from a different end of line the link should remain in place.

I often want to copy a complete group of annotations from one cross section to another. If I select the text tool and group selct all the text the arrows are not selected. I regard this as a bug and niot a feature request.

A lot of the other issues mentioned would be covered by a "match properties" tool which with 2 clicks could change any text item to the correct layer size etc. Having this tool would cover a very large number of user grumbles.

[WendyWelton]

Automatic default text and dimension layers for each layerset is only part of the solution, That is not the answer to scaling problems, which is the greater part of the problem. Dimension and text styles that include all of the current settings plus a layer assignment is the answer. Implementation need be nothing more than a drop down list for selecting from the preset styles, although hotkey customization would be a good alternative. I'd shave 30% of my time off the annotation for a typical plan set if I could select pre-set text styles with pre-set custom properties for layer, text size, justification, color, arrow type, and arrow size. Ideally, the same thing would be available for dimensions. At the very minimum, there should be some way to quickly rescale dimensions. Why, in vers 10 and XI, can I select a dimension object, and open the transform dialogue, but not have access to the resize function? That would be a pretty crude way to manage dimension scaling, but it would be better than what is currently available.

(bolding mine)

I agree. A true and complete solution will address font and arrow/tick sizes as well.

I agree that we really are talking about a solid 30% of annotation time, if not more.

[JP Ware]

Inserting additional text and dimension layers is something that any user can do. Automatic default text and dimension layers for each layerset is only part of the solution, That is not the answer to scaling problems, which is the greater part of the problem. Dimension and text styles that include all of the current settings plus a layer assignment is the answer. Implementation need be nothing more than a drop down list for selecting from the preset styles, although hotkey customization would be a good alternative. I'd shave 30% of my time off the annotation for a typical plan set if I could select pre-set text styles with pre-set custom properties for layer, text size, justification, color, arrow type, and arrow size. Ideally, the same thing would be available for dimensions. At the very minimum, there should be some way to quickly rescale dimensions. Why, in vers 10 and XI, can I select a dimension object, and open the transform dialogue, but not have access to the resize function? That would be a pretty crude way to manage dimension scaling, but it would be better than what is currently available.

Take a look at how AutoCad handles text and dims, imo it is one of the programs few redeeming features, text styles and dimension styles.