Move using text as base points

[David D]

I have 2 polylines, say in the shape of wrenches and there is a piece of dtext inside each polyline which is the part number of the wrench. I want to move 1 polyline and text so that the text for each one lines up horizontally but the text for each remains the same in relation to its polyline. I do not yet have experiance with block attributtes but I think that will be the best way to accomplish the task. I say this because when I move anything and hover over text I get no snap points showing. Does anybody know of any other simple method or if there is a snap option I need to turn on?

[rkent]

You can change the justification of the text to, say, middle center, then snap to the insertion of the text. Click on the text, go to properties, find justification, pick the one you want, among other ways.

[Fastdraft]

Here is a good place to go to learn how to create block attributtes: http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2010/ENU/AutoCAD%202010%20User%20Documentation/index.html?url=WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-6c03.htm,topicNumber=d0e81241

[David D]

Thanks for the input guys. Unfortunatly it does not help. After reading about attributes I see that I was wrong about that being a way to accomplish the task I want. As for justification, I have that set at middle-center on all text so if the nodes would show I would be able to align things the way I want. I also looked at making a block of the polyline-text combonation and inserting an alignment grip, but as when I try to move a polyline-text combination, when I hover over the text that I am trying to align to, I get no snap points showing, so I can get no precision of alignment.

[ReMark]

Could you post a drawing? It seems you're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. A drawing is worth a thousand words. Thanks.

[David D]

Hope I did this correctly

align text.dwg

[rkent]

... As for justification, I have that set at middle-center on all text so if the nodes would show I would be able to align things the way I want.

 

The grips will show after you have selected it and you can use the grip to adjust the text, but not just hovering over it.

 

Also, if you want to use the move command you will have to use osnap, insertion. The node will not just appear when you hover over the text.

[Fastdraft]

What version of AutoCAD are you using? I turned on the "Node" snap and it was very easy for me to move the "4LN" to line up with the "6LN" by snaping to the text.

align%20text[1].dwg

[Fastdraft]

What I did was turn on the node snap, I also have the object snap tracking on. Then I selected what I wanted to move, In this case 4LN, I selected the move command, then zoomed into the text and then I selected the node (Circle with x through it ) that was right by the text. Then you go down to the 6LN text and go near it, using the object snaping to place it correctly.

[David D]

Thank you Fast! Just before you replied I found that cicle with the x and found that having the grid on and Snap Mode button on I culd at least get the text aligned horizontily correctly and then turn off the Snap Mode to place vertically where I want it. After reading your reply and turning on the Object Snap Tracking I am able to accomplish exactly what I want without the use of the grid or Snap mode.

Thanks to all for the help!

[BlackBox]

Especially if this is something you do regularly, you could always write a short LISP to do this turning on/off snaps + move for you... just a thought.

[ReMark]

All's well that ends well.

[khoshravan]

What I did was turn on the node snap, I also have the object snap tracking on. Then I selected what I wanted to move, In this case 4LN, I selected the move command, then zoomed into the text and then I selected the node (Circle with x through it ) that was right by the text. Then you go down to the 6LN text and go near it, using the object snaping to place it correctly.

 

With the procedure you wrote here, the 4LN overlap the 6LN, but what David asks for is 4LN comes down in its direction and to be same level as 6LN. Could you please tell me how you did the last sentence (red one) to place it correctly?

[David D]

khoshravan, after highlighting the 4ln and entering the move command you will select the circle/x node, with the polar tracking turned on, go to the 6ln and hover over it's circle/x node. I had to move around a little bit but a horizontal line will show that you can follow to the area below the original spot for the 4ln, a verticle line will show when you are exactly below where the orignal 4ln circle/x node was and then you will have the 2 lines crossing and you click at the intersection.

[irneb]

Maybe a video would help:

 

BTW, the Object Tracking could cause some hassles when you don't actually want it. I set mine to only become available if I press the Shift key. In the Options Dialog --> Drafting Tab --> Alignment Point Acquisition (halfway down the right) I've got mine set to "Shift to acquire" instead of "Automatic". The reason for this is if you hover a bit too long over a snap-point it starts tracking and you might then pick a point slightly off the actual snap point.