Balloon Leaders

[cbell1007]

is there a way to adjust the way a linear balloon leader appears? I am using text in place of part numbers and am frustrated that Inventor doesnt seem to have an option to adjust the number of points on the leader like autoCAD does. I need the leader to be right or left justified. Not in the center of the text with no extension line. Please help.

[ecshclark]

After you select the component in the view, pick one spot for the end of the arrowhead leader, then pick left or right for the extension line. You can keep picking multiple spots and end up having your leader jog all over the place with multiple vertices. You also change an existing leader by selecting the balloon, right mouse button, select Add Vertex/Leader, click on the leader, and click again on the leader to add a new vertex that you can move around. BTW, adding extension lines to a balloon are not per mechanical drawing standards, it just limits positioning balloons on a drawing, may make the balloon appear too similar to other callouts on a drawing, and slows you down trying to make a leader look pretty and whether to go left or right. It's always been one of my (of many) pet peeves when I see extension lines from a leader to the balloon.

[cbell1007]

Thank you for that. And i agree with you regarding wasting time making extension lines look pretty. The reason Im doing this, is because I have multiple sections for one sub assembly that has duplicate labels and I thought that by having the part number as text, example, DAX 26 2.0" instead of -101, would eliminate my having to continually type the text in. I have been told to reference another drafters work, and i'm almost positive he did it the same way. But now after doing what you said, Im thinking that a leader with text may take just as long as arranging the balloons this way. Thank you so much for your response.

[ecshclark]

If you have part numbers filled in the model iProperties, you can use the style editor to show part numbers instead of an item number in a balloon. Select a balloon, right click, and select Edit Balloon Style. In the Property Display field use the property chooser to select the new property (stock number or part number), and add it from the left box to the right. Then move it up to the top of the list. Click OK, then click Save or New. A balloon using the saved style will now show the part number or whatever property you chose instead of the item number. The balloon will elongate with the extra text if stretch to text is on in the style editor. You can also turn off the circle/oval surrounding the text, or select a different shape in the style editor under balloon formatting. You can also create a parts list and edit the columns (ex: Item Column) to have the balloon display something other than an item number.

[cbell1007]

That is what I did, except I do not want the text in the Balloon "bubble." I just wanted it to appear as if it were a normal leader with txt. I was trying to speed up my labeling work by generating the line of text I wanted from the iProperties part number column for the sub assemblies. And I have the new Balloon style set that way except re-arranging the leaders to have extension lines seems tedious. Suggestions?

[zmarcoz]

Thanks for asking and answering this question. I read this post and apply the knowledge that I learn from here to a drawing today