STRAIGHT horizontal TEXT LEADER - how to make quickly?

brookefox · 14 May 2010, 18:24

That's all I want to be able to do - draw a STRAIGHT horizontal TEXT LEADER, not displaced by one pixel or iota, without taking a lot of time to do it. The methods used to help draw orthogonals disappear when drawing leader text. Is there a way?

Chris Fullmer · 14 May 2010, 19:08

Hey Brooke, how bad do you need this functionality?

EDIT: To be clear, is this just a whim? is it something you wish for every day of your life? Is it a MUST for an upcoming deadline, etc.

pilou · 14 May 2010, 19:10

Edge tools?
But maybe not it's for duplicate lines

Better FredoScale/Scale
You can rezise on only one direction
But I don't know what is exactly a text Leader

brookefox · 14 May 2010, 20:54

A text leader is the line extending from the entity being labeled and the text itself, with configurable arrowheads or tips pointing to the entity; for non-screen text.

I would like to have such a thing whenever I am leader-texting or noting a model. Aesthetically I don't like a negligible displacement as it looks like an error of some kind, and a definitive displacement simply uses up valuable real estate.

TIG · 14 May 2010, 21:17

Work in Plan view, perspective off.
You can make some temporary horizontal and vertical guide lines.
Snap the arrow to an intersection, then pull the text out along the guide line; it won't snap to the guide BUT you can move the text placement so the guide is hidden so it's as aligned as it gets and the cursor is over another perpendicular guide line intersection as you click to place the text.

Chris Fullmer · 15 May 2010, 01:02

Does layout do a better job of this? I have not tried it, but it seems to be much smarter about dimensioning. SU tends to just want to do basic callout leaders, nothing too fancy.

I did write a script that will make the leaders all point straight upwards. But it is a bit of pain. you can't enter the text in the script the way you can in SU. I can share the script if you want to try it.

Chris

Gaieus · 15 May 2010, 05:47

Well, this is exactly what LayOut would be a perfect tool for. Note that SU is (basically) a 3D modeling tool with really limited 2D presentational functions. That's what LO was developed for.

When I look at your profile, your SU version says "7F". Is that "F" for the free version? If so, you could at least install the Pro version as a trial with the fully functioning LayOut and have a shot for 8 complete, working hours.

TIG · 15 May 2010, 09:32

@chris fullmer said:

Does layout do a better job of this? I have not tried it, but it seems to be much smarter about dimensioning. SU tends to just want to do basic callout leaders, nothing too fancy.
I did write a script that will make the leaders all point straight upwards. But it is a bit of pain. you can't enter the text in the script the way you can in SU. I can share the script if you want to try it.
Chris

Assuming that the perhaps more logical use of 'Layout' is not an appropriate solution for some...
It's pretty simple to script it in SUp - let's call it 'textOrthogonalizer.rb'.
It'd look at all selected 'text' and process each one in turn.
It finds the text.point and text.vector and then adjusts the text.vector.x or .y = text.point.x or .y depending on which is the best fit - so that a near-horizontal leader becomes 'horizontal' and a near-vertical leader become 'vertical' - perhaps with an 'angle' tolerance so sharply angled text is unaffected [perhaps with an 'argument' to give this tolerance ?].
It'd also make the text.vector.z = text.point.z so it was 'flat' - if it is in plan***.
***The above assumes a 'plan' use of text, but a sophistication could check if you were in a plan or elevation view and make the x/y/z/ adjustments swapped around to suit that view.
You could also have another check [perhaps by giving it a suitable 'argument'] whereby the first piece of selected text is taken as the 'template' and the rest are adjusted to align with it - so for example all in the example image given all of the text vectors would adjust so that the left-hand side of the text aligns AND the near horizontal leaders are adjusted too...
So... who's going to make this tool ?

brookefox · 15 May 2010, 19:04

Shucks, Gai, I thought everyone knew me as a free loader by now, so long have I been nipping around related issues. I'll change my sig to make it ever more explicit. Yes, I am well aware of the distinctions between the partially mute (F) 3d modeler (though it is not much so except when Pro enters the discussion as a possible ramp up), and the one which includes LO, itself perhaps a can of a different flavor. I say if text is good for a 3d modeler, ortho text is but a kiss away and is more good.

Thanks for your input as well, Chris. However, The Decider (unnamed, another one, no relation, at all) has determined that TIG is the man for the job.

TIG, please do proceed as you choose and thanks even for considering it. If the thing can't happen at the time of text placement, which would obviously be preferred, then your ideas seem very much on the mark. I hope there would be selection made rather than the operation being performed model wide, just to avoid strange surprises.

brookefox · 22 May 2010, 18:41

Thank you, TIG. Having battled so well SU's limitations in this area, your work-arounds are no doubt old-hat and reflexive to you. I'm still trying to squeeze that turnip, though, and don't want to do as much as you suggest, even if it is the only and/or best way. Drawing extra, otherwise unneeded lines (guides) to place text is just not right, as stupid AND true as that judgment may be.