Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
7. In the Text Settings area, specify the Justification, Text Style, Annotative prop-
erty, Text Height, Rotation, and Boundary Width (the last for multiline attributes
only).
The text properties for attribute definitions are the same as those for text objects
— see Chapter 13.
8. Select Specify On-Screen to choose an insertion point for the attribute definition.
An attribute definition's insertion point is like a text string's base point. Remember
to use snap, object snap, or another precision tool if you want the eventual attrib-
ute values to be located at a precise point.
9. Click OK to create the attribute definition.
10. Repeat Steps 1 through 9 for any additional attribute definitions.
If you need to create a series of attribute definitions in neat rows, create
the first one using Steps 1 through 9 and then select the Align Below Previous At-
tribute Definition check box for the subsequent definitions. To make a series of non-
adjacent attributes, create the first one using Steps 1 through 9 and then copy the
first attribute definition and edit the copy with the Properties palette. You can pre-
vent your attributes from being dragged around the block by selecting the Lock
Position check box in the Attribute Definition dialog box.
Defining blocks that contain attribute definitions
After you create one or more attribute definitions — and any other geometry that you
want to include in the block — you're ready to create a block definition that contains
them. Follow the steps in the section “Creating block definitions,” earlier in this chapter.
At Step 4 in the section “Creating block definitions,” you can select any attribute defini-
tions before or after you select the other geometry. However, you should select each at-
tribute definition one by one (clicking each attribute definition rather than selecting
multiple attributes with a selection window) in the order that you want the attribute
value prompts to appear in the Edit Attributes dialog box (see Figure 17-5 in the next
section). If you don't select the attributes one by one, your block and attributes will still
work, but the order of the attribute prompts in the Edit Attributes dialog box may not be
what you want.
