Annotation

Annotation is the text notes, labels, tags, and dimensions on your drawings. In ArchiCAD, the annotation adjusts its size based on your drawing scale. The following is a set of exercises for the main annotation types that you will use in ArchiCAD.

The Text tool

When you use the Text tool in ArchiCAD, you are essentially creating paragraphs. These paragraphs are referred to as text blocks. If you are an AutoCAD user, you will think of them as Mtext elements. You can format the text block as a whole or have differing formats within the same text block.

ArchiCAD uses the point system to measure the size of text (and also millimeters). The size is also blind to the drawing scale. In other words, it does not matter what scale your view is at; your text will always be the same point size. Another important thing to note is that a text's pen assignment has no effect on the printed thickness. But we can address that in a later chapter.

The following is an exercise to add text blocks to aid in the identification of elements on the first floor:

1. Open the first floor viewpoint from the project map and set the view scale to ¼"=1'-0". Zoom in on the living room.
2. Start the Text tool in the Toolbox palette. Look at the Info Box palette; it contains the standard formatting tools. Set the layer to A-ANNO-TEXT. Set the text height to 6.75. Change the arrowhead height to 4.
3. The next step is to define the width of the text block that you want to place by windowing the text block boundary with two cursor clicks (also referred to as a rubber band rectangle). Do this over the coffee table object:
   1. The text format palette will appear
   2. Type in COFFEE TABLE
   3. Finish the text block by clicking anywhere outside of the text editor or by pressing Ctrl + Enter
4. Create text blocks for other objects in the living and dining rooms, such as WORK DESK and DINING ROOM TABLE.
5. If your text block disappears after you have placed it on an object, you can find and select your text block with a window selection, change the display order property of your text block, and bring it to the front (right-click on it and then navigate to Display Order | Bring to Front).
   

Edit existing text blocks

To edit a text block after it has been placed, perform the followings steps:

1. Activate the Text tool.
2. Select the text block with the arrow tool by clicking on an end, or midpoint, hot spot, or with a partial elements window.
3. Click inside the text block. The text editor will appear.

An alternative to these steps is to turn on the quick select feature and double-click on the text block. Then, the text editor will appear.

The Label tool

The Label tool is essentially the same as the text tool with a built-in leader function and a connection to the objects. You start by drawing the leader (pointer) with three clicks. Then, you draw the rubber band rectangle to define the width of the text block:

1. Zoom in on the kitchen.
2. Start the Label tool in the Toolbox palette. Go to the Info Box palette and set the layer to A-ANNO-TEXT. Set the text height to 6.75. Change the arrowhead height to 4.
3. Click your first of the three leader points on the dishwasher to define the label pointer and then draw the rectangle to define the text block width. Type in DISHWASHER.
4. Create text labels for the electric range and the refrigerator.
   

Go through the rest of the house and place the text blocks and labels where appropriate.

Tip

Instead of grabbing the scroll bar on the Info Box palette with your cursor, hover over the Info Box palette and use the scroll wheel on your mouse to scroll through all the settings.

The Dimension tool

Dimensions are created by first defining the reference points to be dimensioned, then placing the dimension line. The Dimension tool has an associative function that connects to elements (via reference points) and it will change automatically when the elements are moved, although you can opt to make a dimension static via the Info Box palette or the Dimension Selection Settings window.

Dimensions are composed of five main components as shown here:

1. Dimension point
2. Dimension line
3. Dimension unit
4. Marker
5. Witness line

The following screenshot is a graphic representation of the preceding dimension type list:

Creating your first dimension

Perform the following steps to create your first dimension:

1. Hide the A-ANNO-NOTE layer and unhide A-DIMS. Open the first floor viewpoint and zoom in on the kitchen, at the pantry closet.
2. Select the Dimension tool in the Toolbox palette. Go to the Info Box palette and change the font size to 6.75.
3. Click on the bottom two inside corners of the pantry closet. With each click, the pencil cursor will turn black to signify that you are at an endpoint. A successful click will leave behind a temporary symbol called a reference point that looks like a circle with a cross inside.
4. Double-click above and in-between your first two clicks to place the dimension line. This will bring up the hammer cursor; move it to where you want your dimension line. Click one more time to place the dimension line.
   

Go through the rest of the house and create dimensions. Refer to the wall modeling exercises in Chapter 1, Project Setup and Modeling a Residential Project, and place your dimensions according to those plan views.

Editing existing dimensions

To delete a dimension unit segment, hold the Shift key down, select a witness line, and then press the Delete key.

To add a dimension unit, select the dimension line, hold the Ctrl key down, and click on a point to be dimensioned. Or select the dimension, click on the dimension line and the pet palette will appear. Then, click on the Insert/Merge Dimension Point button and then click on a new point.

To edit the length of the witness line, select the dimension and click on the dimension line. The pet palette will appear. Then, click on the Edit Length of witness line button. Finally, click to place the new witness line endpoint.

To override the text value with your own custom text, select the dimension unit text. Go to the Info Box palette and change Measured Value to Custom Text. Clear the box that has <MeasuredValue> and type in your own custom text.

Summary

In this chapter, you populated your house with furniture, casework, and plumbing fixtures. Along the way, you learned more about the dynamics of objects and their many changeable parameters. We took a step back into a little modeling, by modifying the mesh (landscape) object in order to accommodate for the low basement windows. You were introduced to the drafting tools, text tools, and Dimension tool.

We are ready to take the next step and learn how to control the look of your drawing elements and create construction documents that are referred to as layouts and also known as sheets!

A screenshot of a 3D perspective view of the first floor