Note

Now reading version 18.1. For the latest, read: Note for version 21
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 18.0 and 18.1
 

Parent page: Draftsman Objects

Two Note objects in a drawing with example Callout objects that refer to Note list entries.Two Note objects in a drawing with example Callout objects that refer to Note list entries.

Summary

A Note object is an active text-based list that can be placed in a Draftsman document to provide additional and optionally targeted information that relates to drawing views.

The entries in a Note list can include Parameters that are available to the project document and individual list entries can be referred to by placed Callout objects. A Callout–Note reference behaves as an active link, and therefore, changes to the Note entry (such as its list number or border graphic) will be reflected in the Callout label.

The Note object's visual style and its list entries are configurable in the Properties panel.

Availability

A Note list object is available for placement in a PCB project Draftsman document from the Editor as follows:

  • Choose the Place » Annotations » Note command from the main menu.
  • Click the Note entry () in the annotation objects drop-down menu on the Active Bar located at the top of the workspace. Click and hold an Active Bar button to access other related commands. Once a command has been used, it will become the topmost item on that section of the Active Bar.
  • Right-click in the drawing workspace then select Place » Annotations » Note from the context menu.
  • Click the Note () entry on the Drawing Annotations toolbar (View » Toolbars » Drawing Annotations to enable).
The default settings for the Note object are available in the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog.

Placement

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and a default Note object is attached to the cursor. Move the cursor to the desired position then click to confirm the Note placement.

Graphical Editing

The position of a placed Note object may be graphically changed by selecting the table object in the workspace then dragging it to a new location. To resize a selected Note object, drag any of its editing nodes to set the width – the list text will automatically wrap to remain constrained to the modified area.

Drag a selected Note object's node to resize the list.Drag a selected Note object's node to resize the list.

When multiple Note objects are placed in a document, the list entry (element) numbering will sequentially flow from one list to the next based on the relative Note locations. The list entry numbering begins at the left-most Note object and, if necessary, will automatically re-order when a Note list is moved.

Non-Graphical Editing

Properties page: Note Properties

The non-graphical method of editing a Note object is available in the Draftsman Properties panel, which provides editable style and content settings for placed Draftsman objects.

The Properties panel when a Note object is selected.The Properties panel when a Note object is selected.

To open the Properties panel and access the properties of a placed Note object:

  • Double-click on the Note text or title in the workspace.
  • Right-click on the Note object then select Item Properties from the context menu.

If the Properties panel is already active:

  • Click on the Note text or title to access its properties in the panel.
To manually open the Properties panel, select View » Panels » Properties from the main menus or click the button at the bottom right of the workspace then select Properties from the pop-up menu.
Note

The features available depend on your level of Altium Designer Software Subscription.

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