Text String
A placed Text String
A text string is a non-electrical drawing primitive. It is a single line of free text that can be placed on a schematic sheet. Uses might include section headings, revision history, timing information, or some other descriptive or instructive text. The text that will be displayed is entered through the Inspector panel.
Text String Object
Text strings are available for placement in the following ways.
From the schematic editor:
- Choose Home | Graphical Elements | Text String.
- Right-click in the design space then choose Place » Text String.
From the schematic library editor:
- Choose Home |Circuit & Graphical Elements | Text String.
- Right-click in the design space then choose Place » Text String.
After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter text string placement mode. A text string will appear floating on the cursor.
- Position the object then click or press Enter to effect placement.
- Continue placing further text strings or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.
Additional actions that can be performed during placement while the text string is still floating on the cursor and before its left-hand edge is anchored are:
- Press the Tab key to pause the placement and access the Text String mode of the Inspector panel in which its properties can be changed on the fly. Click the design space pause button overlay (
) to resume placement. - Press the Spacebar to rotate the text string counterclockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in increments of 90°.
- Press the X or Y keys to mirror the symbol along the X-axis or Y-axis.
Graphical Editing
This method of editing allows you to select a placed text string object in the design space and graphically change its length, height or location.
When a text string object is selected, click and drag the editing handles to resize the text string.
A selected Text String
Click anywhere on the text string away from editing handles then drag to reposition it. While dragging, the text string can be rotated (Spacebar/Shift+Spacebar) or mirrored (X to mirror along the X-axis).
The name for the text string object can be edited in-place by:
- Single-click the text string to select it.
- Single-click again (or press Enter) to enter the in-place editing mode and enter the new name. Sufficient time between each click should be given to ensure the software does not interpret the two single-clicks as one double-click (which would open the Inspector panel).
- To finish editing, press Enter or use the mouse and click away from the text string.
Non-Graphical Editing
This method of editing uses the Inspector panel mode to modify the properties of a text string object.
During placement, the Text mode of the Inspector panel can be accessed by pressing the Tab key. Once the text string is placed, all options appear.
After placement, the Text mode of the Inspector panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
- Double-click on the placed text string object.
- If the Inspector panel is already active, select the text string object, right-click then choose Properties from the context menu.
- With the text string selected, click View | Schematic | Inspector from the main ribbons.
Editing Multiple Objects
The Inspector panel supports multiple object editing in which the property settings that are identical in all currently selected objects may be modified. When multiples of the same object type are selected manually, an Inspector panel field entry that is not shown as an asterisk (*) may be edited for all selected objects.
Text String Properties
Schematic Editor object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content, and behavior of the placed object.
All Text String object properties are available for editing in the Inspector panel when a placed text string is selected in the design space.
Location
- Rotation - use the drop-down to select the rotation.
Properties
- Text - use the drop-down to select or enter the desired text.
-
URL - the URL for the text string, if desired.
- Font - use the controls to select the desired font, font size, color, and attributes to bold, italicize, etc., if desired.
- Justification - select the justification by clicking on an arrow that corresponds with the desired justification or the circle (to center).