PlaceAnnotation

Created: June 06, 2017 | Updated: January 29, 2019 | Applies to versions: 18.0, 18.1, 19.0, 19.1, 20.0, 20.1 and 20.2

Parent page: Schematic Commands

The following pre-packaged resource, derived from this base command, is available:

Place Text String

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to place a Text String object onto the active document. A text string (also referred to as an annotation) 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.

For detailed information about this object type, see Text String.

Access

Text strings are available for placement in both Schematic and Schematic Library Editors, by:

Choosing Place » Text String from the main menus.
Locating and using the Text String command () on the Active Bar.

If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.

Clicking the button on the Utility Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
Right-clicking and choosing Place » Text String from the context menu.

Use

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 and 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 are:

Press the Tab key to access the Properties panel, from where properties for the text string can be changed on-the-fly.

Pressing Tab pauses placement, allowing you to interact with the panel (or other area of the software) directly. To resume, click the pause symbol that appears over the workspace.

Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
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 text string along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Tips

A newly placed text string will initially have default text of Text, and no defined URL. This can be changed as required.
For information on how a placed text string object can be modified graphically, directly in the workspace, see Graphical Editing.
While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to bring up the Properties panel), bear in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the Schematic - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.