I'd like use the balloon format shown below in a drawing.
Unfortunately, the best way I've found to do that is this:
Pretty clumsy, I'll admit. Does anyone know of a better way to achieve the same result? I'm using 2013.
Thanks,
Bill
Unfortunately, I am not sure whether the text can be linked dynamically to a property (such as a part name), but this can get you pretty close to what you are after.
Dec 12, 2016 1:58 PM
This can also be created as a separate note, then use Group to lock them together.
Steven,
That looks easier than what I was going to do. You must have a newer version than I do - I don't have the distance option - but it'll still work.
Thanks,
Bill
There is a way to have that balloon and note, and keep them parametric. It's a little bit involved, but not too bad.
1. Place the balloon, and a separate balloon or Note (I'd use a Note) calling out the property.
2. Hide the leader on the Note.
3. Place the Note approximately how you want in relation to the balloon.
4. Ctrl+select both of them, right-click, and choose Align > Align horizontal.
5. Ctrl+select them both again, right-click, and choose Group.
Now if you move one the other will move with it. If you need to do this more than once you can copy and paste from one component to another one, but do it before Grouping them. In SW2013 pasted annotations that are grouped will be placed stacked on top of each other and still grouped. It will be necessary to un-Group them, re-arrange as needed, and re-Group. This was just fixed with SW2017.
By the way, if you'll keep your Align toolbar active it will save on some of the right-clicking. It's one of the few I keep open.
Glenn and Matthew,
I found the grouping option when I was searching for a solution on my own, but the issue of them stacking on top of each other when copying and pasting steered me away from using that approach. Otherwise, I'd certainly consider. Thank you.
Bill
I actually think this is pretty great. I never knew about the "group" command before now.
I only wish you could save the "group" as a note or balloon style to save time. I just tested that out and it didn't seem to work as I hoped. (I'm running SW 2015, so not sure if the functionality is different in other versions)
It's always frustrating to me when I think, "I could do this in AutoCAD." I think if I had SW 2017, so the pieces didn't stack when pasted, I'd more inclined to do it.
During my Google-searching on this topic, I found a link to a posting on GrabCAD that linked to a Youtube video entitled, "Tutorial - Creating custom balloons with sketch blocks." That looked very promising, but the video is no longer there on Youtube.
Steven Barry wrote:
I just tested that out and it didn't seem to work as I hoped.
What about it didn't work as you had hoped? Just saving the group as a Style, or something else?
Yes, I was hoping to select the group, save it either as a balloon or note style, and then recall it to be used elsewhere in the drawing (or in future drawings).
