How Do You Edit Text in AutoCAD?

Understanding the Text Editing Functionality in AutoCAD

Editing text in AutoCAD can enhance your design accuracy and visual clarity. Follow these steps to effectively edit text using the built-in text editor, especially for MTEXT and dimensions.

Accessing the Text Editor

To start editing text:

1. Locate the text element you wish to edit, either MTEXT or a dimension.
2. Double-click on the text to open the editing interface.
3. To customize the editing toolbar, navigate to the ribbon at the top. Click on “More” and then select “Editor Settings.”
4. Ensure the “Show Toolbar” option is checked to access editing tools effectively.

Configuring Double-Click Editing

If you find that double-clicking does not initiate text editing, you might need to adjust the settings:

1. Open the command line and enter PICKFIRST. Set its value to 1.
2. Alternatively, access the “OPTIONS” dialog box by typing OPTIONS in the command line.
3. Click on the “Selection” tab and enable the checkbox labeled “Noun/Verb Selection.”
4. On the same dialog, switch to the “User Preferences” tab and ensure the “Double Click Editing” checkbox is checked.

Editing Text Attributes

While working with text, you might want to modify attributes such as font or height:

1. Select the text you wish to edit.
2. Adjust the font type to choose between SHX or TrueType fonts based on your required visual outcome.
3. You can specify the height of the text depending on your design standards or requirements. Ensure that the text style allows for height adjustment.

Editing Blocks Containing Text

Blocks can also contain text elements, and editing these requires focused steps:

1. Right-click on the block to reveal the options menu.
2. Select “Edit Block In-Place” to edit the block within the drawing environment.
3. Once in the block editor, modify the text as needed.
4. After making changes, type REFCLOSE in the command line to finalize your edits.

Adjusting Dimension Text

For dimensioned text that appears fixed or uneditable:

1. Check the properties of the dimension style to see if the text height is set as fixed in the style settings.
2. Change the fixed height to 0 to allow dynamic text sizes.
3. If necessary, switch to a different text style that permits editing without fixed height constraints.

Step-by-Step Customization of Text Styles

Customizing text styles ensures consistency across your drawings:

1. Open the “Text Style” menu, accessible through the > Format > Text Style.
2. Create a new style or modify an existing one by adjusting parameters such as font, width factor, and obliquing.
3. Assign your custom style to specific text or dimension elements, ensuring uniformity throughout your plans.

FAQs

Can I edit a text style after it has been assigned?

Yes, you can modify a text style, and all text elements assigned that style will update automatically to reflect the changes.

How do I change the font for all text in a drawing?

To change the font for all text, modify the text style that has been applied globally. After changing the font in the style, all instances of that style will update.

What steps can I take if editing text does not work?

If editing isn’t functioning, check your settings as previously outlined. Ensure that properties related to the selection and double-click editing are enabled in the OPTIONS dialog.