How to Edit Text in AutoCAD 2021?

Understanding Text Editing in AutoCAD 2021

Step-by-Step Guide to Editing Text in AutoCAD

Editing text in AutoCAD can be done through several methods depending on the nature of the text. Below are the steps to modify both single and multiline text effectively.

How to Activate the Text Editor

1. Select the Text Object: Either single-line or multiline text can be edited. Double-click on the MTEXT (multiline text) or a single-line text object.
2. Access the Editor Toolbar: Navigate to the top right of the ribbon, locate the "More" option, and select "Editor Settings." Make sure to enable the "Show Toolbar" option for easy access to editing features.

Editing Single-Line Text

1. Insertion of Text: Click anywhere on the drawing canvas to start a new line of single-line text.
2. Navigate Through Text: Use the Tab key to move forward between lines, or Shift + Tab to go back.
3. Editing Existing Lines: Hold down the Alt key and click on the text line you wish to edit. This will activate the text editor for that specific line.

Editing Multiline Text

1. Open the Text Object: Double-click the multiline text to open the In-Place Text Editor.
2. Modify as Desired: Enter the new content directly in the editor. You can apply various formatting options available in the ribbon toolbar.
3. Save Your Changes: To finish, you can either click "Close Text Editor" or select "OK" from the Text Formatting toolbar to save your edits.

Resolving Issues with Text Editing

If you encounter problems when trying to edit text, you might need to adjust settings:

1. Command Line Adjustment: Type PICKFIRST in the command line, and set the value to 1.
2. OPTIONS Configuration: Access the OPTIONS dialog box and check the Selection and User Preferences tabs. Ensure "Noun/Verb Selection" and "Double Click Editing" are enabled.

Editing Annotations

1. Access the Annotate Tab: Click on the Annotate tab, and then locate the "Dimensions" panel dialog box launcher.
2. Modify Styles: In the Styles list box, pick the desired style and click "Modify" to make changes to your annotations.

Using the Reference Edit

1. Insert Tab Navigation: Go to the Insert tab and click on the Reference panel, selecting "Edit Reference."
2. Select the Reference: From the current drawing, choose the reference you want to edit and confirm your selection.
3. Edit the Reference: In the Reference Edit dialog, select the specific objects you wish to adjust, then press Enter to proceed with your modifications.

FAQs

1. Why Can’t I Edit My Text in AutoCAD?

   • If you can’t edit your text, verify that the PICKFIRST command is set to 1 and check the OPTIONS dialog for the selection settings. Ensuring that double-click editing is enabled can also resolve this issue.

2. How Do I Change Text in an Xref?

   • You cannot directly edit objects in an Xref. Instead, you must open the drawing containing the Xref to make changes. Use the XOPEN command for quick access to edit the referenced drawing.
3. What Steps Are Needed to Annotate in AutoCAD?
   • Start by inserting text or dimensions. Next, in the Properties palette, set the Annotative setting to Yes. Then, adjust the scale in the Annotative Object Scale dialog to include the necessary scales before clicking OK.