To Add a Note with a Leader

Attach a text note to a specific view or geometry, adjusting the format of text, measurement, and leader.

2019.2, 2022

Use Leader Text to add notes with leader lines to a drawing. If you attach a note leader line to a view or to geometry within a view, the note is moved or deleted when the view is moved or deleted.

Note: The default text format is controlled by the leader text specified by the object defaults style of the active drafting standard.

Tip: When you create a leader line, hold the CTRL key on your keyboard to enable leader line snapping in 15° steps.

Add a note with a leader

On the ribbon, click Annotate tab Text panel Leader Text . In the graphics window, click to set the starting point for the leader line. If you place the point on a highlighted edge or point, the leader line is attached to the edge or point. To create an extension line, drag the attachment point for the leader along an edge. Move the cursor and click to add a vertex to the leader line. You can add as many vertices as necessary. Right-click the location for the text and select Continue to display the Format Text dialog box. In the Format Text dialog box, enter the text in the text box. You can use the options on the dialog box to add symbols and named parameters or change the text formatting. Note: Changing the text formatting in the dialog box overrides the text substyle of the dimension style for this text only. To change the default formatting for all text, modify the specified text substyle or change the object defaults style to specify a different dimension style.

Edit leader text

You can edit the text or change the symbols or parameters in the note.

1. Select the leader text, right-click, and then choose Edit Leader Text from the menu.
2. In the Format Text dialog box, click in the text box to set the insertion point. You delete or add text, or use the options on the dialog box to add symbols and named parameters or change the text formatting.

Change the unit attributes of leader text

You can set leader text to display parameters in dual measurement units. They display in the units specified in the associated drafting standard and in the defined alternate units.

1. Select the leader text, right-click, and then choose Edit Unit Attributes from the menu.
2. Click to remove the check from the Use Standards Notation check box.
3. Set the attributes.

Edit arrowhead

You can change termination symbol for the leader line.

1. Select the leader text, right-click, and choose Edit Arrowhead from the menu.
2. In the Change Arrowhead dialog box, click the arrow, and choose the terminator from the list.

Add a vertex to the leader line

You can add points to the leader line and drag the points to define additional vertices for the line.

1. Select the leader text, right-click, and then choose Add Vertex/Leader from the menu.
2. Move the cursor over the line, and then click to place the new point.
3. Click the new point and drag it to the desired location.

Change the style while creating leader text

On the Annotate tab, Format panel, click the arrow on the Style list, and then select a style.

Change the style of the existing leader text

Select the leader text to change and then, on the Annotate tab, Format panel, click the arrow on the Style list, and then select a style.

Display instance properties as leader notes

Instance properties are properties assigned to individual component instances that are stored in the parent assembly. Unlike iProperties, instance properties don't affect the referenced component files. Instance property values have a higher priority than the values of custom iProperties. When a custom iProperty exists and you create an instance property of the same name, instance property covers the custom iProperty. To learn how to display instance properties as leader notes, see To Work with Instance Properties.