To Define an Annotation Template

An annotation template can include text and graphics.

To define an annotation template

1. Click Annotate tabMap Annotation panelDefine Template. Find
2. In the Define Annotation Template dialog box, click New.

   You can change the other settings in this dialog box later in the procedure.

3. In the New Annotation Template Name dialog box, type a name for the template, and click OK.

   The ribbon changes to show the Block Editor tab. You use the Block Editor to define the annotation template, which is a special type of block.

4. Click Block Editor tabAnnotation panelEdit Annotation Text Find Then press Enter to create a new annotation tag.

   A single annotation template can contain multiple tags, as well as graphic elements.

5. In the Annotation Text dialog box, specify the text to include in this annotation tag.
   • For Attribute, enter a Tag name and Value for the annotation text.

     For the value, enter static text or click to use the Expression Chooser to specify an expression whose value varies depending on the object being annotated.

     The Expression Chooser lists the properties, object data, block attributes, and other data associated with the current drawing.

   • Specify the Object Properties and Text Options for the annotation text.

     For most of the options, you can choose a static value from the dropdown list or specify an expression that is evaluated against the object when you insert the annotation.

     Click to create an expression. Within the Edit Expression dialog box, click to select from a list of available properties and attributes. Click to use a value from within the Block Editor.

     If you select ByBlock for Color or Lineweight, the settings in the Define Annotation Template dialog box will be used.

   • Click OK to return to the Block Editor.
6. In the Block Editor, click a location for this tag.

   Since an annotation template can have multiple tags, you need to specify their locations relative to each other. Clicking a location here allows you to position this tag relative to any others in the template. When you insert an annotation, it appears at the Insertion Point specified in the Define Annotation Template dialog box, with all its tags shown in their relative locations, as defined in the template.

7. Optionally, to include graphical elements as a part of the annotations, create them in the Block Editor.

   Use AutoCAD drawing commands to create geometry or insert graphical elements.

8. When you finish adding elements to the template, click Close Block Editor on the Block Editor toolbar.

   You are prompted to save your changes. When you do, the Define Annotation Template dialog box is redisplayed.

9. In the Define Annotation Template dialog box, specify default properties and insertion options.

   These settings control the appearance of the annotation template block. If you selected ByBlock for Color or Lineweight in the Annotation Text dialog box, these are the settings that will be used.

10. Click OK.

    The Block Editor closes and your drawing is redisplayed. You can now attach the annotation template to a drawing object or objects. When you do, the annotation (showing the appropriate values and settings for the selected object) will appear.