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"Locking" Text Elements

David Renaud
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Hey,

I place 20 pieces of text. or 100. or 500. Later I place another, except this time I want a background (for example, but it could be *any* of the element's definition parameters I want to change), so I edit it (double click the text), click the magnifying glass, make sure Apply to all text is unchecked, set a background in the text style editor, save it, and get asked to save again on exit from the editor. Not sure which save causes it, but when I do it messes with all my carefully placed previous text elements. I do not get the save dialog that advises that it is going to change all the text, am I sure? Some get teeny because their annotation gets set to False. Some get huge because if annotation was off, it gets turned on. The heights on the "normal" elements that are left change, like from .08 to .10 depending on what other text elements of that style are in the drawing, some of which the heights may have been manually changed. I created some italic text by highlighting the text in the editor then clicking the italics button, and even though not one single style is set to create italicized text, text elements turn to italics. with some the justification changes, again seemingly related to other elements of the same style that have been manually changed. after I fix all their justifications and heights right I have to go shove them around to get them back into place.

in this dgn I am also experiencing the phenomenon of having the gap between the note part of the leader in a Place Note text note, and the text get WAY too big. there is no way to fix that as far as I know, so you have to replace the note. this is probably related to the text changing all over the place if I had to guess.

The Question: Can I create a piece of text and have it stay the way I want it to look and then have it never change again, or "lock" it? I want to place a piece of text ONCE and never have to touch it again.

thanks

V8i SS3

  • 0 Offline
    Is it possible for you to supply an example design file that this operation has been performed within and maybe some screen captures showing a before and after for how this is appearing on your system. Are you using Text Styles when placing the original text? When you make a change to the "elements definition parameters" is this within a Text Style that you are making the changes? Also, what version of MicroStation is being used for this operation? Any other information you can supply for us to try to replicate your issue would be most helpful.

    Regards
    Andrew Bell
    Technical Support
    Bentley Systems

  • 0 Offline
    Hi David,

    as Andrew wrote, the example file would help to investigate what is happening. On the other hand talking about text and text styles, other files and settings are applied, so the file can be the first step only.

    Regarding to your question: The smallest object which can be locked is an element, which means text or text node element in your case. But even the text element is locked, if a corresponding text style changed, the element is changed accordingly, so it's not "full lock" (I am still not sure if I should treat this behaviour as bug or not ;-).

    My approach is to define text styles for all used texts. It gives me a way how any (accidentally) modified text can be returned back to its original definition and I can use Standard Checker to verify a state of my model.

    With regards,

    Jan

    Bentley Accredited Developer: iTwin Platform - Associate
    Labyrinth Technology  |  dev.notes()  |  cad.point

  • 0 Offline in reply to Andrew Bell

    I am not sure I can replicate it and provide before/after screen shots. It is somewhat random. I have text and text node elements that have, individually, definition parameters modified from the text style that they were placed with (I always use styles). this is merely because it is impractical to have a text style for every possible situation - we'd have dozens of them. it is when using the text style dialog available when opening the text editor in order to alter one element and its properties that this occurs. as stated above, I hit the save icon in the dialog, and am always asked again to save on closing the style dialog, so save again. I am not advised that all text will change, am I sure I want to save.

    I've attached the Sheet Model dgn where all the text is, and the linework design model file that is attached to it. all of our text styles come from dgnlibs.

    I am not hopeful - either it won't replicate, or my description is inadequate. but I've manipulated the same pieces of text three or four times now in this dgn as they went crazy and required "putting back in their places."

    thanks for looking.

    1-1350-CSM1_Sheet.dgn

    1-1350-77 Property.dgn

  • 0 in reply to David Renaud
    If you handle longer texts you may want to try OLE. Meaning that you write in ms word ( or excel) an the cut and paste SPECIAL. When you later need to edit those tables or text blocks will open the the office app again.
  • 0 Offline in reply to mlm
    not an option - I have dozens of small, two or three word text pieces. and I do not need to introduce more steps/clicks/work into the workflow. my productivity has already been hit hard enough.
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