[V8i] How to set text to be view-dependent by default?

Three questions...

1.) Is existing text in these files view-independent as well?

2.) What happens if you open your file in a new workspace?

3.) This is generally not a design file setting so next question is are you running in custom applications in your environment?

Thanks, those questions were helpful.  There's no existing text and I'm not sure how to open a file in a new workspace, but it occurred to me that all the files I've been working in lately were created by copying the same existing file.  

So I went back an opened an old file that I never had problems with, and created a new one from a different seed file.  Those were fine.

So how do I change the setting in a design file so text comes in view dependent by default?

When I open the file to place text

It comes up with a particular text style and place text by Origin

The text places by origin and is rotated according to the world NOT the way you are viewing your data

If I change to View Independent as with the upper of the 2 lines of text

It will place View Independent as it should

This placement is NOT saved as a part of the text style but a way to place text

So to make it the default

Open your seed - start to place text and select the style and View Independent - then save the seed

It will now open that file View Independent until someone changes it.

Now you can also have a macro start so every time you open the file it is View Independent

You can also create a function key or an icon to use to start any text that includes a keyin to make it View Independent

But There is no way I no of to make it revert ONLY to View Independent

It to make that the first option you would need to change the keyin to start "Place text" to also include whatever is necessary to make it View Independent..

Hi Eric,

In his full description, LeighM wants the text to be view dependent (and to be placed in the orientation of that view).

--Robert

Your sample file seems to have a custom ACS set up. If you rotate the view to Top then set an ACS according to the view your text can be placed correctly. For whatever reason everything keeps referencing the custom ACS. It is greyed out in the  Auxiliary Coordinates dialog so it can not be deleted.

I don't know if this has any bearing on your situation. I do not work with custom ACS settings so this is just an observation that may lead someone more knowledgeable to your solution

Interesting.  I did not set up the original file, and I only use ACS to simulate the lost and greatly lamented depth lock.  (Which isn't needed in this file, since it's 2D.)

I'm going to try and copy my work into a new file, and see if that fixes it.

Leigh

I noted that the file had the "ACS Plane" lock turned on. Try turning off the "ACS Plane" lock. This has an affect and is a setting you can do a "Save Settings" to hold.

Leigh

I noted that the file had the "ACS Plane" lock turned on. Try turning off the "ACS Plane" lock. This has an affect and is a setting you can do a "Save Settings" to hold.

George,

Good catch on the ACS Plane lock. I totally missed that. Another point to add to this is that if you do turn on Accudraw you will also need to go into the Accudraw settings (<Settings <Accudraw). You will need to click on the Coordinates tab and switch the <Coordinate System <Rotation to View rather than Auxiliary. Having Accudraw rotation to Auxiliary will force Accudraw to always align with the ACS so even when you rotate your view the text placement will continue to be along the ACS axis. If you do not have Accudraw on the text will be placed according to the view or Active Angle setting relative to the view rotation.

BTW- learn to use Accudraw. Even just a few of it's function. I know it can be a PIA at first. I also hatted it when I started using Microstation. After giving it a chance, I rarely turn it off now. I have found it useful for a lot of things.

totally agree about accudraw including the pain force your self for just 2 weeks and you'll never know how you lived without it.. but you have to do the tutorials and use it to draw all the time at least 1 week to be fair...