TEXTFIT doesn’t work with multi-line text (MTEXT).

When you start the command, you select the single-line text and TEXTFIT puts a drag-line under the text. Just pick the [...]]]>

The TEXTFIT command lets you easily squeeze or stretch existing single-line text (TEXT or DTEXT) so you can fit it into a defined space, such as a title block.

TEXTFIT doesn’t work with multi-line text (MTEXT).

When you start the command, you select the single-line text and TEXTFIT puts a drag-line under the text. Just pick the desired endpoint and you’re done. If you want to change the start point of the text, use the Start Point option, pick a start point and then an end point.

Watch the video to see how it works.

TEXTFIT works with existing text, but you can fit single-line text into a space when you create it, using the Align or Fit Justify options. Here are the steps:

1. Start the TEXT command.
2. At the Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: prompt, type j and press Enter.
3. At the Enter an option [Align/Fit/Center/Middle/Right/TL/TC/TR/ML/MC/MR/BL/BC/BR]: prompt, type a for the Align option or f for the Fit option and press Enter.
4. At the Specify first endpoint of text baseline: prompt, specify a start point for the text.
5. At the Specify second endpoint of text baseline: prompt, specify an endpoint. You may want to turn on Ortho before specifying the endpoint.
6. If you chose the Fit option, it asks you to specify a height. This option maintains that height, distorting the letters if necessary. The Align option changes the height of the text to maintain the proportion of the letters.
7. Type your text and press Enter twice to end the command.

Thanks to Tommy Holden for the part of this tip relating to TEXTFIT.

For example, let’s say that your circle’s radius is 1.825 and you know that you have to [...]]]>

You can easily stretch a circle with grips. To specify the new radius, just enter it on the command line (or in the Dynamic Input tooltip). But suppose the information you have is the difference between the two radii?

For example, let’s say that your circle’s radius is 1.825 and you know that you have to make it 0.625 larger. Of course, you can add the two numbers, but there’s an easier way.

Select the circle and open the Properties palette. For the Radius value, insert an equal sign (=) before the current radius. After the radius value, type +.625. Then press the End key on your keyboard (not Enter). The new radius appears in the Properties palette and your circle’s radius changes.

Ragnar Thor Mikkelsen contributed an even easier way. However, note that this tip doesn’t work if Dynamic Input is on. (To turn it off, just click the Dynamic Input button on the status bar.) Here are the steps:

1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the ** STRETCH **
Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, type tk.
3. At the First tracking point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type .625 (in our example) or the change in radius you want and press Enter.
5. At the Next point (Press ENTER to end tracking): prompt, press Enter.

Scott Loadman also contributed an easier way:

1. Select the circle and click one of the quadrant grips to make it “hot.”
2. At the prompt, type b for the Base point option.
3. At the Specify base point: prompt, click the quadrant grip again.
4. At the Specify stretch point or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: prompt, move the cursor in the direction you want to stretch the circle and type the change in radius (.625 in our example) and press Enter.

Thanks to Joel, whose comment to the earlier post helped [...]]]>

In a previous post, “Create a rectangle with a flexible corner,” I showed how to create a rectangle whose upper-right corner is strechable, creating a flexible rectangle that doesn’t lose its shape. In this post, I show how to do the same with a dynamic block.

Thanks to Joel, whose comment to the earlier post helped me figure this out.