Text, also called single-line text, or Dtext, makes every line a separate object. It’s great for short annotation in a drawing. On the other hand, Mtext, also called multiline text, has more formatting options, and is better for larger amounts of text. Mtext is especially important if you need to create left and right margins and wrap the text between those margins.
Sometimes, you have single-line text that should be multiline text, or vice versa. Here are two simple ways to convert between the two types of text.
From text to Mtext
To convert from text to Mtext, use the Express Tools command TXT2MTXT. Choose Express> Text> Convert Text to Mtext. (In AutoCAD 2009, click the Menu Browser first.)
At the Select objects: prompt, select the text objects that you want to convert. If you press Enter instead, you get the Text to MText Options dialog box. Set the options as you want and press OK. By default, the command sorts from the top object downward, and tries to word wrap the Mtext that it creates.
One nice feature of the command is that if you select text objects first, the command executes without further input — very efficient! Another efficient feature is that the command does a true conversion; your old text objects are gone.
From Mtext to text
The easiest way that I found to convert Mtext to text is simply to copy and paste. Double-click the Mtext to open the Mtext editor. Select the text and copy to the clipboard. Then close the editor.
Start the DTEXT or TEXT command. Specify the start point, height and rotation angle as usual. You’ll then see a small box and cursor. Paste from the clipboard and press Enter to end the command. You’ll then need to delete your Mtext object.
Jimmy Bergmark reminded me that you can simply explode the Mtext. The difference is that you’ll keep the line wrapping. It all depends on which result you want. A bonus is that you don’t have to delete the original object.
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ok. then how to convert set of M text to D text.
Please reply
There’s no difference between dtext and text. The second half of the tip explains two methods to convert mtext to text.http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/wordpress/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?p=892#comments-form
Is there any way to convert MText to text in a dimension? To explode the MText, I need to explode the dimension which is not acceptable.
thank you very much. TXT2MTXT command solved my annoying problem.
Very helpful hint. But I have question what if I have over 1000 texts as point text. When I select all texts and convert them to Mtext there is one block of Mtext.Simply I need them to stay onsame place where they were before conversion.
Thanks man…
It sounds like a job for a script that would convert each one separately. This tip, http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/tutorial-automate-tasks-with-a-script-file/, might help.
Is there any way to convert exploded text that appears like plines and is not editable
Back to the original text? Not that I know of. Sorry!
Is it possible to run a similar command in LT? Started my own company and it didn’t seem like it was worth spending the extra money on the full version for my needs… turns out LT does not include the Express Tools (which I didn’t realize) and these tools are so convenient! TCIRCLE, TXT2MTXT, etc.
I don’t have LT to test it, but how about copying the text and pasting into an MTEXT window?
Hi Ellen,
thanx for this help, but i have a problem with this, if I am selecting similar text words n going to convert, text is not converting from text to mtext dat r romoving why its like this, should i select one by one or can i select similar and covert it.
I’m not sure I understand your question. If you select multiple objects, the command combines them into 1 MText object. If you want to keep them separate, choose one text object each time you use the command.
You can also use the Options option (I know that sounds funny) to specify whether the order of the resulting Mtext is from the top down or in selection order. And also you can uncheck the checkbox in that Text to MText Options dialog box so that the words don’t wrap; in that case, you get a list of items, but they are still one Mtext object. I hope that helps.
Hi,
is there any way I can change all text to mtext without having to convert them one by one?
Thank you.
Melina,
See my answer to the previous comment. It would be possible to write an AutoLISP program to do it, but I’m not a programmer.
Hi Ellen
I have having hard time changing Text View Direction during placing the dimension. If you can show me the path to change it…would be greatly appreciated
Ellen-
I was using MTEXT and I inadvertently hit something that turned off/hid the command line that allows me to edit my MTEXT for size, left, right and center justification, color, text type…etc. It usually is placed above the TEXT box. I’m unable to figure out how to restore that window so that I may edit my MTEXT.
Not sure if I can answer, but without know which release you have…
Are you using the ribbon? Menus?
how do i convert text to multi text in cad 2011? i only know in 2010 command text2mtext but in 2011 it is unknown.
hi..
how do change multi line text to single line text??
thx for reply
This might help:
http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/acadblog/tutorial-convert-text-to-mtext-and-vice-versa/
Another way to convert multi-line text (MText) to Text without the copy/paste method is to simply use the “Explode” command.
For MText that contains a return character you’ll get two or more lines of Text. The added benefit (or drawback) is that any control characters embedded within the MText object will be stripped away.
You are the best. I always look for your aritcles when I forget a command line. Honestly, thank you, you are a life saver.
I am using Civil 3d 2013. when i open dwg there is no text. Have to restart or shut down computer then reopen drawing to get the text to be visable. Reciently went to Windows 7 and 64bit. Can any one help????
possible to add wattage in several text in a sigle command
very helpful
Ellen & Pete Martin: Exploding MTEXT to TEXT works but it loses the alignment properties of the MTEXT – it always defaults to left-aligned. I’d call that a bug.
Also, the Express Tools explode text command has hilarious results when exploding a Truetype font. Try it. It exploded to polylines for me in AutoCAD 2013 using Arial Narrow.
In my AutoCAD Architecture 2013, the Express Tools button “Convert to Mtext” returns this message:
“txt2mtxt Unknown command “TXT2MTXT”. Press F1 for help.”
Is this an installation problem? I can’t find any links to this being a widespread problem so it may be an isolated issue for my installation. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
I’m also having the same problem as ArkEtect, but in AutoCAD Building Design Suite. I’ve made sure the file txt2mtxt.lsp is in the proper Express folder, but it still doesn’t work. I haven’t been able to find much help on it either. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Leave out the “e” – txt2mtxt.
Use Explode command to convert Text 2 Mtext
how to convert set of M text to D text.
Please reply