ellen finkelstein logo

Ellen Finkelstein.com
AutoCAD PowerPoint About Links
       

Over 165 AutoCAD tips and tutorials!

AutoCAD Tips
AutoCAD Tips Blog

Get a free dynamic block tutorial and free AutoCAD tips!


RSS: What is it? Why do I want it? How do I get it?

Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe with Bloglines

Buy a Book

E-mail This Page 
to a Friend

Submit a tip! If you include your name and I post your tip, I'll give you credit.

AutoCAD Tips & Tutorials

Tutorial: Specifying and changing line spacing

Sometimes, you need text to have a specific line spacing, to fit into a schedule in your drawing. If you can use the TABLE command, that's great, because the text automatically fits nicely into the rows of the table.

But sometimes, you need to fit your text into an existing set of lines, like a title block, or just want the lines of text to fit nicely into a certain space. In these instances, you should know how to specify line spacing for multiline text. By using multiline text, you can quickly enter many lines of text and place them exactly where you want.

Follow these steps to set the line spacing:

  1. Start the MTEXT command.
  2. At the Specify first corner: prompt, pick the first corner of the Mtext bounding box.
  3. At the Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line
    spacing/Rotation/Style/Width/Columns]:
    prompt, don't do what you usually do, which is specify the opposite corner. Instead. use the Line spacing option (you can type l).
  4. At the Enter line spacing type [At least/Exactly] <At least>: prompt, use the Exactly option.
  5. At the Enter line spacing factor or distance <1x>: prompt, enter the line spacing in units. The default, 1x, gives you single-line spacing, which varies with the side of the text. For text that is .5 units apart, enter .5
  6. The Specify opposite corner or [Height/Justify/Line
    spacing/Rotation/Style/Width/Columns]: prompt returns, and now you specify the opposite corner.
  7. Enter your text.

The MTEXT command doesn't allow for easy placement, but once you have the text entered with the right line spacing, it's easy to move. Now you'll see the advantage of having all the text as one object; move it and all the lines of text move together.

Note that this setting persists for future MTEXT objects. To set the linespacing back to the default setting, at the Line spacing option, enter 1x. Then set the line spacing type to At Least.

You might not realize that you need to set line spacing until you've entered the text and seen that it doesn't fit properly. In this case, you need to change the line spacing of the existing text. Follow these steps:

  1. Select the multline text object.
  2. Open the Properties palette.
  3. Set the Line Space Distance item to the line spacing you want.
  4. Set the Line Space Style item to Exactly

More Tips

+

101 Tips

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

Books by Ellen

New!
AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009 Bible

This is the 9th edition of this book! Completely updated to conform to the new interface and, of course, it covers all the new features, such as the ribbon, Quick View, ShowMotion, the View Cube, the SteeringWheel, and more.

AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008 Bible
Learn the great new features with wide application to all disciplines. Get the most comprehensive book on AutoCAD! DVD contains a 30-day trial of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Thorough exercises guide you through each feature.

AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible 
Discover the 2007 features, especially the radically improved 3D tools. CD has AutoCAD 30-day trial, 3rd-party software, and drawings for exercises.

AutoCAD 2006 and AutoCAD LT 2006 Bible 
Understand and use the 2006 features, including dynamic blocks and the new method of customizing menus and toolbars. CD-ROM has AutoCAD trial, software, and drawings for all exercises.


AutoCAD 2005 and AutoCAD LT 2005 Bible
Fully explains latest 2005 features:  tables, fields, and sheet sets. For the first time, covers AutoCAD LT! CD-ROM comes with software and drawings for all exercises.


AutoCAD 2004 Bible

Covers all features in detail. Hands-on exercises. Over 1300 pages + CD-ROM with software and drawings for all exercises.

                                  Home  |  AutoCAD  |  PowerPoint  | E-StoreAbout  | Links | Contact | Site Map
Copyright Ellen Finkelstein, Inc.