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AutoCAD Self-paced Learning Modules
®

AutoCAD 2D
Module 20
Text - Part 1

Learning Outcomes:
When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe single line text, text style, and text justification.

2. Describe and apply the STYLE, DTEXT, and DDEDIT commands to format, insert and edit
text in an AutoCAD drawing.

Text
Text is a complex topic, therefore, what is taught in this module is an introduction only. You will be
shown how to format, insert, and edit single line text. Single line text is text that is inserted
as a single line, can be edited one line at a time, and each line is its own object.
Text Style
AutoCAD uses the STYLE command to create, format, and set the current text style. You can define as
many text styles as you wish for each drawing. The current text style is the text style that will be used
when text commands are used to insert text in the drawing.
When text is inserted in the drawing, the current text style is assigned as the style property to that text.
The text style defines text properties like the font and width of the text. To change the font of a text, you
must create a style with that font and then change the text style properties of the text.

AutoCAD Command: STYLE

The STYLE command is used to create and format text style plus select the current text style.
Shortcut: ST

2004-2008

2004-2008

2000-2002

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Text Justification
Text justification is a property attached to the text that instructs it how
it is justified from its insert point. It uses the insert point you selected
as the base point for the justification. There are many ways to justify
text and it is important that you know how, where and when to use
each one. In this module, only the left, middle, and right justified text
are covered. Figure 20-1 shows how each text would justify itself if
inserted at the selected locations P1,P2, and P3. If the justification is
not specified when the text is inserted, it will be left justification as the
Figure 20-1
default.
Text Justification

Object Snap Modes for Text

Mode Abbreviation Icon Marker The AutoCAD Object
Insert Ins

AutoCAD Command: DTEXT

The DTEXT command is used to insert single line text on the drawing.
Shortcut: DT

2004-2008

2000-2002

The Styles toolbar has a pull-down menu that you can

use to set the current text style. This is a great feature
to quickly change the current text style and will speed
your drawing production.
See figure right.

This feature is only available in AutoCAD 2004-2008.

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands 2008

For AutoCAD 2008 users only. If you are using AutoCAD 2000-2007, skip to
page 20-05).

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.

Step 2 Save and name the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1.
Step 3 Enter the STYLE command. It will open the Text Style dialogue box as shown in Figure
Step 3.

Figure Step 3

Step 4 Click the New Button.

Step 5A This will open the New Text Style

dialogue box as shown in Figure Step 5A.

Figure Step 5A
Step 5B Enter Modules Romans in the Styles
Name box as shown in Figure Step 5B. Click OK
to save and close the dialogue box.
(This style name is a user created name, therefore
when you creates your own styles in the future,
Figure Step 5B
give it a name that makes sense to you.)
...continued on page 20-4

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands 2008 - continued

Step 6 Check to ensure

that the Current text style is
set to Modules Romans as
shown Figure Step 6.

Figure Step 6

Step 7 In the Font Name: box, pull-down the list and scroll
down until you find the romans.shx font as shown in Figure
Step 7. Figure Step 7
(Once you pull-down the font name list, you can type the first letter of the name you are looking for.
In this case, R. That will force the list to jump directly to names that begin with the letter R.)
Step 8 Do not change any other items. The Text Style dialogue box should now appear as
shown in Figure Step 8. Click the Apply button to save and close the dialogue box.

Figure Step 8

Author's Comments:
In almost all cases, leave the text height in the Text Style dialogue box set to zero. When it is set to
zero, the text height of text with that style can be set to any value desired. If it is set to a value
other then zero, you will not be allowed the change the text height for text inserted with that style.

Skip to page 20-07

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands 2000-2007

For AutoCAD 2000-2007 users only. If you are using AutoCAD 2008, skip to
page 20-07)

Step 1 Start a new drawing using the template Module Template A.

Step 2 Save and name the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1.
Step 3 Enter the
STYLE command. It will
open the Text Style
dialogue box as shown in
Figure Step 3.

Figure Step 3

Step 4 Click the New Button as shown in Figure

Step 4.

Figure Step 4

Step 5A This will open the New Text Style

dialogue box as shown in Figure Step 5A.

Step 5B Enter Modules Romans in the Styles Figure Step 5A

Name box as shown in Figure Step 5B. Click OK
to save and close the dialogue box.
(This style name is a user created name,
therefore when you creates your own styles
in the future, give it a name that makes
sense to you.)
Figure Step 5B
...continued on page 20-6

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands 2000-2007 - continued

Step 6 Check to ensure that the Current text style

is set to Modules Romans as shown Figure Step 6.

Figure Step 6

Step 7 In the Font Name: box, pull-down the list and

scroll down until you find the romans.shx font as shown in
Figure Step 7.
(Once you pull-down the font name list, you can type the
first letter of the name you are looking for. In this case, R.
That will force the list to jump directly to names that begin
with the letter R.)

Figure Step 7

Step 8 Do not change any other items. The Text Style dialogue box should now appear as
shown in Figure Step 8. Click the Apply button to save and close the dialogue box.

Author's Comments:
In almost all cases, leave the text height in the Text Style dialogue box set to zero. When it is set to
zero, the text height of text with that style can be set to any value desired. If it is set to a value
other then zero, you will not be allowed the change the text height for text inserted with that style.

Figure Step 8
...continued on page 20-7

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands - continued

Step 9 Enter the DTEXT command shown below to enter text on the drawing. See Figure Step 9.

Command: DTEXT
Current text style: "Modules Romans" Text height: 0.2000 (The
defaults will display. Ensure that Modules Romans is the
current default style.)
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: 1.5,10
(This is the insert point. It will be left justified text by
default.)
Specify height <0.2000>: 0.35
Specify rotation angle of text <0>:
(Press Enter to leave the rotation angle at 0 degrees.)
THIS IS MODULE 20 (Press enter)
(Press enter)
Command:

Figure Step 9

Step 10 Enter the DTEXT command shown below

to enter text on the drawing. See Figure Step 10.
Command: DT
Current text style: "Modules Romans" Text height:
0.3500
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: 1,5
Specify height <0.3500>: 0.25
Specify rotation angle of text <0>: 45

THIS IS STYLE MODULES ROMANS (Press enter)

INSERTED AT 0.25 INCHES HEIGHT (Press enter)
IT IS ROTATED AT 45 DEGREES (Press enter)
(Press enter)
Command:

Figure Step 10 ...continued on page 20-8

In the Text Style dialogue box, the text height should almost always be set to zero.
When it is set to zero, AutoCAD allows the text being inserted with that style to
change the text height. It also allows the text style to automatic
scale text dimensions.

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Using the STYLE and DTEXT Commands - continued

Step 11 Enter the DTEXT command
shown below to enter text on the drawing. See
Figure Step 11.

Command: DT
Current text style: "Modules Romans" Text
height: 0.0250
Specify start point of text or [Justify/Style]: J Enter
an option
[Align/Fit/Center/Middle/Right/TL/TC/TR/ML/MC
/MR/BL/BC/BR]: R
(Selecting a right justification.)
Specify right endpoint of text baseline: 5,3
Specify height <0.2500>: 0.175 Specify
rotation angle of text <45>: 0 THIS TEXT
IS RIGHT JUSTIFIED. (Press
enter)
(Press enter)
Command:

Figure Step 11

Step 12 Save and close the drawing.

The Standard text style is a special style and cannot be deleted or purged out of the
drawing. It is best NOT to use this text style in your drawings. It is much better
to create your own styles.

When using a pull down window with lists,

such as the font list in the style command
and you know the name of the font you
want to use, enter the first
letter of the font after you pull down the list. The list will
jump to the fonts that start with that letter. This works for
all software written to Window standards.

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AutoCAD Command: DDEDIT

The DDEDIT command is used to edit single line text.

Shortcut: Double click the text.

2004-2008

2000-2002

If you double click the text you want to edit, the Edit Text dialogue box will open
automatically with the text you selected ready to be edited. This is a very fast way to
edit single line text and almost eliminates the use of the DDEDIT command. Text
contents can also be edited in the Properties dialogue box.

The text height, style, rotation

angle, content, justification, width
factor, and obliquing are text
properties and can be changed in
the Properties
dialogue box. The font is controlled by the style
property. If you want to change the font of an
existing text object, change its style. Simply open
the Properties dialogue box and single click the text
to edit its properties.

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Editing Single Line Text

Step 1 Open the drawing AutoCAD 2D Workalong 20-1 that you completed in
the last workalong. If you have not completed that drawing, go back and do it
before you continue on with this workalong.
Step 2 Enter the STYLE command and create a new text style named Modules Arial. Set the text
style to match Figure Step 2.

Figure Step 2 - 2008

Figure Step 2 - 2000-2007

:...continued on page 20-11

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Editing Single Line Text - continued

Step 3 Double click the text at the top of the
drawing, see Figure Step 3, to enter the edit
mode. Figure Step 3

Step 4 With the text in edit mode, change the

text to read THIS IS EDITED TEXT. See Figure
Step 4A, 4B and 4C.
Figure Step 4A
This is how the text editor appears in
AutoCAD 2006 and 2007

Figure Step 4B
This is how the text editor appears in AutoCAD 2000 to 2005

Figure Step 4C

Step 5 Open the Properties window and

without entering a command, select all three
single line text objects that are rotated at 45
degree as shown in Figure Step 5.

Figure Step 5

:...continued on page 20-12

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Editing Single Line Text - continued

Step 6 While the text is selected, pull-down the

Style list and select Modules Arial as shown in
Figure Step 6.

Figure Step 6

Step 7 Select just the bottom line of the

rotated text as shown in Figure Step 7.

Figure Step 7

Step 8 Change the Rotation property to 30 degrees as shown in Figure Step 8A. You drawing
should now appears a shown in Figure Step 8B.

Figure Step 8A
Figure Step 8B
:...continued on page 20-13

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Editing Single Line Text - continued

Step 9 Select the bottom line of text as
shown in Figure Step 9.

Step 10 With the text selected, change the

properties of the text to Middle justified as shown
in Figure Step 10A. The content as shown in
Figure Step 10B and the text height to 0.25 units
as shown in Figure Step 10C.

Figure Step 9
Figure Step 10B Figure Step 10A

Figure Step 10C

Step 11 You drawing should appear as shown in

Figure Step 11.
Figure Step 11

Step 12 Save and close the drawing.

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Module Standards - Filling out the Titleblock

1. When you are filling out the titleblock for the AutoCAD Modules, use the following standards:

2. Create a text style Modules Titleblock. Font: Arial.

3. Place text on layer Titleblock Text and text color White/Black. White and black are the same color to
AutoCAD. See Module 5 pages 5-6 or 5-8.

4. Use a text height that matches the area you are filling. You can decide what height to use. Make it look
pleasing to the eye. See below.

5. Center the text as best you can. It helps to use middle justified. In Module 22, you will be taught to
move the text around after you entered it. That makes the job easier.

6. See the example titleblocks below.

7. In the bottom row, fill it in with your actual name, the actual date, scale, drawing number, and sheet
number.

8. Date is in the format Month-Day-Year, MM-DD-YYYY

For example: 02-27-2006

Titleblock Standards for English Templates

Titleblock Standards for Metric Templates

:...continued on page 20-15

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Module Standards - Filling out the Titleblock - Continued

9. Here is a sample of
Lab Exercise Lab 20-1 with
a completed titleblock.

The Key Principles in Module 20

1. Single line text is text that is inserted as a single line, can be edited one line at a time, and each
line is its own object.
2. The text style defines the text properties like the font and width of the text. To change the font of a
text, you must create a style with that font and then change the text style property of the text.
3. In almost all cases, leave the text height in the Text Style dialogue box set to zero.
4. If you double click the text you want to edit, the Edit Text dialogue box will open automatically
with the text you selected ready to be edited. This is a very fast way to edit single line text and almost
eliminates the use of the DDEDIT command. Text contents
can also be edited in the Properties dialogue box.
5. The Standard text style is a special text that is automatically part of every drawing. It cannot
be deleted. It is best not to use this text style in your drawings.

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Lab Exercise 20-1 Time Allowed: 50 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-1 Module Template A Inches N/A N/A
Note: Color, Linetype, and Lineweight are all < ByLayer < unless otherwise instructed.
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 Continuous N/A
Text in the Titleblock Titleblock Text White/Black Continuous N/A
All Objects Object Red Continuous N/A
Instructions:
1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme shown above.
2. Draw the object shown below using the layering scheme above.
3. Check your drawing with the key.
4 Fill in the titleblock using the standard shown in page 20-14.
5. Turn layer Key off and freeze layer Construction.
6. Save and close the drawing.

Completed
Drawing

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Construction Techniques
The following steps are the construction technique suggested by the author to help you learn how to
construct objects using AutoCAD. It is only the suggested method and if you can complete the drawing
accurately using a different construct technique, that is what is important. You may want to compare your
construction technique with the authors.

Construction Hints
Do your best to complete the lab exercise drawing without using the following hint(s). If you get stuck
and can't complete it on your own, use the following hint(s) to help you.

Hint 1
Once you have drawn the outer boundary and the inner
construction lines (Step 3), use the OFFSET command to
construct most of the remaining drawing.
Hint 2
Before you insert the fillets, trim the lines as shown in Figure Hint
2. If you do not trim them first, you will lose portions of the lines
required and you will have to redraw them.

Figure Hint 2

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Lab Exercise 20-2 Time Allowed: 30 Min.

Drawing Specifications
Name Template Units Text Style Font
AutoCAD 2D Lab 20-2 Module Template A Inches See below See Below
Layering Scheme
Objects on Layer Name Color Linetype Lineweight
Construction Objects Construction 253 Continuous N/A
Text in the Titleblock Titleblock Text White/Black Continuous N/A
All Objects Object Red Continuous N/A
Instructions:
1. Setup the layers using the Layering Scheme shown above.
2. Draw the object shown below using the layering scheme above.
3. Draw all construction objects on layer Construction.
4. Check your drawing with the key.
5 Fill in the titleblock using the standard shown in page 20-14.
6. Turn layer Key off and freeze layer Construction.
7. Save and close the drawing

Completed
Drawing

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Construction Techniques
The following steps are the construction technique suggested by the author to help you learn how to
construct objects using AutoCAD. It is only the suggested method and if you can complete the drawing
accurately using a different construct technique, that is what is important. You may want to compare your
construction technique with the authors.

Construction Hints
Do your best to complete the lab exercise drawing without using the following hint(s). If you get stuck
and can't complete it on your own, use the following hint(s) to help you.

Hint 1
Rotate the cursor -15 degrees before dividing the circle. See
Figure Hint 1.

Hint 2
Figure Hint 1
Step 1 - Insert 1.0 radius fillets. Step
2 - Insert 0.75 radius fillets. Step 3 -
Trim the circles.

Figure Step 1 Figure Step 3

Figure Step 2

Text - Part 1 The CAD Guys Ltd. Copyright © 1993 - 2007 Module 20