Expert: Bob - 12/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: I'm an architect with almost ten years of experience in AutoCAD. Currently, I work with 2007 version of CAD.
There is incorrect displaying extents of single line text objects: when the single line text have right justification (i.e. in heading of the drawing in right upper corner of drawing) extents is incorrect (the width of text is condensed than should be)! After editing this text, the width of text is just right as should be. But, after that if I use REGEN command, the position of the text is unexpected again - it moves left and width of text is condensed again!

This problem I found isn't in all drawing files, but only in some files. Also, the incorrect displaying of text is  disappear when I print this drawing that contains above problem. It makes a huge mess in drawing, no matter of correctly in printing!

Slobodan

ANSWER: ADDITION:
Maybe you do not realize that the text object is NOT exactly the size of the letters on the screen, but larger --- if you are using the newer text editor with 2007, not the old-fashioned, you can see the size of the object in color when editing the text.
(I still vote for all Mtext)

B

Hi--

Sorry I just have a minute today.  If this does not help, write back and I will research for you.

IF IT WERE I:

1-- I would use Mtext -- I havent created single-line in years. So I would see if Mtext behaved better. With Mtext, you have more grips, thus more chance to see what area the text object actually covers.
2-- If I had not solved the problem, I might assume there was a flaw in the drawing (YOU DID NOT SAY IF YOU ORIGINATED THE DWGs) and use the PLOT PREVIEW button to check that the text looked right, ignoring the view on the screen.

I am suspecting your video card here ---  but it could be the width of the text displaying differently in different conditions, because of an error, the text style, or ??????????

If it was not happening every day, I would probably just use the Plot Preview to check it, and forget the mystery. Sometimes we have to move on and get around things.  If it was happening several times a day, I would find how to fix it.


BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, Bob...

Ok, I will use mtext in the future if it's solving my problem (and if it will not annoy me, still ). PLOT PREVIEW is ignoring the view on the screen and the text is looking right.
But, I forgot to say, in last email, that this problem happens  with only TrueType fonts - whatever unicode or not(but not with *.shx fonts!), and there is on other PCs, too (video card, obviously isn't the problem). Also, text style I created (i.e. Arial or Calibri font: Height-0.0000, Width Factor-1.0000, Font Style-Regular, Oblique Angle-0.000) is the same in all drawings, but in some drawings there is a problem, in other is not. Then, when I copy the draw from "incorrect drawing" (without problematic single line text), in correct drawing , it will happen incorrect displaying text again. I suspicious that there is, in incorrect drawing, some "mystic" entities which is copied in right drawing (I notice that the text styles is the same in all drawings which is copied earlier from origin and correct file). After that, right drawing become incorrect! And last, how can I check the incorrect file and find errors?

Slobodan

ANSWER: Hi

1-- "PLOT PREVIEW is ignoring the view on the screen and the text is looking right."
YES, THAT WAS MY POINT -- drawings are made to be plotted, and what you seen onscreen is possibly due to your local situation. (or maybe it's a quirk, due to the fonts, but I would not bother with it, unless the annoyance was constant, my other point)
Always use the plot preview to see what you are getting. Of course, if you use layouts and display the plot style, the layout should be correct, and in black and white.

2--  The rest of it is too complicated for me to figure out long distance -- it is a problem I have not faced. I suggest you post it on Autodesk's Discussion Group for your release.
No one can really answer you if you do not make clear whether all drawings were originated by you, or some are from other sources, or have elements brought it from other sources (the mystic stuff might come from that).

http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=186&start=0

Good luck!

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Bob, again!
I found what causing problem with incorrect extents single line text, maybe!
I opened another (correct!) file - create new file name (save as)and copied all drawing elements from problematic file, one by one, to new correct file. And, finally, found that only some ACAD TABLE (I have in file more different acad tables)in that bad file causing the problem!!! Why only some tables causing this problem, and the other acad tables not, I haven't idea. After pasting "bad" tables in correct file it becomes bad too - i.e. extents of single line text is incorrectly on screen.

Slobodan

Answer
Hi--

Good for you- by isolating the elements, you found the problem.

I am ill today and dont have Acad open to check for the correct terms.
My guess is that a setting for the "bad" table, having to do with the size of the "border area" around the table, is the culprit.

Good luck

BOB