Find & Replace vss. \X Dimension Text Modifier

Has anyone/everyone run across this?

Generally I've found Find and Replace to work on dimension text - but not
when I've had to use the \X text modifier to force the text below the
dimension line. Bug?

Is there perhaps a programmatical way to address this?
Any comments would be appreciated.

 

It's possible that the find/replace engine doesn't
recognize the \X modifer in MTEXT. Are you trying
to replace text that spans multiple displayed lines?

 

I've been trying to use dimension objects as framing elements on plan.

Here's a simple example:

To keep things 'clean looking', sometimes I find it better to label a 'beam'
dimension normally as in, say "W8x10", whereas at other times "\XW8x10", so
that the text falls 'below' the 'beam' line.

BUT, if I later need to change, say, all the W8x10's to W10x12's and so use
Find [W8x10] & Replace [W10x12], all the 'normal' W8x10 text IS changed as
desired, but not the ones prefixed with \X

Hope that clarifies a bit more what I've been trying to do.

 

Do you have "Find whole words only" checked in the Options dialog?

 

I just tried that (both checked and unchecked) and found that it made no
difference. (Currently using ADT 2004) 'Normal' text was modified,
'\XText' remained unchanged.

Typically I'm 99% certain I would have that 'Find whole words only' option
unchecked, anyway.

I could probably post a small drawing if it would help any.

 

This is a bug. I have been reporting it to Autodesk for several
releases now and it does not get fixed with each new release. I did
win a T-shirt from CADalyst once though. See article at:

http://www.cadalyst.com/cadalyst/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=80461

Please pay attention to the part about Find and Replace. You can lose
data for anything after the \X. And the bug is not limited to 2004.
It applies to 2000, 2000i and 2002 as well.

-Fred.

 

Thanks for the informative reply, Fred.

 

David,
In your case, since you are using the dim text as a label, why not use
the "Over dimension line, without a leader" option under Fit->Text Placement
(dimtmove = 2). That way you can move the text anywhere and not use the \X
format code.

The find command seems to have a problem interpreting backslashes since
it can't search passed \X but can \\X, not sure why though...

Aubrie

 

Just a suggestion:
For 'old' text enter: "\\XW8x10"
For 'new' text enter: "\\W10x12"

To 'find' the \X would require delimiter "\" for the \ ?

Bob

 

Thanks for replying, Aubrie.

I tried your suggestion, but the results seemed unsatisfactory to me.
Perhaps there are other dimension variables that I need to take into
consideration.

I would actually prefer not to move the text at all since I'm using aligned
dimensions - and from what I've seen so far, once I make any manual
adjustments to the text position, grip edit control of the dimension
afterwards seems to be a lost cause. I don't know of any other way to get
the text below the line *without manually moving it there*, other than \X.

DIMTEDIT provides limited Left/Right/Center/Home control for aligned
dimensions, but that's about all I've found so far that permits any
semblance of rational grip editing afterwards.

As for Find & Replace, looks like I'll just have to be extra careful with
that, in view of other comments. At any rate, it's more of an annoyance
rather than a 'severe' problem.

Again, thanks for the comments - at least they're helpful in shedding some
light on some of the more obscure/uncommon dimension controls.

Regards,
David Kozina

 

Moving the dim text manually does cause the position to be treated as
"absolute", so it will no longer automatically move in relation to changes
to the dimension line. You can use "shift" grip editing to move both at the
same time though. What's really needed is a "below" option for the vertical
justification variable for this situation since the \X option is really more
for stacked situations, i.e. primary/alternate units.

It's probably best just to use an alternative find/replace command per
your other thread...

Aubrie

 

the "srxText" commandline search/replace utility can work with the \X
modifier -- if you still need a workaround
see www.xanadu.cz/download

Vladimir Michl, www.xanadu.cz