Civil Point Leaders and Dragged State Components Explained
Quick answer: Every Civil point has two grips: a primary grip at the insertion point, and an alternative grip positioned vertically above it, always attached to the label style. Dragging the alternative grip moves the point’s label away from its insertion point and creates a leader connecting the two.
The Two Grips
- Primary grip: sits at the point’s insertion point.
- Alternative grip: sits vertically above the insertion point, and is always attached to the label style. Dragging it moves the label away from the point and creates a leader.
Dragged State Leader Settings
- Visibility: toggle the leader on or off.
- Arrow head style: choose from a dropdown list.
- Arrow head size: set directly.
- Leader tail: toggle on or off; when on, its length matches the arrow head size.
- Leader type: straight line or spline.
- Colour, linetype (by layer, by block, or from a list of linetype styles), and lineweight: all set from their own dropdowns.
Every change here displays dynamically in the drawing as you make it.
Creating a Spline Leader
To use a curved leader instead of a straight one, change the leader type on the Dragged state tab to Spline Leader. Then click the + sign in the middle of the leader and drag its end to the point you want. Selecting and dragging a + section adds a curve; selecting a - section removes part of the spline instead.
Dragged State Component Settings
Components display either as Stacked text or As composed:
- Stacked text: uses its own styling, defined specifically on the Dragged state tab.
- As composed: uses the same styling defined on the Components tab, no separate dragged-state appearance.
Choose Stacked text if you want the label to look different once it’s been dragged. From there you can configure:
- Border visibility: on or off.
- Border shape: Rectangular, Rounded rectangular, or Circle.
- Background mask: turn on to improve the label’s visibility against the drawing behind it.
- Border and leader gap, and Text height: set directly.
- Position: controlled by the Leader attachment parameter, changeable via the Leader attachment position dropdown; toggling Leader justification changes how components align as the leader moves.
- Colour, linetype (by layer, by block, or from a linetype styles list), and lineweight for the border: set from their own dropdowns.
These changes also display dynamically in the drawing as you make them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the two grips on a Civil point? The primary grip sits at the point’s actual insertion point. The alternative grip sits above it and is attached to the label; dragging it moves the label away and creates a leader.
How do I make a leader curved instead of straight? Change the leader type to Spline Leader on the Dragged state tab, then drag the + sign in the middle of the leader to shape it.
Should I choose Stacked text or As composed for dragged state components? Choose Stacked text if you want the label to look different specifically when dragged. As composed just reuses the same styling as the normal (non-dragged) Components tab.
Does the leader tail always match the arrow head in length? Yes, when the leader tail is turned on, its length is set equal to the arrow head size.