How to Use Annotation Scales in BricsCAD

Quick answer: An annotation scale calculates the scaling factor for annotative entities, the height of annotative text, or the overall scale of annotative blocks, letting you create them in model space at the correct paper space size automatically.

How Annotation Scale Applies by Entity Type

• Text, MText, Dimensions, MLeaders: the current annotation scale applies upon creation, if the current style is annotative.
• Hatches and Gradient Fills: applies if HPANNOTATIVE is on.
• Blocks: the current annotation scale sets the scaling of annotative blocks upon insertion.

Supporting Multiple Annotation Scales

An annotative entity can support more than one annotation scale at once. With SELECTIONPREVIEW active, or when using the Quad cursor menu, an icon beside a highlighted entity shows whether a single scale or multiple scales apply to it.

Adding or Removing Annotation Scales

1. Select the annotative entity or entities.
2. In the Properties panel, select the Annotative Scale field.
3. Click its Browse button; the Annotation Entity Scale dialog opens.
4. If you selected multiple entities, choose whether to list every scale across the selection, or only the scales they all have in common.
5. Either select one or more scales and click Delete to remove them, or click Add…, select scales from the list, and click OK to add them.
6. Click OK to close the dialog; the changes apply to your selection.

Only scales already in the drawing’s scale list are available; use SCALELISTEDIT to edit that list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tell whether an annotative entity supports more than one scale just by looking at it? Yes, with SELECTIONPREVIEW active or via the Quad cursor menu, an icon next to the highlighted entity shows single vs multiple scale support.

Does every hatch automatically get the current annotation scale? No, only if HPANNOTATIVE is on when the hatch is created.

Can I add multiple annotation scales to the same entity? Yes, annotative entities can support several scales simultaneously, added or removed through the Annotation Entity Scale dialog.

What happens if I select several entities with different sets of scales and want to edit them together? Choose whether to view all scales across the selection or only the common ones when the Annotation Entity Scale dialog opens.