Drawing Environment > Detailed command descriptions > Symbol Generator

Many times when creating new symbols or editing existing ones, you will need to adjust attribute definitions in one way or the other.

•You may need to move them.

•You may need to change text justification, for example from right adjusted to centred.

•You may need to make other changes.

In a separate sub-topic - How the attributes should be positioned - you will find general advice about how the result should be.

How you adjust attribute definitions, is described below.

Moving and rotating attribute definitions can be done with ordinary AutoCAD commands like MOVE and ROTATE, but you can also use commands that are specially designed for attributes, like the Attribute Adjustment Tool, which is very effective in many situations.

Figure 888: The "Attribute Adjustment Tool" is found in the "Home" tab, "Text and Attributes" panel.

Simply double clicking an attribute definition gives access to the Edit Attribute Definition dialogue box, with which you can adjust attribute name (tag), prompt, and default.

Figure 889: You access the "Edit Attribute Definition" dialogue box by double-clicking an attribute definition.

Other attribute properties can be adjusted with the PROPERTIES command, which however is not the best method in most cases.

You can create user defined attributes by copying existing attributes with the COPY command, and then adjust the name of the copy, for example by double-clicking it.

The table below lists suitable ways of adjusting attribute definitions in different ways. The method that in most cases is considered to be best for each operation, is marked in green.

Operation	Standard AutoCAD command	Adjust text and attributes	Attribute adjustment tool
Delete	ERASE or <DELETE> button. Recommended.	N/A	N/A
Move	MOVE In most cases, you need to adjust the snap to 0.25 mm, and turn ORTHO off. Afterwards, you must set the snap back to the original 2.5 mm, and turn ORTHO on again.	You can move several attribute definitions at once, but you need to select them one by one.	You can move several attribute definitions at once, and you can select them all at once using a window or crossing. Recommended.
Rotate	ROTATE	You can rotate several attribute definitions at once, but you need to select them one by one.	You can rotate several attribute definitions at once, and you can select them all at once using a window or crossing. Recommended.
Change text justification	PROPERTIES Not recommended.	Multiple attribute definitions can be adjusted at once, but you must select them one by one.	Multiple attribute definitions can be adjusted at once, and you can select them all at once using a window or crossing. Recommended.
Change text size	PROPERTIES Not recommended	N/A	Multiple attribute definitions can be adjusted at once, and you can select them all at once using a window or crossing. Recommended.
Change layer	Recommended method: Set the desired layer as current, and then use the Move object to current layer command. Do not forget to reset layer 0 as current afterwards.	N/A	N/A
Change prompt	Double-click. Recommended.	N/A	N/A
Change default	Double-click. Recommended.	N/A	N/A
Change attribute name (tag)	Double-click. Recommended.	N/A	N/A
Copy	COPY. Recommended.	N/A	N/A
Change the invisible flag	Do not use the "invisible" attribute property. Place the attribute in the HIDE layer instead.	N/A	N/A

Adjust attribute definitions

Adjust attribute definitions