Creating text

The TEXT command places single lines of text in the drawing; optionally evaluates LISP expressions.

The MTEXT command places formatted, paragraph text in a bounding box that limits the extent of the text.

To create single line texts

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Text tool button () on the Draw toolbar or the Annotate / Text ribbon panel.
    • Choose Text in the Draw menu.
    • Launch the TEXT command.
  2. You are prompted: Text start point or [use defined Style/Align on line/Fit between points/Center horizontally/Middle (hor/vert)/Right justify/Justification options...]:
  3. Specify a point.

    You are prompted: Height of text <current height>:

  4. Do one of the following:
    • Press Enter or right click to accept the current height.
    • Type a value.
    • Click a point to define the height graphically.

    You are prompted: Rotation angle of text <current angle>:

  5. Do one of the following:
    • Press Enter or right click to accept the current rotation angle.
    • Type a value.
    • Click a point to define the rotation angle graphically.
  6. Type the text, then press Enter.

    A new empty text is created.

  7. Do one of the following:
    • Type the text.
    • Press Enter to stop.
  8. (option) Keep adding texts then press Enter twice to stop.
Note: When you have already created text in the current BricsCAD session, the most recent text entity highlights when you repeat the TEXT command. Press Enter or right click to create a new text below the most recently created text, using the same text height and rotation angle.

Single line text justification options:

To create multiline text

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Click the Multiline Text tool button () on the Draw toolbar or the Annotate / Text ribbon panel.
    • Choose Multiline Text in the Draw menu.
    • Launch the MTEXT command.

    You are prompted: First corner for block of text:

  2. Specify the insertion point of the multiline text entity.

    You are prompted: Justification/Rotation/Style/Height/Direction/Width/<Opposite corner for block of text>:

  3. Do one of the following:
    • Specify the opposite corner of the text block to define the maximum width of the multiline text.

      If Dynamic Dimensions are active, the height and width of the text field are displayed dynamically. Type the height and width in the dynamic dimension fields. Press the Tab key to switch; press Enter to confirm.

    • Type @ in the Command line, then press Enter for non-wrapped (zero width) text (= unlimited line width).

    The Text formatting toolbar opens right above the text block.

  4. Type your text.

    The maximum line width is defined by the width of the text block as defined in step 3.

    Press Enter to start a new paragraph.

  5. To conclude the command and close the Text formatting toolbar do one of the following:
    • Click the OK button
    • Press Ctrl+Enter.
    • Click outside the MText entity.

Text formatting toolbar tools and settings

Button or setting Name Description
Text Style Sets the text style
Text Font Sets the text font

Text Height Sets the text height
Bold Creates bold text
Italic Creates italic text
Underscore Creates underscored text
Overscore Creates overscored text
Uppercase Converts selected text to uppercase
Lowercase Converts selected text to lowercase
Annotative Toggles the Annotative property
Line Spacing Sets the line spacing
Columns Arranges the text in columns
Color Sets the color
Oblique Angle Sets the oblique angle
Width Factor Sets the width factor
Character Spacing Sets the character spacing
Undo Undoes recent actions
Redo Redoes previously undone actions
Stacked Fraction Creates stacked fractions
Special Character Inserts special characters
Field Inserts a variable field
Justify Sets the text justification
Background Mask Adds a colored background
Ruler Toggles the ruler display
OK Closes the Text formatting toolbar and applies the changes
Cancel Closes the Text formatting toolbar and leaves the MText entity unchanged

Multiline text justification

The red dot indicates the insertion point of the multiline text entity.




Top left Top center Top right






Midde left Middle center Middle right






Bottom left Bottom center Bottom right

Including special text characters and symbols

You can use control codes and unicode strings to include special characters in text entities.

To include control codes, as you type text, type two percent symbols (%%) followed by the special control code or character. A single percent sign is treated as a normal text character.

Special text characters

Control Code Unicode String Result
%%d \U+00B0 Draws a degree symbol (º)
%%p \U+00B1 Draws a plus-or-minus symbol (±)
%%c \U+2205 Draws a diameter symbol (Ø)
%%k \U+0336 Starts to strikethrough text. Repeat the code to stop.
%%u \U+005F Starts to underscore text. Repeat the code to stop.
%%o \U+203E Starts to overscore text. Repeat the code to stop.

Symbols and Unicode strings

Name Symbol (*) Unicode String
Almost equal


\U+2248
Angle


\U+2220
Center line


\U+2104
Delta


\U+0394
Electrical phase


\U+0278
Identity


\U+2261
Not equal


\U+2260
Omega


\U+03A9
Squared ² \U+00B2
Cubed ³ \U+00B3

(*) If supported by the text font.

To add a background mask

  1. When creating or editing a multiline text entity, click the Background Mask tool button () on the Text Formatting toolbar.

    The Background Mask dialog box appears:



  2. Check the Use background mask option.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Choose a color in the Fill color drop-down list.
    • Choose Select color... in the Fill color drop-down list and choose a color in the Select color dialog box.
    • Check the Use drawing background color option.
  4. Define the Border offset factor, which sets the margin around the text for the background. The value is based on the text height and must be in the range 1-5. A factor of 1.0 fits the multiline text entity exactly.
  5. (option) Tick the Frame around a text option to create a text frame.
  6. Click OK to create the background mask.