topic Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment in Libraries & objects

Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:06:40 GMT

In Section Marker_NCS 14 or the Built-In Section Marker, is it possible to adjust the text alignment away from the horizontal dividing line separating the first and second rows of text? To my eye the appearance has always been too close and I have never been able to figure out how to adjust it.

Thanks, Scott

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:00:42 GMT

Scott,

I don't have AC14 so I cannot check the exact part. However, in AC12 the corresponding part does not have a native adjustment for the text placement. However, assuming it is scripted similarly in AC 14, you can open the marker. In the master script it should call a macro named "Sect-Elev Marker Macro USA". In the 2D script of the macro there is a subroutine 2000: that defines the text and it's location. You can add a term there and to the parameter table to accomplish what you are wanting.

Of course you will need to save both the part and macro as new object to your office library.

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

David Maudlin — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:01:18 GMT

Scott:

The location of the code is the same for Section Marker_NCS 14 as Erich described for the 12 version.

David

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:41:39 GMT

Erich/David,

Thanks guys for the direction. As a follow-up, I can open the part using File>L&O>Open Object and see the call within the Master Script. I do not see or know how to get to the Macro you mention. When searching for that macro, copies within exported libraries are returned, not the original macro. Please tell me how to get to the original.

Thanks again and Happy New Year!
Scott

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:16:41 GMT

Scott,

The easiest way to do this is to open the Marker part. Go to the master script. Highlight the macro name (do not include the quotes). Then go to the File > Libraries and Objects > Open Object. This will open the macro directly. You can then make your changes and save a a new macro object. Back in the original marker you will need to change the name of the macro call to match your newly named macro. Then save the marker object with a new name.

Let us know if you need further help.

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:47:53 GMT

Hey Erich,

Your description worked perfectly in accessing the Macro. I need a little help however deciphering the code, what changes (to make the first and second text lines in the marker move away from the center horizontal line) would you recommend to the sub-routine 2000 listed below here?

Thank you again for your year ending help. Scott

! ==============================================================================
! Marker text definition
! ==============================================================================

2000:
pen AC_TextPen_1

if text_readable & text_rotangle > 90 & text_rotangle <= 270 then

!switch styles
if text_anchor = 7 then style leftstyle
if text_anchor = 9 then style rightstyle

rot2 180
add2 0, -AC_TextSize_1
text2 0, -dsc, text_cont
del 2
else
text2 0, -dsc, text_cont
endif
return

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:33:05 GMT

Scott,

OK, you are most of the way there. Here is how I would do this (there are other ways as well):

1. Open the section marker and save under a new name.

2. Open the macro found in the Master Script and save under a new name.

3. In Marker parameter table add a new length parameter (I will call this "adj")

4. In the macro call, change the name of the macro (between the quotes) the the new macro name you just used.

5. In the macro call after the last line of the macro call (probably something like "elev_sect_mark_US_type = 1") add a comma then the line

adj = adj

6. In the Macro parameter table add the same length parameter you added to the Marker ("adj").

7. At or near the top of the 2D script (you could place this in the list of Marker Definitions) for the Macro add the following code

adj = adj*A_

8. Find the first instance of the code

GOSUB 2000

. Just before this line add the following

ii = 1

9. Just before the second instance of the code

GOSUB 2000

add the following

ii = -1

10. Then just before the third instance of the code

GOSUB 2000

add the following

ii = 1

11. In the 2000 subroutine (the one you listed) change both instances of the TEXT2 command to the following

TEXT2 0, -adj*ii-dsc, text_cont

12. Save both the macro and the section marker part. You should now have control over where the text appears relative to the dividing line.

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 16:53:35 GMT

Hey Erich,

I believe I executed your process correctly (repeating it to insure no mistakes). I found and entered all the code lines you describe. After saving and double checking, I reloaded the library with the new/re-saved section marker head. In the the new marker's selection settings, the 'adj' parameter correctly appears, however changing the associated value has no affect on the text location in the marker. The attached screenshot shows an excerpt from the parameter table (part and macro parameters are the same). Does that look correct?

Thank you for your help, Scott

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 01:37:51 GMT

Scott,

Your parameter table entry is not quite correct. Overwrite the automatic parameter where it says "SectionMar_A" to say "adj" (no quotes).

Where you put the word "adj" you can leave or change to something a user might better understand as this is what a user will see in the part settings.

Re-save both parts and things should work.

HTH

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 15:29:53 GMT

Erich,

Thank you, that worked in terms of moving both the upper and lower text in the same direction in unison. Very neat.

What I did not communicate though and is the desired result, that each line of text would move away from the horizontal dividing line, and away from each other equally. I am hopeful this can be accomplished without too much of your time.

Thank you again,
Scott

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:11:38 GMT

Scott,
This is accomplished by changing the value of the ii variable defined in the code. For one case it is defined as a value of positive 1 and in the other case as negative 1. If both texts are moving in the same direction then you are using the same sense in both cases.

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Scott Bulmer — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:49:44 GMT

Erich, that was it, it works!!!

Thank you so much. I don't know why GS does not include your coding with this part as without it, it does not look very good.

Much appreciated,
Scott

Re: Section Marker Head Text Alignment

Erich — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:58:46 GMT

Scott,

Perhaps a bit painful getting there but I am glad this worked for you in the end.