Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Text

Anonymous
Not applicable
I used the text label tool in the viewmap for a wall section at 3/4"=1'-0". It looks good. I use the text label tool in the view map for an exterior elevation at 1/8"=1'-0" and the text is huge. Settings: in text label, point size is 7. In text tool point size is 21 and scalability is set to fixed. I understand this is my problem but don't understand how to fix it and what is the best practice moving forward?
5 REPLIES 5
TomWaltz
Participant
Ideally there is a LOT less detailed text on the 1/8" scale elevation than there is at the 3/4" scale level. As a result, the larger text (compared to the building size) balances with the smaller amount of it.
Tom Waltz
Anonymous
Not applicable
So I haven't done anything wrong I just haven't done it the ideal way. Is this correct?

It seems as though this is the same model/paper space argument in AutoCAD, do you annotate in model space creating a different text style for each possible scale or do you create one text size for each need, (titles vs body text) and annotate in paper space. I prefer the paper space route so how do I accomplish this in ArchiCAD 10?
TomWaltz
Participant
It sounds like you're doing something that goes against normal architectural practice, trying to place a lot of notes on a small scale drawing. Part of drafting is making sure that the drawings are neat, consistent, and legible, which is what scale, view selection, and page layout is all about. Yes, there are different text styles for different purposes (notes vs titles) for exactly that purpose. Part of order is hierarchy.

I would not recommend using layouts (paper space) to place notes in Archicad. It seems silly to make a bunch of changes to a section then have to update the layouts and move the notes around to match when you could do them all in one view. There is also no way to dimension to the viewport content without faking all the text.
Tom Waltz
Anonymous
Not applicable
thank you! Do the settings in the Text tool affect the appearance in the text label tool? And finally, it seems as though ArchiCAD won't allow me to use 1 text height, 7pt for example throughout the whole set when we are talking about text labels. I need to change the height of the label based on the scale of the output. Your comment of too many notes on too small of a dwg is accurate but what I am getting now is that at half inch scale, my text is still different then at 3 qtr inch scale. I don't want that. Can I control it with the label tool?
TomWaltz
Participant
Text and Label are two different tools. The settings for one will not affect the other. The Label Tool is tricky because there are different settings for labeling different elements.

Personally, I stay away from the Label Tool for notes and only use it for wall tags, door numbers, etc. because it does not allow enough control of the leaders. (I just use a polyline with an arrow. It's more steps but it allows me the flexibility needed)
Tom Waltz