Annotation Scale (OBJECTSCALE, ANNOALLVISIBLE)

What it does

An annotative object is displayed only when the current annotation scale matches a scale assigned to it. Use this when you plot a drawing at several scales.

Where to find it

• Status bar: the Annotation scale box (1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, 1:500, 1:1000, 2:1, 5:1)
• Ribbon: Annotate › Styles › Add Object Scale

Steps

1. Choose an annotation scale on the Status bar, for example 1:10.
2. Select the text or dimensions.
3. Click Add Object Scale (or type OBJECTSCALE ADD).
4. Check the result with OBJECTSCALE LIST.

Try it: Workshop floor plan at two scales

One 8 x 5 m workshop plan, two printouts. At 1:50 you want every machine named; at 1:100 only the room title fits. Annotative text shows the right labels at each scale on its own.

1. Walls: REC 0,0, then 8000 Tab 5000 Enter. Machine footprints, also with REC: lathe 600,3600 → 1800 Tab 800, mill 3200,3600 → 1200 Tab 900, drill 5400,3800 → 700 Tab 700, workbench 600,600 → 2400 Tab 900.
2. Machine labels: DT with Text height 200. Type LATHE at about 700,3200, MILL at 3300,3200, DRILL at 5400,3400 and WORKBENCH at 700,1700.
3. Room title: DT with Text height 400, WORKSHOP 8 x 5 m at about 1400,2300.
4. Set the Annotation scale box on the Status bar to 1:50. Select the four machine labels and type OBJECTSCALE ADD. With no number it uses the current scale, so they now belong to 1:50.
5. Select the room title and type OBJECTSCALE ADD 100.
6. Switch the Status bar between 1:50 and 1:100. The machine labels appear only at 1:50 and the title only at 1:100. OBJECTSCALE LIST confirms the scales of the selected text.

Challenge: Type ANNOALLVISIBLE ON to see every label at once while you edit, then ANNOALLVISIBLE OFF to go back.

See also

• DIMSTYLE
• Units and system variables