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Manual / Dimension & Annotation

Text Tools (ARCTEXT, TALIGN, TCOUNT, FIND ...)

Arc-shaped text, align text to a line, number text, justify, find/replace, and spell check.

What it does

Command Alias Format Meaning
ARCTEXT AT ARCTEXT [s=degrees] [e=degrees] [p=degrees/character] [sp=multiplier] [h=height] <text> Places text curved along a circle/arc
TALIGN TA, ALIGNTEXT – Rotates the selected text parallel to a clicked line and places it on the line
TEXTALIGN – – The AutoCAD name for TALIGN
TCOUNT TC TCOUNT [start] [step] [p=prefix] [s=suffix] [pick] [over] Numbers the selected text in reading order (top to bottom). pick = in the order you selected. over = replace the existing text
JUSTIFYTEXT JT JUSTIFYTEXT <Left|Center|Right> Changes the justification point without moving the text
FIND – FIND <word> [replacement] Finds text (selects what it finds) or replaces it
SPELL – – Checks for words commonly misspelled in drawings, repeated words, double spaces, and unbalanced brackets
TEXTTOFRONT TTF TEXTTOFRONT [Text|Dim|Both] Brings text/dimensions in front of Hatch

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Annotate › Text & Tables › Arc Text / Align Text / Number Text

ARCTEXT steps

  1. Type AT s=150 e=30 MCAD 2026 and press Enter.
  2. ARCTEXT: click the arc/circle to wrap onto Click the circle.

The text MCAD 2026 curved along a circle
The text MCAD 2026 curved along a circle

TCOUNT steps

  1. Select the text objects you want to number.
  2. Type TCOUNT 1 1 p=X1: over and press Enter. The result is X1:1, X1:2, ...

Text numbered with TCOUNT
Text numbered with TCOUNT

Note: SPELL does not include a full English dictionary. It checks only words that are commonly misspelled in drafting (for example TOLERENCE, DIAMTER) and errors it can prove.

Try it: Hand-Off-Auto selector legend

The round legend plate that sits behind a 22 mm selector switch on a pump panel, with HAND, OFF and AUTO curved over the top. ARCTEXT does the curve in one line.

  1. Plate: C 0,0 radius 30. Hole for the switch: C 0,0 radius 11.25.
  2. Guide circle for the text: C 0,0 radius 22.
  3. Type AT s=150 e=30 h=5 HAND OFF AUTO and press Enter.
  4. At ARCTEXT: click the arc/circle to wrap onto, click the guide circle (for example at 0,22). The words run from 150° round to 30° across the top.
  5. Erase the guide circle with E if you do not want it engraved (it is shown dashed in the picture).

Round selector legend with HAND OFF AUTO curved over the top
Round selector legend with HAND OFF AUTO curved over the top

Challenge: Replace s=150 e=30 with p=12 to get a fixed 12° per character, handy when several plates must look identical.

See also