Annotation

The Text tool (Alt+T) allows you to label data in a view window with 2D text annotations . The text maintains its on-screen size and orientation, regardless of view orientation and zoom, so is always legible to the user.

1. On the Create tab, go to the Create group. From the Annotation drop-down list, select Text.

   

2. On the status bar, enter the text location then click (Accept content), or pick the location in the view window. You will then be prompted for the text.

   

3. Enter the required text then click (Accept content) or press Enter.

The text is saved in the cad container by default and is displayed in the active view window.

The 3D Text tool allows you to label data in a view window with 3D text annotations . Unlike the Text tool, 3D text is aligned to the action plane (see Action Plane) and rotated or zoomed like any other 3D object in the scene.

Tip:  Set the action plane before creating the text.

Note:  Rotating 3D text can cause it to flip directions in the view. The text creation tool provides orientation options to manage text directions.

1. On the Create tab, go to the Create group. From the Annotation drop-down list, select 3D Text.

   

   

2. Type in the required text.

3. Click in a location field and enter the information or click in the view window at the desired location for the Centre of the text.

   (Undefined variable: project.product-name-short) displays a preview of the 3D text.

4. Select the Orientation options for the best orientation of the text in relation to the action plane.

   Tip:  If you need a different orientation of the text, you can use the Freehand Rotate tool after creating it. See Transform.

5. (Optional) Select Fixed orientation to force the text to maintain its orientation with the view’s axes. If Fixed orientation is not selected, the text will flip automatically to maintain readability when you rotate the view.

   If Fixed orientation is selected, you can click Flip horizontally and/or Flip vertically to obtain the desired orientation.

6. Enter the required Line height for the text, or use the slider bar to set the value. The maximum possible text size is 2 m.

7. Click OK or Apply to complete.

The 3D text is stored in the cad container by default and is displayed in the active view window.

The Marker tool allows you to create markers or signs at strategic locations in the 3D scene, and add attachments relevant to those locations. The marker consists of a text label and a shape.

The attachments allow notes, reports, photographs, diagrams, and video files to be easily accessed from a marker, which acts as a visual cue within a 3D scene.

To create a marker, follow these steps:

1. On the Create tab, go to the Create group. From the Annotation drop-down list, select Marker.

   
   

2. Enter the Position for the marker or click in the view window.

3. Choose Orientation by entering values, dragging the slider, or clicking Orient sign to you.

4. Enter the text to be displayed at the marker location in the Label field.

5. Choose the desired Shape for the marker:

   

   Marker	Diamond	Cube
   Vertical sign	A-Frame sign	Three-sided sign
   Horizontal sign	Prone human	Upright human
   Camera	Compass rose

   Besides the standard markers available above, you can also create your own by selecting Custom from the bottom of the list.

   Note:  Before creating a custom marker you must create a custom surface (e.g. from a scan of a mine vehicle) that will be the marker’s shape. This facet network must be centred on the origin of the project (i.e. at coordinates (0,0,0)) and have no dimension longer than one unit of length in any direction. If necessary, translate the marker to the project origin and scale it down.

   When you select Custom, the Custom Geometry panel appears.

   

   Drag the surface object to be used as the marker shape into the Custom surface field then click OK.

   The following settings are also enabled:

   • Change custom surface...: To change the marker shape, click to re-open the Custom Geometry panel and drag in an alternative surface object.

   • Outline thickness: Set the marker’s outline thickness in pixels using either the slider or the data entry box.

   • Outline colour: Click the colour swatch and select an outline colour from the palette.

     Tip:  Double-click the colour swatch to access the Select a colour tool for more options.

   See also:  Markers in Python SDK help for more detailed instructions on creating markers.

6. Fade to 2D text or an image when zoomed out: Select one of the options to determine how the marker is visible as you zoom out:

   • None: The marker disappears.

   • 2D Text: The marker text is added to the view and remains visible.

   • Image: Browse to and select an image. The image becomes visible as the marker gets smaller in the view.

7. Enter a Size for the marker.

8. Enter an Elevation. This suspends the marker at a height above the selected position.

   Note:  Some markers have supporting 'poles' that will grow in height as you increase the elevation parameter.

9. (Optional) Change the Marker colour and Text colour.

10. (Optional) Choose a Destination container ( cad by default).

11. Click OK or Apply to complete the process.

The marker is saved in the destination container and displayed in the active view window.

Adding attachments

You can add attachments to a marker. An attachment can be any type of file. These attachments can also be opened and then viewed, provided Windows recognises the file type and has the appropriate viewer installed. Add attachments as follows:

1. Select the marker and click Attachments... in the Properties group of the Annotations ribbon or right-click the marker and select Attachments > Edit....



The Marker Attachment Editor opens.



2. Click to add attachments.

   A secondary panel labelled Add File opens.

   

3. Select to browse for files to attach.

4. Select the files and click Open in the Windows file explorer.

5. Click OK to attach the file to the marker.

6. Exit the Marker Attachment Editor.

The Dimension Line tool allows you to create dimension lines to annotate dimensions in the view window.

1. On the Create tab, go to the Create group. From the Annotation drop-down list, select Dimension line.

   
   

2. Enter the location for Point A (point to measure from), or click the starting point in the view window.

3. Enter the location for Point B (point to measure to), or click the end point in the view window.

   Tip:  You can use the action plane to assist in placing the dimension lines. Set the action plane and the text and offset of the dimension line will be drawn as close to the orientation of the action plane as the measurement points A and B allow.

   Note:  If using the mouse, the dimension line, text and stand-off distance are drawn dynamically while dragging the mouse, so you can see how it will be rendered.
   You can still follow the remaining steps if you wish to make further manual adjustments.

4. Specify the Label height.

5. (Optional) Choose whether to use a Fixed orientation label. If so, you can adjust the fixed position by clicking Flip horizontally and or Flip vertically. If fixed orientation is not selected, the label will automatically adjust orientation to remain readable as the view is changed.

6. Specify the Stand-off distance, which is the distance between the dimension label and the measurement location.

7. Click OK or Apply to complete.

The dimension line is created and stored in a secondary container in the cad container by default and is displayed in the active view window. Dimension lines consist of 3D text annotations and edge networks .

The dimension line and text are drawn dynamically while dragging the mouse.	The dimension line can be oriented using the action plane.

The Grade tool allows you to indicate grades (or slopes) at selected regions in the view window.

1. From the Annotation drop-down list, select Grade.

   Alternatively, from the Query tab, in the Geometry group click Grade.

   

2. Enter appropriate values into Point A and Point B data fields, or pick points between which the grade is to be measured and displayed in the view window.

   The grade will appear as text and an accompanying triangle indicating the vertical and horizontal distances between the points specified.

   

3. Set up and adjust the following aspects of the grade annotation display:
   • Label height: Input a value appropriate for the overall display.
   • Orient text: Select either vertically or horizontally, depending on which suits the main view angle being used.
   • Display the grade as: Select from an angle, a ratio, or a percentage according to your requirements.

4. Select OK or Apply to complete the process.

   The grade annotation is saved in a secondary container in the cad container by default, and is displayed in the active view window. A grade annotation consists of 3D text annotations and a right-triangle loop .

The Scale Bar tool allows you to add scale bars to view windows to provide a sense of scale when viewing data. Use the action plane as a reference for positioning.

1. On the Create tab, go to the Create group. From the Annotation drop-down list, select Scale bar.

   

Enter the Location coordinates, or click in the view window for the scale bar's location.

Tip:  You can use the action plane to assist in placing the scale bar. Set the action plane then the scale bar will be drawn as close to the orientation of the action plane as the location allows.

A representative scale bar will be displayed in the view window.

2. Specify the Length of the scale bar. To do this, you can either select a value from the Length drop-down or select Custom length, then enter a new value.

3. Select the preferred Scale bar style.

4. Select the Orientation for the scale bar. The options are with respect to the action plane.

5. Click OK or Apply to finish.

The scale bar is created and saved in the cad container by default and is displayed in the active view window.