Handling Annotation Leaders

This task shows you how to do the following:
Depending on the type of annotation the leader is associated with, not all operations described in this section will be available.

Multi-selection restrictions:

  • For all operations described in the Handling Leaders section below (except for changing the symbol shape - see next comment), multi-selection is not taken into account. The operation will be performed only on the leader you right-click in the selection.
  • Changing the symbol shape behaves differently depending on whether one or several annotations in the selection have more than one leader:
    • if the leader you right-click is the only one in the annotation, then the symbol is applied to this leader and to all annotations which have only one leader.
    • if the leader you right-click is not the only one in the annotation, then the symbol is applied to this leader only.
 

About associative and non-associative annotations:

When you create an annotation, a type of leader is automatically set, provided the standard files have not been modified. If you choose the Automatic option, a default symbol will be used, depending on the standard type, on the annotation type, and on whether the leader is associated to an element or not:

  • If the leader is associated to an element:
    • Unfilled arrow for ANSI / ASME
    • Open arrow for ISO / JIS
  • If the leader is not associated to an element:
    • Unfilled circle for ANSI / ASME
    • Filled circle for ISO / JIS
 

Handling Leaders
Create a text with a leader.

  1. Right-click the yellow control point at the end of the leader. The leader's contextual menu is displayed.

  2. Choose from the available options.

    • To add a breakpoint, select Add a Breakpoint. Then, to remove this breakpoint, right-click the breakpoint and select Remove a Breakpoint.

    • To add an extremity to an existing breakpoint, right-click the breakpoint, select Add an extremity, and then click where you want to position the extremity.

      You can add an extremity only in the case of a text or a welding symbol.

      Then, to remove this extremity, right-click additional extremity and select Remove Leader/Extremity.

      Clicking on the main leader extremity will remove the leader.

    • To add an interruption, select Add an Interruption and then, on the leader, click the two points between which you want to add the interruption. Then, to remove this interruption, right-click the leader yellow control point and select Remove Interruptions.

      Any existing interruption will be removed from the leader when adding or removing breakpoints.

    • To remove the leader, select Remove Leader/Extremity.

    • To add an all around symbol, select All Around.

    • To modify the leader symbol shape, point to Symbol Shape. Then, select No Symbol if you do not want a symbol for the leader, or select the symbol you want from the available symbols.

      You can remove the leader extremity symbol for all annotations.

  3. You can also move the leader or any existing breakpoints by clicking a yellow control point and moving it using the mouse.

    • To move the annotation but not the leader, click the annotation and move it using the mouse.

    • To move the leader along with the annotation while making sure the leader keeps its original shape, select Rigid and then move the annotation.

      • This functionality is available for texts, welding symbols, 2D components, tables and geometrical tolerances, but not for other annotation types.
      • This functionality also applies when rotating the annotation text using the Free Rotation icon .

 

Moving and Positioning Leader Breakpoints

You can move and position leaders breakpoints easily, for all types of annotations. Leader breakpoints are moved and positioned using snapping (the leader is oriented perpendicular to the reference element).
Go to Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Drafting > Annotation and Dress-up tab. Make sure the Snap by default (SHIFT toggles) option is selected. Then, click the Configure snapping button and, in the dialog box which is displayed, select either According to leader orientation or Both.

Open the Move_Leaders.CATDrawing document. This document contains a text with leader and a balloon. Add a breakpoint to both annotations, as explained in the previous section.

  1. Move the text leader breakpoint with the mouse. You can position the leader breakpoint anywhere, and snapping is not used. 

  2. Now, press the Shift key while moving the leader breakpoint with the mouse. The leader is snapped, and is positioned vertically or horizontally, or perpendicular to the element to which it is attached.

  3. Release the Shift key and the mouse when you are satisfied with the position of the leader.

  4. Move the balloon leader breakpoint with the mouse. You can position the leader breakpoint anywhere, and snapping is not used.

  5. Now, press the Shift key while moving the leader breakpoint with the mouse. The leader is snapped, and is positioned vertically or horizontally, which happens to be the same orientation as the element to which the leader is attached.

  6. Release the Shift key and the mouse when you are satisfied with the position of the leader.
    Both leaders are now positioned properly.