Working with Columns in Multiline Text

Drawings may contain various descriptions for which longer texts might be required. For clarity and space saving, longer text can be split into columns.

When using the Note command, the Columns option for the Note editor lets you organize text into customizable columns.

You can select one of the following column options:

• Dynamic Columns. Determines the number of columns based on the specified column width and gap. The height can be automatically or manually set.

• Static Columns. Creates a specified number of columns with the specified column width, gap, and height.

• No Columns. Creates the multiline text entity, without columns.

You can also use the MTEXTCOLUMN system variable to set the column type.

You can change the size of the columns using the Column options on the Note Formatting toolbar and column grip points.

You can manually break text into columns while typing by pressing Alt + Enter simultaneously.

To enable text columns:

1. Do one of the following:

   • Click Tools > Options (or type Options).

     In the Options dialog box, click System Options.

   • Type SystemOptions.

2. Expand General.

3. Expand Note Editor and click Enable multi-columns.

To format text into multiple columns:

1. In the graphics area, select an existing note and press Enter to edit it.

2. On the Edit Note pop-up toolbar, click Columns.

3. Specify one of the options:

   • Dynamic Columns. Determines the number of columns based on the specified column width and gap.

     • Auto Height. Uses the height of the note for all columns. The height can be modified using a single grip point.

     • Manual Height. Uses the height of the note for columns. The height of each note can be modified separately with an individual grip point.

   • Static Columns. Creates a specified number of columns with the specified column width, gap, and height.

     Pick a number of columns from the drop-down list or click More to specify another number in the Column Settings dialog box.

     Use the No Columns option to organize the note in a single block of text.

   Alternatively, you can specify the column type by clicking Column Settings on the drop-down list.

Column Settings Dialog Box

The Column Settings dialog box groups options for formatting notes into columns.

Column Type

Groups options for specifying the method to split the text into columns.

Dynamic Columns

Determines the number of columns based on the specified column width and gap between columns.

• Auto Height. Uses the height of the note for all columns. The height can be modified using a single grip point.

• Manual Height. Uses the height of the note for columns. The height of each note can be modified separately with an individual grip point.

Static Columns

Creates a specified number of columns with the specified column width, gap, and height.

No Columns

Creates the multiline text entity as a single block of text.

Settings

Groups the options to specify the column size and the distance between the columns. Options include height, width, gap, and the total width.

To display the Column Settings dialog box:

1. On the Edit Note pop-up toolbar, click Columns.

2. Click Column Settings.

   The Column Settings dialog box appears.

Column Grip Points

Column grip points let you manually modify the size and position for text columns and notes in the graphics area.

Grip point	Description
Note location	Moves the note
Note height	Controls the height of the note. If the note uses dynamic columns with the Manual Height option, each column has its own height grip point
Note width	Controls the gap between columns to increase or decrease note width. This grip point is located in the upper right corner of the note.
Note height and width	Controls the note height and width
Column width	Modifies the width for all columns. This grip point is located in the upper right cornern of the first column.

Related Topics

Creating Notes