Notes Management without Databases

Inserting Callouts or Keynotes

The Callout tool places callout objects to annotate items in a drawing. A callout object is a block of text attached to one or more leader lines with an optional bubble surrounding the text.

In the Vectorworks Design Series products, the Callout tool includes extended capabilities which allow it to be used for keynotes. If you use keynotes, a keynote legend is automatically created.

A keynote can be used without a database as described in this section, or in conjunction with an external notes database (see Placing Database Callouts).

To create a callout or (for Vectorworks Design Series products) a keynote:

1. Click the tool and then click Preferences.

2. The Callout Preferences dialog box opens. Specify the default settings for callouts or keynote objects during this session. You can edit these settings later from the Object Info palette, and make additional edits as described in Editing the Callout.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Text Options
Get Text from Database (Design Series required)	In the Vectorworks Design Series products, the Callout tool can be used in conjunction with an external notes database; see Placing Database Callouts for information on using a notes database.
Place As Keynote (Design Series required)	Creates a keynote with keynote legend. Specify the keynote prefix and suffix text, if desired. Keynote legends are layer-specific; one legend is created per layer. However, a callout placed as a keynote can be associated with a keynote legend on any layer. Select the legend for the callout from the Keynote Legend list in the Callout Preferences dialog box or the Object Info palette of a selected keynote. The Default Legend is the keynote legend located on the current layer.
Text Angle	Specifies the angle of text rotation; certain angles may not be available, depending on the text’s Horizontal Position settings
Max. Text Width	Indicates the maximum text width before text wraps; if the text string is shorter than maximum width, the bubble sizes to fit the text. Rotated text cannot restrict the maximum text width.
Vertical Position	Sets the vertical position of the text relative to the shoulder; select Auto to align the top text line to the shoulder if the leader is on the left, or to align the bottom text line to the shoulder if the leader is on the right
Horizontal Position	Sets the horizontal position of the text relative to the shoulder; select Auto to position the text to the right if the leader is on the left, or to the left if the leader is on the right
Horizontal Text Alignment	Specifies the alignment of the callout text. Alternatively, select Text > Alignment or Text > Format Text and select an alignment option.
Format Text	Opens the Format Text dialog box, to set text attributes or select a text style
Bubble Options
Bubble Style	Select the type of bubble to draw around the callout text or keynote number. To place callout text both above and below the line in the Split Circle Bubble Style, press Enter between the lines of text.
RR Corner Radius	For Round Rect bubble styles, sets the corner radius
Text Margin	Sets the distance between the bubble and the text
Bubble Shadow	Select to draw the bubble with a drop shadow (does not apply to None, Bracket, ISO, or Vertical Accent Bar styles)
(Bubble) Shadow Settings	If Bubble Shadow is selected, opens the Bubble Shadow Settings dialog box, for specifying bubble shadow edge and fill attributes; see Specifying Callout or Keynote Legend Bubble Shadow Settings
Leader Options
Max Leader Line Points (Callout Preferences dialog box only)	Sets the maximum number of leader line points for this callout object. If the object has multiple leader lines, the lines can have different numbers of points; double-click to end a leader line that has fewer than the maximum number of points. This parameter can also be set or changed from the Tool bar.
Shoulder Length	Sets the length of the line between the text and the start of the leader; can be changed by moving a control point or from the Object Info palette. In Three Point mode, this length is set by the third mouse click.
Leader Type	Select Line, Arc, Bézier, or None; curved leader lines contain additional control points for controlling the curve shape
Leader Radius	For arc leader types, specifies the arc radius
Marker	Select a marker style from the marker style list, or select Custom to create a custom marker. Select Edit Marker List to open the Edit Marker List dialog box; see Editing the Marker List.
Extend Shoulder	Select to extend the shoulder line to the end of the note text rather than to the edge of the bubble. This option has no effect on the callout object if other settings otherwise dictate the shoulder appearance, such as when Vertical Position is Above Shoulder or Leader Type is None.
Other Options
Apply Settings to New Callouts in	Select whether these callout preferences should apply to new callouts or keynotes in this file only or globally, to all future files

3. Click OK to set the callout or keynote preferences.

4. Click the applicable insertion modes, and then click in the drawing to set the insertion point of the callout or keynote object.

Depending on the mode, the first click defines the leader shoulder or the leader endpoint.

 

5. Continue clicking to set vertices and shape the leader line, as many times as permitted by the Max Leader Line Points value; double-click on the final point if this leader line requires fewer than the maximum number of points. The final click sets either the leader endpoint or leader shoulder, depending on the mode.

In Three Point mode, you can custom set the shoulder length by clicking in the drawing area; this requires one additional click.

 

The Notes Manager: Callout dialog box opens. Enter the callout or keynote legend text; text wraps if longer than the specified maximum text width. Press Enter to add a line in the text.

The callout or keynote is placed in the drawing; if a keynote is placed, a keynote legend object is also created.

 

6. To add leader lines, and to set the attributes for the various parts of the callout object, use the Object Info palette, as described in Editing a Callout Object.

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Editing a Callout Object

Editing Keynote Callouts and the Keynote Legend

Formatting Text

Specifying Callout or Keynote Legend Bubble Shadow Settings

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