Placing and editing notes

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, and to connect the callout to an external notes database to place standard notes without retyping them each time they are used. If you use keynotes, a keynote legend is automatically created.

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

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. In this dialog box, you identify the database to be used. Select the individual note for each callout from the Callout dialog box after placement.
(Database button)	The current database file displays. To select a different database, click the database button. A sample database is located in the Vectorworks application folder: [Vectorworks]\Libraries\Defaults\Notes\Callouts.txt
Place As Keynote (Design Series required)	Creates a keynote with a keynote legend
Keynote Legend	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. The Default Legend is the keynote legend located on the current layer.
Keynote Prefix/Suffix	Specify the keynote prefix and suffix text, if desired.
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; select Auto to automatically align the text to the same side as the leader line 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
Auto Fit Bubble Width	Select to fit the bubble width to the text; deselect to set the same width for all bubbles
Max Bubble Width	If the bubble width isn’t set to automatically fit to the text, enter the maximum bubble width for all bubbles, in page units
Bubble Shadow	Select to draw the bubble with a drop shadow (does not apply to None, Bracket, ISO, or Vertical Accent Bar styles)
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; this parameter cannot be edited later in the Object Info palette)	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

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.

6. See The Callout dialog box for information on how to specify the callout text, and then click OK.

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

7. 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.

The Callout dialog box

The Callout dialog box sets the callout or keynote text, whether manually entered or selected from a database (Vectorworks Design Series required for keynote and database options).

This dialog box is also named the Edit Callout dialog box or Edit Note dialog box, depending on how it is accessed; it uses the same parameters to edit the text for an existing note.

Parameter	Description
Database (Design Series required)	Displays the current database file; if needed, select a different database from the list of available databases
Database Path Options	Opens the Database Path Options dialog box. Select whether to connect to the database with an absolute path or a path relative to the current document. Use the absolute path when the location of the referenced files with respect to the active file is not going to change. Use the relative path when the files might be moved to another computer or platform; as long as the relative path between the files remains the same, the referenced files can be found. All files must be saved on the same volume or server to select this option.
Database Name	Displays the name of the current database
Database Filter	Select a filter to display only items that match the filter criteria, or add to/edit the filter list; see Filtering database entries
Section in Database	Select the section in the database for selecting a note
Note Description in Database	All notes in the selected section that meet the filter criteria are listed. Select the note to use. Enter some or all of the word to search; the list is automatically filtered to display only items that match the text entered. The search is case-insensitive. To clear a search, click the X.
Callout Text	Enter the callout text; if the text comes from a database, the text displays.
Add Note to Database (Design Series required)	Opens the Add Note to Database dialog box; see Adding callout or general note text to a database
Notes Manager (Design Series required)	Opens the Notes Manager dialog box to manage the content and organization of the database; see Managing database notes

Mode	Description
Towards Target	Click first where the callout text is to be placed, and place the final click on the object to be annotated
Towards Text	Click first on the object to be annotated, and place the final click where the callout text is to be placed
Two Point	The length of the shoulder is determined in the callout preferences or in the Object Info palette
Three Point	The length of the shoulder is determined by clicking in the drawing area; this requires an additional click. For example, if Max Leader Line Points is set to 2, three clicks are required to place the object with a custom shoulder length, and if Max Leader Line Points is set to 5, six clicks are required.
Max Leader Line Points	Enter the maximum number of leader line points for this callout object. If the object has multiple leader lines, each line can have a different number of points. Double-click to end a leader line that has fewer than the maximum allowed number of points.
Preferences	Opens the Callout Preferences dialog box

Placing and editing notes

Inserting callouts or keynotes

The Callout dialog box