Free

Draw > Text > Free tab

In this Text dialog tab you can create and pace free text. Place any text anywhere in plain or TTF (TrueType) text style.

Type in and mark up the text in the text area. Any text inserted here is automatically previewed in the graphical window. The preview of the text is shown in the graphical window at the current control position. Use the snapping functionality to reposition the current control.

You can also browse for a text file that contains the desired text. See Using text from a text file below for details.

Click OK to place your text and close the dialog.

Click Insert to place your text, and remain in the dialog to create a new text. The preview of the new text is shown just below the previously inserted text.

TTF text

Select TTF to create a TTF text instead of plain text.

When TTF is selected, the following additional text properties become available:

  • Font – For TTF text you can select a true type font and apply bold, italic, or lined text style.

    The Lined style text is created as line vectors. Normally the TTF text is created as faces. Use this option if you want to convert the TTF text to plate.

  • Accuracy – Defines the accuracy of the TTF text. This is a number between 1 and 10. To create TTF text that has less contour points, decrease the accuracy.

Using text from a text file

You can select a text file and load its content into the text area. Browse for the file, or type in the path of the file. Supported file formats are *.txt and *.dat.

After modifying the content of a file in the text area, the changes are automatically saved into the file when you click Insert or OK.

It is also possible to save to an existing text file by typing in a path and file name. If the specified file does not exist, the system will ask if the file should be created.

When using the plain (non-TTF) text style, a link exists between the text and the text file. This ensures that when the content of the file is changed, the text placed in the graphical window also changes as soon as the window is refreshed. Such a link does not exist for the TTF text style.