Adding Leaders and Using Breakpoints

You can combine leaders and breakpoints to extend the annotation's perimeter to another geometrical support. After adding a leader to an annotation, you can specify breakpoints and add extra leaders from breakpoints. You can also add 3D leaders or switch current 2D leaders to 3D to position them outside the annotation plane.

Important:

  • You can add a leader to any geometrical element that is associated with an annotation.

  • When defining a leader, you must select a support - a geometrical element that intersects in a point with the plane parallel to the annotation plane containing the annotation.

Before you begin: Open a 3D shape containing at least an annotation text with a leader.
  1. Right-click the annotation text and select Add Leader.


  2. From the Tools Palette, select the required type of the leader to be created.
    • 2D: lets you create a 2D leader in the current annotation plane.
    • 3D: lets you create a 3D leader with its arrow end at any selected position on the associated element with the annotation. The yellow diamond at the leader end is always parallel to the screen.
    • 2D/3D: lets you create a 2D leader in the current annotation plane or 3D leader with its arrow end at any selected position on the associated element with the annotation.
  3. To specify the arrow end of a leader, select a geometrical element as support, for example a face.
    • In the case of the 2D leader, you can select the yellow geometrical elements (point, line, or curve) displayed to represent the intersection between the geometrical elements associated with the annotation and the annotation plane.
    • In the case of a 3D leader, you can click anywhere in the work area.
    • In the case of a 2D or 3D leader, you can select the yellow geometrical elements (point, line, or curve) to create a 2D leader or click anywhere in the work area to create a 3D leader.
      Notes:
      • In the case of section views, you can choose the extreme point for leader at z=0 or z<0 positions.
      • In the case of section cuts, you can choose the section plane (z=0).

        The selection allowed is based on the specified preferences. For more information, see Dimension Default Position Along View Normal.



    The leader is created and appears in the work area.

  4. Optional: Drag the leader to the required location.
  5. To add a breakpoint, right-click the handle at the extremity of the arrow end and select Add a Breakpoint .
    The breakpoint is identified by as a yellow diamond in the work area.



  6. Optional: Select the breakpoint in the work area so as to drag the leader as required.


  7. To add a leader from a breakpoint, right-click the breakpoint and select Add an Extremity .
    Important:

    Add an Extremity is available only for Text and Flag Note annotations.

  8. To specify the arrow end of a leader, select a geometrical element as support, for example a face.



    The leader is created and appears in the work area.



    Notes:
    • When you add an extremity link, the extremity points cannot be moved but when you move the annotations, the leaders are adjusted accordingly.
    • When the breakpoint is added, according to the position of the breakpoint, the leader extremity is adjusted.