Making an Existing Annotation Associative

This task shows you how at any time and once an annotation has been created, you can add a link between an annotation and another element. You can add two different types of links:

Elements that can be Linked to Annotations

  The elements that can be linked to annotations are listed below:
  • Annotations
    • text
    • datum feature
    • datum target
    • balloon
    • geometrical tolerance
    • roughness symbols
    • weld symbols
    • table
  • Dimensions
  • 2D elements
    • points
    • circles
    • ellipse
    • parabola
    • hyperbola

In a Generative Drafting context:

  • Generative edges

Positional Link  
Positional links create a link between the annotation and another element. When the reference element moves, annotation moves with it. You can create positional links for every type of annotation. There are two types of positional links:
  • Flexible positional links: The relative position between the annotation and the reference element can be modified by direct annotation manipulation.
  • Rigid positional links: The annotation cannot be moved manually relative to the reference element.
Open the Brackets_views03.CATDrawing document. Create a text.

  1. Click Select .

  2. Right-click any part of the text (text itself, frame or leader) and select Positional Link> Create.

  3. Select the element to which you want the text's position to be linked.

    A flexible positional link is created. If you now select the linked element and drag it in the drawing, you can notice that the text follows this element. You can move the annotation relative to the selected reference element.

  4. Right-click any part of text again and select Positional Link> Rigid.
    The positional link becomes rigid. The annotation cannot be moved relative to the selected reference element.
    To create a rigid positional link by default, select the relevant check boxes in Tools > Options > Mechanical Design > Drafting > Annotation and Dress-Up tab. For more information see Customizing : Annotation and Dress-Up.
    For the other annotation types (refer to Elements that can be Linked to Annotations above) flexible annotation links are initially created.

  5. To replace the reference geometry, right-click the text and select Positional Link> Replace. Select the new reference element. If you now select the new linked element and drag it in the drawing, you will notice that the text follows this element.

  6. To remove the positional link, right-click the text again, and select Positional Link> Delete.

Orientation Link

You can create orientation links for texts, texts with leader and roughness symbols.

  1. Right-click the text and select Orientation Link> Create.

  2. Select the element to which you want the text's orientation to be linked.

    The orientation link is created. If you now select the linked element and modify its orientation, you will notice that the text's orientation is modified simultaneously.
 

More About Positional and Orientation Links
 

Positional Links
 

  • If you create a link between an annotation and a dimension system, remember that the link can only be made on a single dimension of the system.

  • In a Generative Drafting context, certain types of generated elements (such as Pipe elements) are not associative. For this reason, positional links between an annotation and such elements is not taken into account.

  • If you copy an annotation and paste it on an element that can be linked to an annotation (refer to Elements that can be Linked to Annotations above), an associative link is automatically created between the pasted annotation and this element.

  • The rigid character of positional links created on text, table or geometrical tolerance bodies depends on options selected in the settings (Tools > Options) using creations commands and the copy paste operations.

  • When the annotation is isolated the positional link is removed, irrespective of whether it is rigid or not.

  • Flexible positional link of roughness symbols have a peculiar behavior. The relative position of roughness can be modified while the distance between the roughness symbol and the reference element remains unchanged. This allows the annotation to slide along a line and turn around a point or a circle.

  • Annotation positional links created in pre-R19 versions are flexible positional links.

  • Annotations created in Functional Tolerancing and Annotations workbench do not support creation of rigid positional links when views are generated from it.
 

Orientation Links
 

  • In a Generative Drafting context, certain types of generated elements (such as Pipe elements) are not associative. For this reason, positional links between an annotation and such elements is not taken into account.

  • Creating orientation link between the text and the reference activates the orientation link when a reference is provided during text creation. This option can be inverted by pressing the shift key during reference selection. Notice that this option requires the snapping to be on, with a snapping mode that includes orientation snapping.