Handling Annotation Leaders

This task shows you how to handle annotation leaders, by performing such operations as adding or removing a breakpoint, an extremity or an interruption. You will also learn how to move and position leader breakpoints.

Depending on the type of annotation the leader is associated with, not all operations described in this section will be available.

Handling Leaders

Create a text with a leader.

1. Right-click the yellow control point at the end of the leader. The leader's contextual menu is displayed.

2. Choose from the available options.

To add a breakpoint, select Add a Breakpoint.

Then, to remove this breakpoint, right-click on the breakpoint and select Remove a Breakpoint.

To add an extremity to an existing breakpoint, right-click on the breakpoint, select Add an extremity, and then click where you want to position the extremity.

Then, to remove this extremity, right-click on the additional extremity and select Remove Leader/Extremity.

You can add an extremity only in the case of a text or a welding symbol.

Clicking on the main leader extremity will remove the leader.

To add an interruption, select Add an Interruption and then, on the leader, click the two points between which you want to add the interruption.

Then, to remove this interruption, right-click on the leader yellow control point and select Remove Interruptions.

To remove the leader, select Remove Leader/Extremity.

To add an all around symbol, select All Around.

To modify the leader symbol shape, point to Symbol Shape. Then, select No Symbol if you do not want a symbol for the leader, or select the symbol you want from the available symbols.

You can remove the leader extremity symbol for all annotations.

3. You can also move the leader or any existing breakpoints by clicking a yellow control point and moving it using the mouse.

To move the annotation but not the leader, click the annotation and move it using the mouse.

To move the leader along with the annotation while making sure the leader keeps its original shape, select Rigid and then move the annotation.

	This functionality is available for texts, welding symbols, 2D components, tables and geometrical tolerances, but not for other annotation types.
	This functionality also applies when rotating the annotation text using the Free Rotation icon .


	Moving and Positioning Leader Breakpoints
	You can move and position leaders breakpoints easily, for all types of annotations. Leader breakpoints are moved and positioned using snapping (the leader is oriented perpendicular to the reference element).
	Go to `Tools -> Options-> Drafting -> Mechanical Design -> Annotation` tab . Make sure the `Activate snapping (Shift toggles)` option is selected. Then, click on the `Configure` button and select either `On orientation` or `Both`. Open the Move_Leaders.CATDrawing document. This document contains a text with leader and a balloon. Add a breakpoint to both annotations, as explained in the previous section.
	1. Move the text leader breakpoint with the mouse. You can position the leader breakpoint anywhere, and snapping is not used.

	2. Now, press the `Shift` key while moving the leader breakpoint with the mouse. The leader is snapped, and is positioned vertically or horizontally, or with the same orientation as the element to which it is attached.

	3. Release the `Shift` key and the mouse when you are satisfied with the position of the leader. 4. Move the balloon leader breakpoint with the mouse. You can position the leader breakpoint anywhere, and snapping is not used.

	4. Now, press the `Shift` key while moving the leader breakpoint with the mouse. The leader is snapped, and is positioned vertically or horizontally, which happens to be the same orientation as the element to which the leader is attached.

	5. Release the `Shift` key and the mouse when you are satisfied with the position of the leader. Both leaders are now positioned properly.

Handling Annotation Leaders

Handling Leaders

Moving and Positioning Leader Breakpoints