Intellitext

mineCAD has incorporated an intelligent text system that allows the insertion of variable text values into a project.  For example, the current Date, Time, Author (etc.) can be automatically inserted in a Titleblock using the Intellitext capabilities.  

An Intellitext Block is created by the placement of an Intellitext Tag onto text entities within a block.  An Intellitext Tag is placed on a text entity via the Label Property of the entity, and is of the form %Tag%.  The system reads these tags on insertion of the block into a project file and, where applicable, updates them with dynamic information.  Intellitext is similar to AutoCAD block attributes.

To include Intellitext entities in a project file, it is necessary to first create a block file containing the Intellitext entities, and then to insert this block into the project file using the Insert | Block function.  For a step-by-step explanation on creating and inserting an intellitext block, please refer to the Intellitext Tutorial.

Creating the Block File

A new file should first be opened in the mineCAD design window, and a text entity must be created using either of the Draw | Text commands. 

Note that when adding a Label Property to a text entity that will be inserted as a block, the actual text used to create the entity (i.e. the contents of the Text String Property field) is irrelevant - it will be replaced with whatever text is entered in the Label field upon insertion. 

Once the text entity has been created, the user must open the Modify Properties dialog for the entity - most easily done by double-clicking on the entity.  Locating the Label entry and typing a % character in the field will prompt the Intellitext window.  This window contains a listing of the valid Intellitext options, allowing the user to select a Tag option, rather than enter it manually, which ensures that the label is of a valid format.  Examples of the resultant formats are also provided to assist the user in selecting the correct Tag option.

Once the correct Label has been assigned to the text entity, the changes should be Applied, and the dialog Closed.  The file should then be saved with an appropriate filename - a name that is representative of the inserted block it will become is recommended.

Inserting the Intellitext Block

The project file into which the block file is to be inserted should now be opened in the mineCAD design window. 

Select the Insert | Block function and select the Create From File toggle in the dialog.  Use the browser button to locate the block file created above and select OK. 

The user will be requested to select an Insertion Point for the block - left-clicking in the design window at the desired location will insert the block.

Points to note when using Intellitext: 

• Tags are not case sensitive - %TAG% is the same as %tag%. 
• Tags may be used together in order to produce a line of required text - e.g. entering %MineCADUsername% - %Date0% in the Label field of a block will produce Joe Bloggs - 14/02/2002 in the design window.
• Intellitext entries in an inserted block can be edited by double-clicking on the block.   If valid intellitext tags are found, this will open the Intellitext dialog, as shown below.  Note:  If intellitext tags do not exist or are not of a valid format, this action will have no effect on the design window. 

• If an Intellitext block contains multiple text entities, and one or more of these entities has not been given a Label Property, then it is considered normal text and CANNOT be altered as part of the block file.  (Note:  It is possible to edit these text entities by locating and editing the source file inserted as the block.)

Intellitext Tag Values

Related Topics

Intellitext Tutorial

Write Block File

Insert Block