SolidWorks® 2007 Bible

Chapter 22. Using Annotations and Symbols

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Using notes

• Using blocks

• Using symbols

• Using center marks and centerlines

• Tutorial: Using annotations

Annotations and symbols are a major component of communicating a design through a drawing. SolidWorks has several options available to help you manage these entities to make engineering drawings look good and communicate effectively.

Using Notes

The workflow for placing notes

Sometimes users have difficulty working through some of the interfaces in SolidWorks. This is not necessarily the fault of the software, but is often because users may not fully understand how the workflow of a particular feature is supposed to function. The Model View interface from the last chapter is one that can be confusing until you have been through it a few times and gain a more intuitive feel for how it works.

Understanding the workflow is paramount to being able to use the software efficiently. I sometimes find myself using the Annotations clumsily, and sometimes wind up with blank notes, double notes, or extra lines at the ends of notes. After using the tool a few times, I get back in the groove.

For these reasons, I have added some step-by-step suggestions here to help you establish expectations that will enable you to use a fast workflow with annotations.

Follow these steps to create a note:

1. Click the Note toolbar button on the Annotations toolbar.

2. Click ...