Text Mask for Dims & MLeaders

I recently learned this great tip and am eager to share it here.

Adding text masking to Text & MText is easy in 2011 but many people just give up when it comes to adding them to Dimensions or MultiLeaders. Here’s how:

1) Before starting – Use one of the DRAWORDER commands to make sure that the dimension/MLeader is at the front.

the TEXTTOFRONT command will bring all text objects including Mleaders and Dimensions to the front
The HATCHTOBACK command will send all hatches to the back of the drawing order.

2) Select the dimension or multi-leader > Right-Click > Select Properties

Once in the Properties Palette, scroll down and find the “Background mask” button. It will say “No.” Simply click on “No” and choose “Yes” from the drop-down list and close the properties palette.

Now, your Dimensions and MultiLeaders can be easily read when the are in a hatch or are overlapping an object.

~enjoy!!

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This blog serves as a knowledge base for myself (and anyone else) so that I can reference tips & tricks that I have learned and also refer others to it as well. I hope that this blog helps you learn at least one tip to make your drafting/design experience better.

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(defun C:UNMTMASK (/ SS N) (vl-load-com) (setq SS (ssget "x" '((0 . "mtext"))) N 0 ) (if SS (repeat (sslength SS) (vla-put-backgroundfill (vlax-ename->vla-object (ssname SS N)) 0 ) (setq N (1+ N)) ) ) (princ) )

8 Responses to Text Mask for Dims & MLeaders

Pingback: AutoLISP: Background Text Mask (Mtext Only) | AutoCAD Tips
Stef says:

April 19, 2012 at 5:45 PM

Excellent hint – can background masking be set easily to on as the default for all textual objects? If so, how?

- AutoCAD Tips says:
  
  April 21, 2012 at 10:54 PM
  
  Without using a lisp routine I don’t know if this is possible because if you select a text object and then use the SELECTSIMILAR command for example, it will select all similar text objects regardless of whether or not they have text masks applied. The same is true for the QSELECT and FILTER commands.
  
  I will look around and see if I have anything for this
  
  - AutoCAD Tips says:
    
    April 21, 2012 at 11:10 PM
    
    I did find a possible problem with trying to implement a Toggle that would allow you to toggle the wipeouts on or off. Once you turn them off the wipeouts are actually deleted and so if you want to turn them back on again, there is no way to un-erase them.
    
    I was a ble to find the following line of code that will search the drawing and create a selection set of wipeouts. Although, that is all that it does. It’s up to you to use a command to modify them…
    
    (sssetfirst nil (ssget “_X” ‘((0 . “WIPEOUT”))))
AutoCAD Tips says:

April 21, 2012 at 11:14 PM
ok – so i found a routine that will make a selection set of the wipouts and then delete them:
```
(defun C:UNMTMASK (/ SS N)
(vl-load-com)
(setq SS (ssget "x" '((0 . "mtext")))
N 0
)
(if SS
(repeat (sslength SS)
(vla-put-backgroundfill
(vlax-ename->vla-object (ssname SS N))
0
)
(setq N (1+ N))
)
)
(princ)
)
```
- Stef says:
  
  April 22, 2012 at 5:24 PM
  
  Thanks for the response. Whilst “background mask” IS a selectable property for mtext and multi-leader text, it is NOT an available property for dtext!! And it seems that the default setting of “off” for text masking cannot therefore be altered to “on” and saved in a template for future use. One has therefore to ensure text is created with either of the former two text options, selected (filter or Select similar) and then the masking property set to “on”.
  
Tim Braden says:

November 10, 2014 at 3:27 PM

I created a program to insert nomenclature on a line. eg. HWS. The text is placed automatically on the line layer, same angle as the line, & a particular color. Unfortunately, it cuts the line to allow the text to be seen. I would like to use mtext with a mask so the line is never cut. Basically, mtext command, placed on a line, on the correct layer & angle as the line, & masked. I would like to do this in (1) program instead of going thru my program, or all the steps to make it work. I had many problems with masking text as the mask box doesnot change shape to accommodate the changing of the text, say from 4 characters to 6. any tips what I can do?

Tim B.

- AutoCAD Tips says:
  
  November 11, 2014 at 5:00 PM
  
  I would like to see the code if possible – My email is greg.battin@gmail.com
  
  In the mean time – check out what this post on using multileaders with a frame (without the leader and also using a wipeout… The only downside it that it retains the frame.
  
  https://autocadtips.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/autocad-self-adjusting-text-frame-using-multileaders/
  
  I will dig around and see what I have or can come up with until then.
  
  Thanks
  ~Greg