Create and Edit Labels and Label Templates

Links provide a powerful mechanism for associating external data with program graphical
objects. By selecting linked objects, you can readily access their associated records
in the database table. Links do, however, have some inherent limitations. Suppose,
for example, that you wanted to print a drawing and include the external data associated
with individual links. Because the links are merely pointers to the external database
table, the external data would not appear in your printed drawing. For those occasions
when you want a visible representation of external data in a drawing, the program
provides labels.

Labels are multiline text objects that display data in a drawing from selected fields
stored in an external database table.

The labels that you create in the program can be freestanding, or they can be attached
to a graphical object. Freestanding labels exist in the drawing independent of any
graphical objects. Labels that are attached to a graphical object are tightly connected
with it. If you move the graphical object, the label moves with it. If you copy the
object to the Clipboard, the label is also copied. If you delete an object that has
an attached label, the label is deleted as well. Labels associated with graphical
objects are displayed with a leader.

To work with labels, you must first create a label template that defines what fields
from the database table are displayed in the label and how the label text is formatted.

Edit Label Templates

After defining a label template, you might have cause to edit it. For example, you
may decide that you want additional database table fields to be displayed in your
drawings, or that you want to change the font or size of the label object. You can
also specify a number of offset settings that affect the insertion point of labels
and, in the case of attached labels, their associated leader objects.

The Label Offset tab of the Label Template dialog box specifies X and Y coordinate offset values for labels and leader objects. The following table summarizes
the effect these settings have on both freestanding and attached labels.

Edit Labels

Once you have created labels, you can edit and manipulate them in a variety of ways.
Labels and their leaders can be moved and resized using standard commands such as
COPY, MOVE, and SCALE. It is important to note that changes made to individual label
instances do not affect or redefine the label template.