Creating Symbol Annotations
You can place 2-D symbols containing graphical entities and text.
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Combined states Any
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Types Custom
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Palette
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Placement Free Annotation Plane
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Model Surface
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With Leaders
Figure 1 - Symbol on Model Surface
Figure 2 - Symbol Moved to Dimension Plane
Figure 3 - Symbol Placed With Leaders
Creating Symbol Annotations
Figure 1 - Symbol on Model Surface
Figure 2 - Symbol Moved to Dimension Plane
Figure 3 - Symbol Placed With Leaders You can place 2-D symbols containing graphical entities and text. Symbols can be used for labels, flags, or any type of marking. Symbols can be placed free floating, on geometry, or associated with a dimension or geometric tolerance or any other graphic.
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You can browse for symbol files (*.sym) directly, or select a symbol from a predefined symbol gallery.
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Symbols can be placed in any of the combined states as needed.
Common placement options for symbols include:
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Free — Symbols can be freely located on an annotation plane or model surface. Once they are placed, you can use the Move to Plane option to adjust the symbol placement plane.
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With Leaders — You can place a symbol with one or more leaders of various types, which attach to model geometry.
Creating Symbol Annotations
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MBD\Symbols
SENSOR-MOUNT_SYMBOLS.PRT
Steps
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Task 1. Place a custom symbol on a model surface. Disable all Datum Display types.
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In the ribbon, select the Annotate tab.
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Select the 8_Finish combined state tab.
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Click FRONT
from the Annotation Planes group. 
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Click Saved Orientations
from the In Graphics toolbar and select FRONT . -
From the In Graphics toolbar, select No Hidden
from the Display Style types drop-down menu. -
Select Custom Symbol
from the Symbol types drop-down menu in the Annotations group. Click Browse and click Working Directory 
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Select the ESD.SYM file and click Preview to expand the Preview window.
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Click Open .
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Click to place the symbol over the model as shown.
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Click OK .
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Click Saved Orientations
and select 3D1 . Notice the symbol is within the geometry.
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Select the symbol under Banner in the detail tree. Right-click and select Move to Plane
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Select the surface shown.
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Select Shading
from the Display Style types drop-down menu. -
Task 2. Place a custom symbol next to the model and then add leaders. Click LEFT
from the Annotation Planes group. -
Click Custom Symbol
. Click Browse and click Working Directory . -
Select the FLAG-PENNANT.SYM file and notice the symbol in the Preview window.
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Click Open .
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Select Free as the Placement type. Click to place the symbol next to the model as shown.
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Select the Variable Text tab.
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Notice the text value can be edited.
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Click OK .
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Select the symbol from the graphics window and then click Properties
from the mini toolbar. Select With Leaders from the Placement Type drop-down list. -
Select On Surface from the Next leader drop-down list.
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Press CTRL and select the three surfaces shown.
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Position the cursor and middle-click to place the symbol. Click OK .
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Click in the background to de-select the symbol.
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Task 3. Place a custom symbol and move it to an existing annotation’s plane. Select the 7B combined state tab.
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Click TOP
from the Annotation Planes group. -
Click Custom Symbol
. Select FLAG-PENNANT from the Symbol name drop-down list. -
Select Free as the Placement type.
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Click to place the symbol next to the dimension.
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Select the Variable Text tab. Select 2 from the # drop-down list.
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Click OK .
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Rotate the model and notice the symbol is not in the same plane as the dimension.
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Select the symbol from the graphics window. Right-click and select Current Orientation .
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Click Select Existing Annotation .
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Select the dimension.
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Click OK .
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Select the symbol from the graphics window. Right-click and select Move
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Locate the symbol close to the dimension.
- Click Saved Orientations and select 3D2 . Verify that the symbol remains oriented to the dimension.
