This Property Dialog tab is used to change the properties of one or more text callouts inserted in a design. Use it to change the callout text, layer and appearance.
When new callouts are added these callout values are taken from the Text Callout Defaults.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: I or Alt+Enter
Default Menu: Edit
Command: Properties
Locating this option
Available from: Edit menu > Properties option
Available from: Context menu > Properties option
Available from: Shortcut key > I
Using Callout Properties Dialog
Select part of a text callout (or several callouts) and enter properties. The dialog displayed has four tabs, Callout, Line Style, Text and Text Style.
Use the Text tab to change the text contents, alignment and position of the callout text.
Use the Line Style tab to change the line style of the callout lines. Use the Text Style tab to change the style of the callout text.
Choose the Callout tab and the following dialog is shown:
Position
Shows the position of the selected callout using the current design units. This is the position of the pointer at the other end from the text item, X coordinate first, followed by the Y coordinate.
Type in a new position to move the callout end. If more than one callout is selected and they have different positions, [Different] will be shown.
Locked
Use this to lock the callout from future editing. Once the callout is in its final position, lock it to avoid accidentally altering it. When locked, a warning dialog will be issued every time the item is moved, flipped or rotated.
Layer
This is only available for PCB designs, Footprints and PCB documentation symbols. It allows you to change the layer the callout is displayed on. Use the drop down list to select from the list of appropriate layers in the design. A callout can only be placed on a non-electrical or documentation layer.
Drawn On
In Schematics, you can define which pages the callout is Drawn On. Use This Page Only to specify it is only drawn on the current page. Use All Pages In Design to draw the callout on every page within the design. Use All Pages At This Level to draw the callout on all the top level pages within the current block.
Plot Even If Callouts Excluded
In Schematics only. Check this box if you are excluding callouts from schematics plots, but still want this callout to be plotted, for example if the callout is being used to display a net name.
Move With Attached Item
Causes the whole callout to move rather than only adjusting the pointer.
Attachment Information
Displays the attachment information for the callout.
Appearance
The controls in this section affect the appearance of the callout. In this section, if more than one callout is selected with different appearance values the corresponding drop down list or edit box will have “[Different]” displayed in it. Leaving this value keeps the individual callouts with their original appearance value.
Pointer End
Select from the drop down list the style required for the shape at the end of the pointer. Styles vary from the traditional closed arrow (shown above) to no shape at all.
Type the required size for the pointer end shape in the Pointer End Size edit box using the current design units.
Pointer Line
Select the required pointer line appearance from the drop down list. Choose between a simple straight line, or a bent line with one 45 degree part and one orthogonal part. The example above uses the Bent Line (Angled First) style.
You can also choose to have no pointer line. This is useful if the callout is just being used to display a box around some text or attribute value.
Text Box
Select the shape required for the box around the text from the drop down list. Shapes vary from the traditional rectangle to no shape at all. The text box shape shown above uses the rounded rectangle style.
Type the required gap between the edge of the text and the text box shape in the Text To Box Gap edit box using the current design units.
Box Attach At
Select from the drop down list where the pointer line can be attached to the text box shape. Use Nearest Point for the program to decide the best position, or select to limit the attach point to always be at a corner or in the middle of a side, or both.
Own Colour
Check this box to override the default colour for the text and shapes with the selected colour.
Text Box Fill Colour
Check this box to override the default colour for the fill of the text box with the selected colour.
Related Properties Tabs
Line Style | Text | Text Style | Variant Callouts