Multileaders (MLeaders)

The text within the callout will be on the same layer as the rest of the callout.

Note that the text will get its color assignment from the setting for the layer L-ANNO-TEXT and will not be set to Color ByLayer.

You're free to change this layer's color from the General Preferences, but keep in mind that your changes will affect other callout text on this same layer.

When the callout is selected, you'll see blue pickpoints on the arrow, leader, and text.

To move the callout, grab the pickpoint at the top corner of the text box that's closest to the leader (see the image to the left). Use that pickpoint to move the text box to the location of your choice.

The leader will follow the text as you move it.

If you move the text from the right side of the leader to the left (or vice versa), the leader will switch sides.

You can also move the arrow by grabbing and moving the arrow pickpoint, as well as change the shape of the text box by moving any of the pickpoints on the text.

The example to the left shows the arrow pickpoint.

To add one or more leaders to your callout, select anywhere on the leader, then right-click. The menu pictured to the right will open.

To add an extra leader, select Add Leader. You can now click to add a leader.

Continue clicking to add as many leaders as you need.

When finished placing leaders, right-click to end the Leader function.

If you need to move any of these leaders or arrows, you can still select the callout and move the appropriate pickpoint.

To remove leaders, click anywhere on the text or one of the leader to select the entire callout.

Right-click, and select Remove Leader from the menu that opens.

Click each leader you want to remove.

In this example, we'll select and remove the three middle leaders, as pictured to the left.

Right-click when finished selecting leaders to remove.

The leaders you selected will be removed.

To change the size of a text box, double-click within the text.

You'll now see a ruler and a pair of arrows at the top of the text box (see the image to the left).

To change the size or configuration of the text box, grab and move the arrows.

Move the arrows until the text box has the size and shape you want. The text will wrap as needed to fit in the box.

In this example, we've made the box narrower, which has forced the text from two lines to four.

In the Properties panel, locate the Background mask menu, under the Text heading near the bottom of the panel.

This menu will be set to Yes by default, meaning that the background mask is a default setting.

To turn off the background mask, select No.

Want to turn the background mask on or off for all Mleader callouts in your drawing? Select one, right-click, and select the Select Similar option from the menu that opens. All Mleader callouts in the drawing will be selected, and you can turn the mask on or off as pictured to the right.

You can technically remove the default background mask for Spot Elevation callouts in this way, but we don't recommend it. Because Spot Elevations often tend to cross lines in your drawing such as contours, background masks allow you to place them without having to worry about obscuring them with these lines.

Manage ribbon, Multileader Style button

type MLeaderStyle in the Command line

Format menu, Multileader Style option

To edit an MLeader style, select it in the Multileader Style Manager and click Modify.

You can then modify a number of settings that apply to the selected MLeader style.

Use the Leader Format, Leader Structure, and Content tabs to edit the corresponding settings.

For example, if you want to edit the color of the text in your MLeaders, select the Content tab and select a color from the Text color menu.

If you want the entire callout to be the same color, you can also change the text color to ByLayer and then edit the callout layer, changing it to the color of your choice.