Balloons

Many companies include parts lists in their assembly drawings to give additional information about individual assembly components. For example, part number, material, and the quantity of parts required are typically documented in a parts list.

Automatic balloons on a part view

You can automatically add balloons to a part view of an assembly based on its parts list when you choose the Parts List command and set the Auto-Balloon option on the Parts List command bar.

When you select the part view that you want to balloon, the parts list and the balloons that reference it are created automatically.

You also can create balloons automatically without placing a parts list. To learn how to do this, see the Help topic, Automatically add balloons to a part view.

Controlling duplicate balloons

You can specify varying levels of control for duplicate balloons using the Auto-Balloon options on the Balloon page (Parts List Properties dialog box). For example, when working with multiple drawing views, you can specify that no part item has more than one balloon shown in the entire document, no matter how many drawing views show the part.

Adjusting balloon text size and clearance

You can adjust the horizontal and vertical gap between the balloon text and the balloon border using the following options on the Spacing tab (Dimension Style and Dimension Properties):

The appearance of automatically generated balloons is specified by options on the Balloon page (Parts List Properties dialog box). Here, for example, you can adjust the text size of the balloons before you add them to the drawing by typing a new value in the Text Size box.

Balloon item numbers and item count

You can specify that balloons in a part view of an assembly display item numbers that reference the item numbers in a parts list.

To assign item numbers, use the Balloon command and set these options on the Balloon command bar:

You can modify the balloon item numbers and the parts list at the same time.

Balloons that reference property text

You can create balloons that reference property text information in a source document. Some examples include project, part document number, material specification, and revision.

To select the specific property text to be displayed in a new balloon, use the Property Text button on the Balloon command bar to open the Select Property Text dialog box.

You can assign property text to different text locations in the balloon—(A), (B), (C), and (D)—by adding the property text string into the Upper, Lower, Prefix, and Suffix boxes on the Balloon command bar.

Note:

To display property text at text location (A), you must clear the Item Number option on the Balloon command bar.

To learn how to create or modify balloons so that they show a document number or other document property, see Show document properties in balloons.

Stacking balloons

When multiple balloons reference items in the same parts list group, they often overlap one another and it is difficult to see what the leaders are pointing to. The parts that comprise a fastener group, for example—bolt, washer, lock washer, and nut—are small and close together. To make these balloons legible, you can stack the balloons.

You can place stacked balloons on fastener systems automatically using the Balloon command or the Parts List command. You also can stack manually placed balloons by dragging them.

In either case, if a part item number changes, its balloon also updates.

When balloons are stacked, they align vertically or horizontally, with a single leader attached to the first balloon in the stack. This example shows a horizontal stack and accompanying parts list. The first balloon is the one at right with the attached leader.

To learn how to arrange balloons in a stack automatically and manually, see the Help topic, Stack balloons.

You can edit the prefix and suffix text of one or more balloons in a fastener system stack.

To learn how, see the Help topic, Edit balloon text in a stack.

Balloon stack edit handles

You can use the following edit handles to manipulate a balloon stack. Balloon stacks with break lines have four edit handles. Balloon stacks without break lines have three edit handles.

A vertical balloon stack with an underline balloon shape and a break line has one additional edit handle (E).

Handle location

Purpose

(A)

Balloon stack edit point

Changes the stack arrangement from horizontal to vertical, or from vertical to horizontal.

(B)

Break line edit point

Lengthens or shortens the break line.

Flips the balloon stack and break line to the opposite side of the leader.

For a stack without a leader, you can turn the break line on, drag the stack, and then turn the break line off again.

(C)

Leader edit point

Moves the balloon stack freely by moving the break line and changing the leader line length and orientation.

Inserting vertices adds edit points.

To learn how, see Move an annotation.

(D)

Annotation connection point

Moves the start point of the leader along the annotated element.

Pressing Alt disconnects the leader and removes associativity.

Pressing Alt+Ctrl disconnects the leader, yet preserves associativity.

To learn how, see Move an annotation.

(E)

Only for a vertical balloon stack with an underline balloon shape—Drags the vertical line on the stack to the opposite side of the annotation.

Balloon snap points

For a single balloon or balloon stack—Changes the connection point of a break line or leader line to the annotation.

You can display snap points by selecting the annotation, and then pressing Alt while you drag the point where the break line (or leader line) connects to the annotation.

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