Configuring Draftsman Callout Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: Callout

Draftsman object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content and behavior of the placed object. The property settings for each type of object are defined in two different ways:

• Pre-placement settings – most Callout object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (access from the button at the top-right of the workspace). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.
• Post-placement settings – all Callout object properties are available for editing in the Properties panel when a placed Callout is selected in the workspace.

     The Callout default settings in the Preferences dialog and the Callout mode of the Properties panel

Style

• Line Style – the thickness and style of the Callout line and text. Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.

 Arrow Style

• Head Style – select the drop-down to choose from a range of preset pointer styles (headers).
• Width – the width of the target pointer head, such as an arrow. This setting also defines the diameter of a round head style.
• Length – the length of the pointer head, such as an arrow.

Properties

• Source Text (Properties panel only) – use the drop-down menu to specify the data source that is used to generate the Callout text string (tag).
  • Custom Text – the Callout text will be the string entered in the associated Custom Text field.
  • Note Item – the Callout text is a reference to a Note Item entry that exists in the current drawing. Use the resulting Note Item drop-down menu to select the item (row) number in the Note object.
  • BOM Item – the Callout text will refer to the BOM entry number reference for the targeted (attached) component. This source option applies when a Callout is attached to a component.

    When Draftsman is sourcing BOM data from a project BOM document, the component's BOM entry reference (Line #) must be available in the source document – the BOM Item Callout tag will be otherwise blank.

    ► See the Line # Column section in BOM Management with Active BOM for more information.

  • Component Parameter – the Callout text will be a Parameter value that is available from the attached component (such as Description, Pattern, etc), as selected from the resulting Parameter drop-down menu.

    Note that component Parameters are transferred to a PCB document via an ECO when the host project design is Compiled.

    ► See Support for Parameters in PCB Footprints.

• Border (Properties panel only) – use the drop-down menu to choose the graphic style of the Callout end point, which will automatically expand to accommodate the accompanying text tag string.
• Line Style (Properties panel only) – the thickness and style of the Callout Border line (elbow, circle, square, etc.). Use the line weight drop-down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the line color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.
• Elbow Style – use the drop-down menu to specify or disable the horizontal line (elbow) attached to the end of the Callout line. The Callout text tag and its border are attached to the elbow.
• Elbow Length – set the horizontal length of the elbow.
• Elbow Position – set the elbow and text tag to project to the left or right of the Callout line.

Font

• Use Document Font checkbox selected – the font used for the text tag is that defined by the document options. See the Document Font entry in General section of the Properties panel when in Document Options mode.
• Use Document Font not selected – use the Font drop-down menus to choose the desired font type and size and select the lower buttons to enable text attributes. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the font color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level, where 0% represents full transparency.