Text boxes are notes that show up directly on the canvas. Note fields are notes that do not show up on the canvas. Instead, they are represented by an icon and viewed by double-clicking the icon. Other than this, they behave exactly like text boxes. Although they both may be tied to dates (like all other objects) they may also be freed from dates. Only text boxes and note fields possess this behavior.
To add a text box or note field on the canvas, click the Text Box icon or Note Field icon from the toolbar. Once the cursor moves over the canvas, it changes from the Select Tool to a set of crosshairs.
To place a text box or note field, click the mouse button at the desired date, indicated by the text above the crosshairs. Dragging the crosshairs to stretch the rectangle to a certain shape will have no consequence on the actual shape. The box will always snap directly around the text after clicking outside the box. Release the mouse to place the object.
Once a text box or note field has been placed on the canvas, the Edit window opens automatically. Type into this box.
When finished, click anywhere outside of the box.
To edit the text directly on the canvas, right-click and choose . To access formatting options, double-click the object.
The Text Box window will open. This window contains the Properties and Formatting settings (there are no Displays).
Properties and Formatting
The Properties and Formatting section is where basic settings as well as aesthetic properties, like colors and styles, are changed. To set them once for all new text boxes and note fields, see Setting Default Properties for New Objects.
Description
This is the text that will show up on the canvas. To format the size of the text box, use the Enter key.
Color
To change a color, click the down arrow button anywhere the Color field shows up and choose from the list. Any colors already used in the schedule will appear. To choose from a palette or define a custom color, select More.
After clicking More, the Custom Color Palette window will open.
To create a custom color, click in the rainbow color area; the selected color displays below in the Color/Solid box.
To select a darker or lighter tone, move the arrow up and down along the vertical slider bar to the right.
Click the Add to Custom Colors button and the new color displays in the Custom Colors area and is ready to be selected just the same as the basic colors above.
Click OK to apply the color and exit the function.
Once chosen for the first time, any basic or custom color will be displayed in the dropdown list for future selections.
Font, Font Style, Font Size, Alignment, and Effects
To change any of the basic text formatting options, click the down arrow button and choose from the list.
Positioning
These options do not correspond with the positioning of the text box on the canvas, only the behavior when the page size is changed or the canvas is stretched.
By default, a text box is positioned relative to Dates (like all other objects). This is useful for creating a note or annotation—the text box will move with the network when the page size is changed or the canvas is stretched.
A text box may also be positioned relative to the Canvas Border. This is useful for creating a header, footer, or watermark—the text box will not move with the network when the page size is changed or the canvas is stretched.
Text Box
The Reference Point radio buttons determine which point on the text box remains fixed. The first character represents vertical position (Top, Middle, or Bottom). The second character represents horizontal position (Left, Center, or Right).
If a text box is positioned relative to Dates and TR is selected, the top right would remain fixed to whichever date was the closest. For example, if the page size was changed or the canvas was stretched, the top right corner would move along with its date. Or, if additional text were added, the text box would increase down and to the left.
If a text box is positioned relative to the Canvas Border, a constant offset is maintained between the point designated by the Text Box and the point designated by the Canvas Border.
Canvas Border
The Reference Point radio buttons determine which point on the canvas the text box remains fixed to, regardless of its date position. The first character represents vertical position (Top, Middle, or Bottom). The second character represents horizontal position (Left, Center, or Right).
If a text box is positioned relative to the Canvas Border and TR is selected for the Canvas Reference, the text box would remain fixed to the upper right corner of the schedule. For example, if the page size was changed or the canvas was stretched, the distance between the text box Reference Point and the upper right corner would remain constant.
To create a header, set the Text Box Reference Point and the Canvas Border Reference Pointto TC.
To create a footer, set the Text Box Reference Point and the Canvas Border Reference Point to BC.
To create a watermark, set the Text Box Reference Point and the Canvas Border Reference Point to MC.
Finalizing Text Boxes and Note Fields
Once the desired selections are made, click the OK button to exit.