Question:

How do I edit text in OpenRoads SignCAD?

Answer: Below are some examples of how to edit the text size, font and spacing in OpenRoads SignCAD.

Legend as separate text objects

1) Editing the Text Size

1. Pick File>New, select Units of Measure: English and Standard: U.S. 2009. Press OK. Selecting Standards in OpenRoads SignCAD - OpenRoads | OpenSite Wiki - OpenRoads | OpenSite - Bentley Communities

2. Select the Standard Signs icon on the toolbar to bring up the U.S. 2009 Standard Sign dialog. Search for the D3-1 Street Name sign, select Code: D3-1(1), Size: 12" and press Open. Standard Signs - OpenRoads | OpenSite Wiki - OpenRoads | OpenSite - Bentley Communities

3. With the Select tool, pick "W". A small white square will display next to the "W" indicating that it is selected. Right click and pick Text Size from the floating menu.

4. In the Text Size dialog, select Size: 6 and press OK. Left click on the white workspace outside of the panel to deselect "W".

5. Follow steps 3 and 4 above to change the Text Size on "St" to Size: 6.

NOTE: In step 3 above, "W" and "St" can both be selected to change the text size to the same value. With the Select tool, pick "W" and hold the <shift> key to pick "St". Right click and pick Text Size. Select Size: 6 and press OK.

2) Editing the Text Font

1. With the Select tool, window select all of the text in the sign. Right click and pick Text Font from the floating menu.

2. In the Text Font dialog, select Size: C and press OK. Left click on the white workspace outside of the panel to deselect the text.

3) Editing the object spacing to reduce the overall panel width

1. With the Select tool, pick "W". Right click and pick Object Spacing from the floating menu.

2. In the Object Spacing dialog, change the Left object spacing = 2 and press OK. NOTE: The "Use Object Spacing" box is checked in the Spacing tab of the Rectangular Panel dialog and the Space To: Border option is selected which means that the border width (0.5") must be subtracted when setting the object spacing. In this sign, any spacing value less than 2.8 on the left of "W" and the right of "St" will result in a 36" overall sign panel width. Left click on the workspace to deselect "W". 

3. Follow steps 1 and 2 above to select "St" and change the Right object spacing = 2 and press OK. . NOTE: Using an equal spacing value on the left of "W" and on the right of "St" will result in the legend being centered horizontally on the sign panel. 

4. To show equal spacing between the words on the sign, select "3rd" and set the Left and Right object spacing = 3.7 and press OK. NOTE: There is 3.7" of green space from "W" to the border and from "St" to the border (4.2 - 0.5 = 3.7).

4) Editing the sign legend to "N Main St" and adjusting object spacing

1. With the Select tool, pick "W". Right click and pick Edit Data from the floating menu.

2. In the Legend field of the Text dialog box, type "N" and press OK. Left click on the workspace to deselect "N". The text font, size, kerning method and text alignment (for text in the same text string) can also be edited in the Text dialog.

3. Edit "3rd" to "Main" in the Text dialog box. Press OK.

4. To show equal spacing between the words on the sign, select "Main" and set the Left and Right object spacing = 3 and press OK. NOTE: There is 3" of green space from "N" to the border and from "St" to the border (3.5 - 0.5 = 3).

Legend as one text object

1) Editing the Legend

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above to place the U.S. 2009 D3-1(1)_VARx12 standard sign on the workspace.

2. With the Select tool, pick "3rd" and hold the <shift> key to pick "St". Press <delete> to remove the "3rd" and "St" legend from the sign so that only "W" remains.

3. With the Select tool, pick "W". Right click and pick Edit Data from the floating menu to bring up the Text dialog.

4. In the Legend field of the Text dialog box, type "W 3rd St" and press OK.

2) Editing the Text Size

1. Pick the Text tool. Place the text cursor to the left of “3” and drag the mouse to the right to highlight "3rd".

2. Press <ctrl>S and select Text Size 6. Press OK. Left click on the workspace to deselect "3rd".

3) Editing the Text Alignment

With the Select tool, right click on "W 3rd St" and pick Object Align>Middle.

4) Editing the Text Object Spacing

With the Select tool, right click on "W 3rd St" and pick Object Spacing. Set the Right spacing = 4 to center the legend on the sign and press OK.

5) Editing the Text spacing between words

1. The spacing between "W" and "3rd" as well as "3rd" and "St" should be 4.5" not 4". To change the spacing between words, pick the Text tool. Place the text cursor to the left of “3” and drag the mouse to the left to highlight the space between "W" and "3rd". Press <ctrl>S to bring up the Text Size dialog, enter Size 4.5 and press OK. Left click on the workspace to deselect the space.

2. Follow the same steps to highlight the space between "3rd" and "St" and set the Text Size = 4.5 for the space. Left click on the workspace to deselect the space.