Balloons

After you create a drawing view, you can add balloons to the parts and subassemblies in that view. A balloon is an annotation tag that identifies an item listed in a parts list. The number in the balloon corresponds with the number of the part in the parts list.

The following image shows various balloon types.

Tip(Placing balloons in the drawing) Balloon leader lines snap in 15-degree steps. Hold the CTRL key on your keyboard to disable leader line snapping. Then place or move the leader line to the desired position.

Formatting balloons

You can define a default format for balloons. Use the Style and Standard Editor dialog box to set the balloon style.

If you prefer a different style for a specific balloon, you can modify the style definition after you place the balloon in the drawing. The modified style is saved in the current document only. To override the style library balloon definition with the new one, right-click the balloon style type in the Style and Standard Editor, and then select Save to Styles Library.

Customizing existing balloons

You can modify the settings for a balloon after you place it in the drawing. Right-click the balloon, and then perform the following operations:

  • Change the balloon style.
  • Change the balloon type and contents.
  • Attach another balloon.
  • Change the arrowhead or add a vertex or leader.
TipYou can change a balloon's style by selecting the balloon and selecting a new balloon style from the style list on the Annotate tab.

A balloon formatted with the standard-defined balloon style can be updated by changing the active Object Default style in the Style and Standard Editor dialog box. All balloons using the By Standard style are updated with changes made to the active Object Default style.

Modifying balloons

You can modify the contents and shape of existing balloons. Edit the balloon to override the balloon shape, or to edit or override the value displayed in the balloon.

Note
  • All edits in parts lists associated with the same source as a balloon are reflected in the corresponding balloon (until you create an override for the balloon value). Also all edits in balloons are reflected in related parts lists.
  • Changes made in the Override column in the Edit Balloon dialog box are not reflected in the parts list.

Creating a balloon for a custom or virtual part

If you have a virtual part defined in the assembly, or a custom part defined in the parts list, you can create a balloon for it. The balloon can be attached either to a part in the drawing or to an existing balloon.

Aligning multiple balloons horizontally or vertically

You can select multiple balloons in your drawing to align them at the same time. The first balloon you select is the anchor for the alignment of the other balloons.

Horizontally aligned balloons are aligned along the Y axis, and the X axis position does not change. Vertically aligned balloons are aligned along the X axis, and the Y axis position does not change.

You can also set the distance between balloons. Using the horizontal and vertical offset options, the Offset Spacing value of the associated balloon style is used.

If you set the Offset Spacing value to zero, there is no offset, and the balloons are aligned tangent to one another. If the multiplier is any value other than zero, the value sets the distance between the balloons.

Moving and placing multiple balloons and leaders

You can drag them to a new location. If Autodesk Inventor detects a mix of leader types with the balloons (such as multiple and single vertex types), all leaders are "rubberbanded" from the arrowhead as if they are single vertex leaders.

To place multiple balloons, select a view or preselect components in a view.

Procedures

Add balloons to a drawing view

If you create a parts list before adding balloons, the balloons use properties specified by the parts list. If the view does not have an associated parts list, the BOM Properties dialog box opens so you can set the properties.

The following image shows how balloons update per changes to balloon properties.

Add balloons to individual parts

 
  1. On the ribbon, click Annotate tabTable panel Balloon.
  2. In the graphic window, select view geometry to set the start point for the leader line.
  3. Move the cursor, and then click to add a vertex.
  4. When the symbol indicator is in the appropriate position, right-click, and then choose Continue to place the symbol.

Continue placing balloons. When you finish, right-click, and then select Done to quit.

Show Me how to add balloons to individual parts

If a parts list is not created in the drawing or for a selection, the BOM Properties dialog appears. You can specify the BOM view during the balloon command. The balloon command continues only after properties are specified.

Use the following procedure to create balloons before a parts list:

 
  1. On the ribbon, click Annotate tabTable panel Balloon.
  2. In the graphic window, select view geometry to set the start point for the leader line. The BOM Properties dialog box is displayed.
  3. In the BOM Properties dialog box, select the BOM Settings:
    • Select the appropriate BOM view.
    • If the BOM view was not enabled in the assembly, you can enable the BOM view and set the desired properties.
  4. Click OK to close the BOM Properties dialog box.
  5. Move the cursor, and then click to add a vertex for the balloon leader.
  6. When the symbol indicator is in the appropriate position, right-click, and then select Continue to place the symbol.
NoteAfter you set the BOM Settings in the BOM Properties dialog box, all balloons and parts lists created for the same source respect this setting.

Automatically add balloons to multiple parts

Use Auto Balloon to create multiple item balloons for selected components in drawing views.

NoteAuto Balloon cannot be used for raster drawing views.
 
  1. On the ribbon, click Annotate tabTable panel Auto Balloon.
  2. Browse to a file or select the view to identify the BOM source in the graphics or the browser.
  3. Specify components to balloon by selection in the graphics or browser contents.
    NoteAuto Balloon supports Window select and Shift to remove.Right-click and choose Select All from the menu to select all components for the view.
  4. For balloon placement, set the appropriate options and specify the balloon placement.
  5. Click OK or Apply to create the balloons.
NoteTo add balloons for subassembly components in a view with a nested parts list, right-click the view in the browser, and then select Show Contents before clicking Balloon.

Attach a balloon for another part to an existing balloon

  1. Right-click an existing balloon, and select Attach Balloon from the menu.
  2. Select a part in the view to specify the balloon to attach.
  3. The new balloon is automatically attached to the existing balloon.

Attach balloons from list

  1. Right-click a balloon in the drawing and select Attach Balloon From List.
  2. In the Attach Balloon dialog box, click the arrow on the Filter list and select the parts to display in the list.
  3. In the table, select parts for which you want to create and attach a balloon.

    If appropriate, right-click in the table and choose an option: Select All, Clear All, or Invert Selection (to select all unselected parts or clear the selection of all selected parts).

  4. When parts are selected, click OK. Balloons are attached automatically.
NoteBalloons are attached vertically by default. To change the orientation of the multi-item balloon, drag a grip point of an attached balloon to the horizontal position.

Create a balloon for a custom or virtual part

If you have a virtual part in the assembly, or a custom part defined in the parts list, you can create a balloon for it. The balloon can be attached either to a part in the drawing or to an existing balloon.

To place a new balloon:

 
  1. On the ribbon, click Annotate tabTable panel Balloon.
  2. In the graphics window, click to set the start point for the leader line.
  3. Move the cursor and click to add a vertex.
  4. When the symbol indicator is in the appropriate position, right-click, and choose Custom/Virtual.
  5. Right-click again, and then select Continue.
  6. In the Custom/Virtual Parts dialog, select the part, and click OK.

Continue placing balloons, right-click, and select Done to end the operation.

Edit balloons

The default format for balloons is defined by the Object Default Style in the active drafting standard. After placing a balloon, you can change its shape, value, arrowhead, and style.

You can override balloon style settings, but the edits are saved in the current document only. To change balloon formatting, change the balloon style and save the changes to the style library.

Change the balloon type

  1. Select a balloon.
  2. Right-click, and then select Edit Balloon.
  3. In the Edit Balloon dialog box, select the Override Shape (by Style) check box.
  4. Select a different balloon type from the standard balloons or click the arrow to select from the list of sketched symbols.

Change the value displayed in a balloon

The default value in a balloon is the item number for the part in the parts list.

  1. Select a balloon.
  2. Right-click, and then select Edit Balloon.
  3. In the Edit Balloon dialog box, click in the Item cell to change both the balloon and the parts list, or the Override cell to change only the balloon.
  4. Enter the desired value.
NoteIf you override the value in a balloon, it does not update if you change the parts list item number.

Change the arrowhead

  1. Right-click the balloon, and then select Edit Arrowhead from the menu.
  2. In the Change Arrowhead box, click the arrow, select the arrowhead style from the list, and then click the green check mark to apply it.
NoteThe default By Style uses the arrowhead style set in the leader style.

Remove balloons

Right-click the balloon, and then select Delete from the menu. Continue to select balloons to delete as necessary.

To Delete a balloon from a multi-item balloon, right click the balloon and choose Remove.

You can click Undo to recover deleted balloons in reverse order.

Add a vertex to the leader line

  1. Right-click the balloon, and then select Add Vertex/Leader from the menu.
  2. Click the leader line to add a vertex.
  3. Drag the vertex to change the length and placement of the leader line segments.

Align balloons in a drawing view

  1. In the graphics window, click the Ctrl key, and then click to select the balloons to align.
  2. Right-click and select Align. Select the desired alignment option.

    Vertical aligns the balloons vertically without changing the distance between them.

    Horizontal aligns the balloons horizontally without changing the distance between them.

    Vertical Offset aligns the balloons vertically and spaces them equally.

    Horizontal Offset aligns the balloons horizontally and spaces them equally.

    NoteThe vertical and horizontal offset options use the Offset Spacing setting from the associated balloon style.

Add custom properties to balloons

Balloon shapes display the following number of custom properties:

 

Hexagon - 1

 

Circular - 1

 

Circular - 2

 

None - ALL

 

Linear - 2

NoteA balloon shape replaced by a user-defined symbol in the Edit Balloon dialog box displays all selected properties.

In this module, you add a custom property to a hexagonal balloon.

  1. On the ribbon, click Manage tabStyles and Standards panel Styles Editor, and double-click default balloon to view the current balloon style.
  2. Click the drop-down arrow, and select Active Standard to activate the default.
  3. Click the Shape icon.
  4. Select the Hexagon shape
  5. Click the Property Chooser, and select and move the File Name property to the Selected Properties column.
  6. Highlight the File Name property, and move it to the top of the list.
    NoteMove the custom property to the top of the list to add it to a balloon
  7. Place a new balloon.

You now have the custom property File Name in a hexagonal balloon.

The Property Display field shows the order the balloon properties for each selected shape is presented.

References

Edit Balloon

Changes the balloon type or overrides the values for the selected balloon.

Access:

Select a balloon, right-click, and then select Edit Balloon.

Balloon Type

Sets the balloon type for the selected balloon.

Override Shape (by Style) sets the balloon shape to a style in the active drafting standard. Check the box to override the default balloon type. Clear the check box to use the default balloon type.

User-defined Symbol selects a sketched symbol to use as a balloon. Click the arrow, and then select from the list. Available only if you have added sketched symbols to the drawing resources.

Sketched balloons display values of all properties selected in the associated balloon style. By default, item and quantity values are displayed.

Balloon Value

Overrides the value displayed in the selected balloon.

Item sets the value for the item in both the balloon and the parts list. Select the value, and then type a new value.

Override overrides the value in only the balloon. If you override the balloon value, it does not update if you make changes in the parts list. Select the value, and then type a new value.

NoteBalloons display values saved in the parts list. If you override a value in the parts list, the bill of material value is still displayed in the balloon. You can override the balloon value manually, if necessary. The only exclusion is the item number which is never overridden both in the parts list and in the balloon.

Auto Balloon

Creates one or more item balloons used to identify components in drawing views.

Access:

Ribbon: Annotate tab Table panel Auto Balloon

Selection

Selects views and components for balloon attachment.

Select View Set

Sets the source for balloon item numbers.

Add/Remove Components

Adds or removes components to the selection set for balloon attachment. You can use Window select and Shift to remove components.

Ignore Multiple Instances

Select the check box to place the balloon on the first selected instance only. Clear the check box to place balloons all instances.

BOM Settings

BOM View

The choice of BOM View determines available settings and properties.

Structured

NoteThe Structured Properties are only available if the BOM view has not been defined in the assembly Bill of Materials.

Level: First Level assigns a simple integer value to direct children.

 

Minimum Digits provides control to set the minimum number of digits displayed for item numbering. The range is fixed from 1 to 6 digits

 

 

All Levels provides full expanded numbering. This option provides a delimiter that works in conjunction with expanded items. Child items receive indented concatenated numbering.

Delimiter Sets a delimiter for structured item numbering. This option restarts numbering for each level.

Parts Only

Numbering: Numeric numeric text.

Minimum Digits provides control to set the minimum number of digits displayed for item numbering. The range is fixed from 1 to 6 digits.

 

 

Alpha provides full expanded numbering. This option provides a delimiter that works in conjunction with expanded items. Child items receive indented concatenated numbering based on the same rules as in parts lists today.

Case Select upper or lower

Structured (legacy)

Inheritance Determines if nested levels in a parts list inherit changes made to the item value of the parent assembly (for example, if the assembly item value changes from 1 to A, the nested parts change from 1.1, 1.2, to A.1, A.2).

Delimiter Sets a delimiter for structured item numbering.

Parts only (legacy) View properties are not applicable for Parts only (legacy)

Placement

Specifies placement of the balloons in views.

Select placement

Specify Around, Horizontal, or Vertical.

Offset spacing

Sets the distance between balloon edges. The original value is specified in the balloon style.

Style overrides

Provides style overrides for balloon shapes during creation. Sketch symbols are available when sketch symbols exist in the active documents drawing resources. Select the check box to replace the style-defined balloon shape with a different shape. Click the appropriate balloon shape. Clear the check box to use the default balloon style shape.

Attach Balloon, Custom/Virtual Parts

Use the Attach Balloon dialog box to select parts to be ballooned and the balloons attached to an existing balloon.

Use the Custom/Virtual Parts dialog box to select custom/virtual parts to be ballooned.

Access:

Right-click a balloon in the drawing and select Attach Balloon From List to open the Attach Balloon dialog box.

Click Annotate tabTable panel Balloon. Right-click and select Custom/Virtual. Specify points for the balloon leader line in the graphic window. Right-click and select Continue. The Custom/Virtual Part dialog box is displayed.

Filter

Filters parts displayed in the table. Click the arrow to select a filter from the list.

Table

Lists parts according to the active selection filter.

Right-click menu

Select All selects all parts in the list to be ballooned.

Clear All clears the selection for all parts in the list.

Invert Selection inverts the current selection.