Use optional hyphens

You can insert optional hyphens in texts. These hyphens are displayed only when necessary when texts must be broken up due to, for example, resizing an object. Optional hyphens can be used for attribute texts and free-form texts. The following procedure describes an example use of optional hyphens for the name attribute of an object.

The purpose of optional hyphens is to specify separation points for longer words. Where required, automatic separation occurs at these points, and optional hyphens are inserted.

When entering an attribute text, for example, optional hyphens can be specified. They are indicated by a placeholder (Optional hyphen) during input. If, for example, optional hyphens are inserted for an object name, the name is automatically adjusted if the size of the object is changed.

Example

You insert optional hyphens when entering the text:

Insert optional hyphens

When you exit the entry by clicking in the model background, the name is separated.

Optional hyphens in object names

When you enlarge the object, the name is separated at a different place and provided with a hyphen. The previously displayed hyphens are removed.

Optional hyphens at different positions

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Click a selected object in the model. The name of the object is selected for editing.

  2. Place the cursor at the position at which you would like to insert an optional hyphen.

  3. Press Ctrl + -. An optional hyphen is inserted and the placeholder for the optional hyphen is displayed (Optional hyphen).

  4. Insert optional hyphens wherever you want to separate the attribute value when you change the size of an object.

  5. Click in the modeling background.

The text input box is closed and the optional hyphen placeholders are no longer displayed.

If you now change the size of the object so that the text requires a line break, the text is wrapped at the position of the optional hyphen and a hyphen is automatically inserted at that position.