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Adding User Graphics & Text

Contents

User Graphics and User Text let you annotate a GASWorkS model with images, lines, symbols, and text that aren’t part of the hydraulic model itself — background images, callouts, legends, labels, and leader-line notes. This article covers the six commands used to add them: User Graphic Images, User Graphic Lines, User Graphic Symbols, plain User Text, User Text associated with a feature’s data, and User Text with its own leader line. Check the default Prompted Length Values dimensional units on the Units tab of Options & Settings before you begin — widths, heights, sizes, and arrowhead lengths are all entered in those units.

GDI Commands

Add A User Graphic Image

Adds a User Graphic Image from an existing Bitmap (BMP), Drawing Exchange Format (DXF), or JPEG file.

  1. With a model open and the GDI Window displayed, and with at least one .bmp, .dxf, or .jpg file in the GASWorkS 11\support\images folder, select the Add Graphic Image item from the User Graphics – Image branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the User Graphic Image File Name prompt, select the file from the GDI Prompt List and right-click.
  3. At the User Graphic Image Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. This sets the upper-left corner of the image.
  4. At the User Graphic Image Width prompt, type a value in the default length units and press Enter. The width is set to the length of the displayed line.
  5. If the file is a DXF, respond to the Line Display Weight prompt as well.
  6. The User Graphic Image is placed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Graphic Image item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDIMAGE or ADDI on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To change the User Graphic Image Data, use the Edit User Graphic Image command or left-click the image to display the data in the Data Panel; to change its location, use the Move User Graphic Image command or grips; to remove it from the model, use the Delete User Graphic Image command.

Add A User Graphic Line

Adds a User Graphic Line, drawn segment by segment.

  1. Select the Add Graphic Line item from the User Graphics – Line branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the User Graphic Line Style prompt, select a style from the GDI Prompt List and right-click.
  3. At the User Graphic Line Width prompt, type a value and press Enter.
  4. At the Start Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter to place the first point.
  5. At the Next End Location prompt, type a coordinate pair or left-click a point in the GDI Display to add a segment. Repeat to keep adding segments.
  6. To finish, type E (or right-click) to end the line, C to close it back to the Start Location, or U to undo the last segment.
  7. If the Line Style is Circled, Crossed, Slashed – Left, Slashed – Right, Ticked, or Zig-Zagged, respond to the Pattern Spacing prompt. If the style is Leader, respond to the Arrowhead Length prompt.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Graphic Line item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDLINE or ADDL on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • For the Leader line style, the arrowhead points to the Start Location of the User Graphic Line.
  • To change the User Graphic Line Data, use the Edit User Graphic Line command or left-click the line to display the data in the Data Panel; to change the location of the whole line, use the Move User Graphic Line command or grips; to change the location of one line segment, use the Move User Graphic Line End command or grips; to remove the line from the model, use the Delete User Graphic Line command.

Add A User Graphic Symbol

Adds a User Graphic Symbol at a chosen location, rotation, and size.

  1. Select the Add Graphic Symbol item from the User Graphics – Symbol branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the User Graphic Symbol Style prompt, select a style from the GDI Prompt List and right-click.
  3. At the User Graphic Symbol Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. This sets the center of the symbol.
  4. At the User Graphic Symbol Rotation prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display; the angle of the displayed line sets the symbol’s orientation.
  5. At the User Graphic Symbol Size prompt, type a value or left-click a point in the GDI Display to set the symbol size.
  6. The User Graphic Symbol is placed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Graphic Symbol item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDSYMBOL or ADDS on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To create a copy of an existing User Graphic Symbol, use the Copy User Graphic Symbol command.
  • To create a legend of all of the User Graphic Symbols used in a model, use the Create Symbol Legend command.
  • To change the User Graphic Symbol Data, use the Edit User Graphic Symbol command or left-click the symbol to display the data in the Data Panel; to change its location, use the Move User Graphic Symbol command or grips; to remove it from the model, use the Delete User Graphic Symbol command.

Add User Text

Adds a standalone User Text feature — free-form text not tied to any model feature.

  1. Select the Add User Text item from the User Text branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the User Text Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. This sets the lower-left corner of the text.
  3. At the User Text Rotation prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display to set the text’s orientation.
  4. At the User Text Height prompt, type a value or left-click a point to set the text height.
  5. At the User Text Width prompt, type a value or left-click a point to set the text width.
  6. At the User Text Value prompt, type the text and press Enter. The text is displayed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Text item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDUSERTEXT or ADDT on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To create a copy of an existing User Text feature, use the Copy User Text command.
  • To change the User Text Data, use the Edit User Text command or left-click the text feature to display the data in the Data Panel; to change its location, use the Move User Text command or grips; to remove it from the model, use the Delete User Text command.

Add User Text Associated With A Feature

Adds a User Text feature that displays a specific customer, node, or pipe feature’s data value, optionally with a leader line pointing back to that feature.

  1. Select the Add User Text – Associated item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the Select The Feature To Associate With prompt, left-click the customer, node, or pipe feature in the GDI Display.
  3. At the Select The Data Item To Display prompt, choose the data item from the GDI Prompt List and right-click.
  4. At the User Text Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter to set the lower-left corner of the text.
  5. At the User Text Rotation and User Text Height prompts, left-click points in the GDI Display to set orientation and height.
  6. At the Include A Leader Line prompt, choose Yes or No. If Yes, set the Leader Line Width, then place the Start Location (Arrowhead End) and one or more Next End Location segments — type E or right-click to end, U to undo the last segment — and finally set the Arrowhead Length.
  7. The Associated User Text (and leader line, if included) is displayed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Text – Associated item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDAT on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To change the location of an Associated User Text feature, use the Move User Text command or grips. The command will ask whether to move the leader line end — select “Yes” to move the end of the leader line closest to the text, or “No” to leave the leader line where it is.
  • Leader lines have their own grips and commands (Move User Graphic Line and Move User Graphic Line End) and can be moved independently of their associated feature.
  • To remove an Associated User Text feature from the model, use the Delete User Text command; the leader line will also be deleted. To remove only the leader line, use the Delete User Graphic Line command.
  • To create a copy of an existing Associated User Text feature, use the Copy User Text command. To change the User Text Data, use the Edit User Text command or left-click the text feature.

Add User Text With A Leader Line

Adds a standalone User Text feature with its own leader line and arrowhead.

  1. Select the Add User Text – With Leader Line item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the User Text Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter to set the lower-left corner of the text.
  3. At the User Text Rotation, User Text Height, and User Text Width prompts, set the orientation and size.
  4. At the User Text Value prompt, type the text and press Enter.
  5. At the Leader Line Width prompt, type a value and press Enter.
  6. Place the Start Location (Arrowhead End) and one or more Next End Location segments — type E or right-click to end, U to undo the last segment.
  7. At the Arrowhead Length prompt, set the arrowhead size. The User Text and leader line are displayed at the selected location.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add User Text – With Leader Line item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDLEADERTEXT or ADDLT on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • To change the location of the User Text feature, use the Move User Text command or grips. The command will ask whether to move the leader line end — select “Yes” to move the end of the leader line closest to the text, or “No” to leave the leader line where it is.
  • Leader lines have their own grips and commands (Move User Graphic Line and Move User Graphic Line End) and can be moved independently of their associated feature.
  • To remove the User Text feature from the model, use the Delete User Text command; the leader line will also be deleted. To remove only the leader line, use the Delete User Graphic Line command.
  • To create a copy of an existing User Text feature, use the Copy User Text command. To change the User Text Data, use the Edit User Text command or left-click the text feature.

Notes & Considerations

  • To turn the display of these features “on” or “off,” use the Display User Graphics command (images, lines, symbols) or the Display User Text command (all three User Text variants).
  • All widths, heights, sizes, and arrowhead lengths use the default Prompted Length Values dimensional units, which can be changed on the Units data tab of the User Options & Settings screen (Utilities menu).
  • Left-click any User Graphic or User Text feature to view or edit its data directly in the Data Panel.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected, click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change. To access the option, select the Options & Settings item from the Utilities menu, then select the Environment data tab.

See Also

  • Deleting Graphics, Text, Tables & Views
  • Display & Visibility Settings
  • Editing User Graphics, Text & Tables
  • Moving Text, Graphics, Legends & Views
  • Copying Features, Graphics & Text
  • Creating Taps, Tables & Legends
  • Example: GDI Coordinates, Commands & Grips
  • Example: Selecting, Moving & Viewing Features
  • Example: Fittings, Panels & Palettes
  • GDI Utilities: Undo, Redo, Cancel & Housekeeping

FAQ

  • The pipe I clicked won’t accept a customer — why?
    A message is displayed when the selected pipe cannot have customers attached (for example, because of its type or settings). Click the OK command button to return to the prompt and select a different pipe.
  • How do I change a customer’s data or supply main after adding it?
    Left-click the customer to display its data in the Data Panel or use the Edit Customer Data command. Use Move Customer (or grips) to relocate it, Move Service Tap to slide the tap along the main, and Reassign Customer Supply Main to connect it to a different main.
  • How does automatic assignment decide which main to use?
    The auto-assign commands connect the object to the nearest main, but only mains whose Facility Type is “Active” are considered. The Active setting can be viewed on the Facility Settings screen — select the Facility Settings item from the Edit menu.
  • Can a main or service line follow a bent route instead of a straight line?

    Yes. Use the Add Polyline Service command to place a tap location and then a series of vertices; the last vertex entered becomes the customer location. Type “U” on the GDI Prompt Line to undo the last segment while drawing. You can later add, move, or delete line vertices with the corresponding commands.

  • What is the difference between a trunk and a branch customer?
    A trunk customer’s service runs from the customer location to a tap on a supply main. A branch customer taps off of a trunk customer’s service line rather than a main, and is assigned to the supply main of its trunk customer. Each trunk customer can only have one branch customer.

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Updated on September 11, 2026

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