Overview
Balloon shapes and colors can be configured by specification classification, allowing organizations to visually distinguish feature classifications (Key, Major, Safety, etc.) on inspection drawings. Once set, these styles apply automatically and consistently across all drawings, including legacy ones, since individual balloons cannot be styled manually.
Balloon color also extends to any leader lines connected to the balloon.
Supported shapes: Circle, Square, Triangle (point up), Inverted triangle (point down), Hexagon
Supported colors: Red (default), Green, Purple, Blue, Orange
Before you begin: Required configuration
Balloon styles are managed through a dedicated table in Master Data. Before assigning styles, locate this table:
- Go to Master Data → Tables
- Open the Plans group
- Select the Balloons table
This table controls which shape and color are applied to a balloon, based on its Dimension Type, Key designation, and Label.
Default Rows
The table is pre-populated with six default rows, covering every combination of the three Dimension Types (Standard, Manufacturing, Deviation) and Key (Yes, No), each set to no Label, Circle or Square shape, and Red color.
- Default rows cannot be removed.
- The Dimension Type, Key, and Label values on default rows cannot be edited.
- The Shape and Color values on default rows can be edited.
Creating a new balloon style
Step 1: Add a new row
Click the add control at the bottom of the Dimension Type column to start a new row.
Step 2: Set the Dimension Type
Select a Dimension Type: Standard, Manufacturing, or Deviation.
Step 3: Set the Key value
Use the dropdown to select Yes or No. This determines whether the style applies to key-designated dimensions.
Step 4: Set the Label
Use the dropdown to select a Label, drawn from the Specification -> Label list of values.
Step 5: Set the Shape
Use the dropdown to select a balloon shape: Circle, Square, Triangle (point up), Inverted triangle (point down), or Hexagon.
Step 6: Set the Color
Select a balloon color from the preset list: Red, Green, Purple, Blue, or Orange.
Step 7: Save
Save the row. If the combination of Dimension Type, Key, and Label duplicates an existing row, an error displays and the row is not saved.
On save, the table reorders so rows with the same Dimension Type are grouped together.
How balloon styles are applied
When a balloon is rendered, in the Plan drawing tab, the drawing detail slide out, or an exported drawing PDF, its style is determined by matching the spec's Dimension Type, Key, and Label against the table.
If no row matches the spec's Label, the table falls back to the row with no Label specified for that Dimension Type and Key combination.
Example: A spec with Dimension Type Standard, Key Yes, and Label KEY-1 matches a table row configured with the same values. If that row specifies an Inverted triangle shape and Purple color, the balloon for that spec renders as an inverted triangle, in purple, with a matching leader line color.