NX How to Create a Custom Symbol in Drafting

How to create and save a custom symbol in Drafting.

See the attached video that shows how to set up a symbol library in the Customer Defaults and create a Custom Symbol so all users have access to it.  Please also see the provided steps below.

How to Create a Custom Symbol in Drafting

Creating Directory to Store Symbols

1.       Choose File -> Utilities -> Customer Default.

2.       In the Customer Defaults dialog, choose Gateway -> Reuse Library.

3.       In Symbol Libraries, Native NX type in the library you want to hold your symbols.

-          Note: The directory is shown under Symbol Libraries, Native NX. The library is typed as such:

(Symbol library name)|(Path to directory)

For Example: NX2206Symbols|D:\NX2206_Symbols\

4.       Click Close.

5.       Restart NX.

Creating the Symbol

1.       To create the symbol, choose the sketch tab and sketch your symbol on the drawing.

2.       Choose the Sketch tab -> Sketch group -> Finish Sketch.

3.       Text can also be added using the Note command.

-          Note: To find the Note command, choose the Home tab -> Annotation group -> Note.

Making the Symbol

1.       In the Top Border Bar, choose Menu -> Insert -> Symbol -> Define Custom Symbol.

2.       In the Define Custom Symbol dialog, in the Folder View group choose the directory created at the beginning.

3.       In the Symbol Name group, enter a Name and Part File Name.

4.       In the Symbol Content group, click on Select Object and highlight all the lines that make up your symbol.

5.       In the Anchor group, click on Specify Point and choose the point on your drawing that the leader line will originate from.

6.       In the Symbol Attributes group, under Image Capture change the Input to Region, then select the area of your drawing that contains your symbol.

7.       Use Image Preview to check that the region selected is your desired region.

8.       In Image Capture, change the format to .JPG.

9.       In Text Attributes, change the Text Type to Arbitrary.

-          Arbitrary: Allows the user to change the text after placing the symbol.

10.   Click Ok.

Using the Symbol

1.       Open the Sheet that the symbol will be placed on.

2.       In the Resource Bar, choose Reuse Library.

3.       If it’s not already selected, in the topmost drop-down menu, choose Custom Symbol Library.

4.       In the Folder View group, expand Custom Symbol Library.

5.       Navigate to the location the symbol was saved to.

6.       To use the symbol, under the Member Select group click and drag the symbol over to the sheet. Click to place.

7.       To edit the symbol’s text, double click the symbol.

8.       In the Custom Symbol dialog, in the Text Attributes group, enter your desired text into the Enter Text box and click Close.