SolidWorks provides the ability to support many different shapes for flag notes. In addition to shapes, there are several methods in SolidWorks to create flag notes on a drawing. Each method gives a slightly different result in how the flag note symbol looks and how it is attached to the leader line. Part 1 of this article will cover shapes and the flag note symbols.
Flag note symbol shapes
There are two general methods to add flag note symbols to an Annotation Note.
The first (and older) method is to use the symbol library. There are literally hundreds of symbols included within the library. The library supports triangle, square and circle symbols for numbers and letters, with or without the period. This method inserts a tag into the Annotation Note, which then generates the flag note symbol, based on existing data in the gtol.sym file.
Using the Flag note symbols from the symbol library
To use this method, create the Annotation Note with a leader.
While in the edit mode, click on the Add Symbol button in the PropertyManager.
This opens up the Symbol Library. Pick the appropriate flag note symbol and OK.This opens up the Symbol Library. Pick the appropriate flag note symbol and OK.
This will insert the symbol into the Annotation Note.
If the triangle is chosen, the resultant symbol is not an equilateral triangle. The square and circle symbols are truly squares and circles, respectively. Note the gap between the flag note and leader. This gap can get bigger or be completely removed with a different method, which I will go into in part 2 of this article.






As some already know, DS SolidWorks Corp recently hired me as the new Product Definition Specialist for drawings. As such, I am no longer a neutral outsider in affairs related to SolidWorks Corp or any products created by Dassault Systemses. I will no longer be posting commentary about future capabilities in SolidWorks, nor business plans of the corporation. I will also likely scale back the types of product reviews that I conduct. I will still contribute other types of articles to SolidWorks Legion, such as how-to’s, tips and tricks, coverage of public announcements, etc.
