Texts such as lettering, tables, and numbering in Arbortext IsoDraw are generated as text elements. A text element can consist of a single character, a number or quantities of text. This text can be changed in various ways by commands in the Text menu. A text format contains the key attributes that can be set in the Text menu. These include the font, font size, font face and tabs.

It is useful in many instances to use fixed text formats. Where new text is entered, the attributes of the active text format are applied to this text. A text format is applied for at least one paragraph between two paragraph signs. If a text element is selected using the arrow cursor, the format is applied to the entire text element. The commands in the Text menu can be used to change texts which have been assigned formats. If you wish to subsequently change the text format, these changes will be retained.