RTPARALLEL-bgol (Rotate Text Parallel to Two Points)

Command Type: AutoLISP routine (works in AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and most AutoLISP-compatible CAD platforms)
Developed by: BGol Community, bgol.in

Inspired by the general concept of two-point text-rotation utilities used in CAD/survey drafting. This is an original, independently written routine, new file name, new command name, new source code, created so the CAD community has a free, editable, open-source alternative.

Overview

RT2P rotates one or more selected TEXT/MTEXT entities to align exactly parallel to a direction defined by two picked reference points. In city maps, road labels often need to run parallel to the road; in cadastral drawings, plot numbers need to run parallel to the parcel boundary. Doing this by eye is slow and imprecise, RT2P computes the exact angle from your two picks instead.

How to Use

1. Load RTPARALLEL-bgol.lsp into your CAD session (drag-and-drop the file onto the drawing window, or use the APPLOAD command).
2. Type RT2P at the command line and press Enter.
3. Select the text entity, or multiple text entities, you want to rotate.
4. Pick the first reference point.
5. Pick the second reference point.
6. Every selected text entity is rotated to the exact angle between the two picked points. Insertion points and everything else about the text stay the same, only rotation changes.

Why Use It

• Exactness, the rotation angle is computed directly from your two picks, not eyeballed.
• Batch-friendly, rotates any number of selected text entities to the same exact angle in one pass.
• Consistency, produces uniform, professional-looking label alignment parallel to roads, boundaries, or any other reference direction.

Where to Use It

• City/urban maps, aligning street name labels parallel to the road they label.
• Cadastral/parcel drawings, aligning plot numbers parallel to the parcel boundary line.
• Any drawing requiring multiple text labels consistently aligned parallel to a specific reference direction.

Notes

• The rotation angle is calculated with AutoLISP's native angle function between the two picked points, so it's exact to the precision of your pick (use object snaps for best results).
• Works on both TEXT and MTEXT entities in the same selection set.
• Only the rotation (group code 50) is modified, position, height, layer, and content are untouched.
• Source code is fully open, feel free to study, modify, and redistribute it under the same open, free-for-all spirit.

Credits

Developed and shared for the CAD community by BGol Community. Website: https://bgol.in/ Free and open-source, use it, modify it, share it, for personal or commercial work alike.