This symbol has two different uses, as follows:

• Can be used in Alternate Texts -210, -211 and -212 to suppress the plotting of the single characters normally associated with these Alternate Texts, without switching off their associated facility, as would normally happen when an Alternate Text is set to blank. For example, setting Alternate Text -210 ? just causes the F that would normally be plotted to be suppressed. It does not completely suppress the plotting of the flange material list Part number as would normally happen when an Alternate Text item is set to blank. This can be particularly advantageous on spool isometrics.

• The ? character is also used in some special Alternate Texts at points where the program dynamically edits in information. For example, by default, Alternate Text -456 is set to DETAIL ?. With this Alternate Text the program edits in either a letter or a number (depending upon which system the user has specified) at the position of the ? character.