Inserting Fields

You can add Fields to annotations, BlockAttributes and table cells. Fields let you update visible information such as modification date, drawing name, and author. For example, with Fields, you can keep text in title blocks accurate.

Additionally, the Field command lets you include drawing sheet set information as field in any text entity from your drawing.

The Field dialog box includes field codes for specific drawing sheet set information such as drawing sheet number, description, or revision date. Custom properties that you defined for a drawing sheet or for the entire drawing sheet set are also available and you can insert them as fields.

You can access the Field dialog box when editing annotations, BlockAttributes, and table cells.

Tip: Create drawing sheets and use fields to automate the information displayed in title blocks, view labels, and callout blocks.

Fields are updated automatically when you save, print, or rebuild drawings.

You can update Fields in annotations manually with the RebuildField command.

To insert Fields:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Insert > Data > Field.
    • On the menu, click Insert > Field.
    • Type Field.
  2. In the dialog box, specify the Field to insert:
    • Category: Delimits the field names in the Name list by category, for example Date/Time or Document.
    • Name: Determines the Field to insert.
    • Format: Specifies the format for the Field text, for example, lower or upper case for a character string or the date format for a date field.
    • Property: Displays the properties list of the specified entity. Specify the property to insert.

    Note: The options available in the Field dialog box change according to the specified Category and Name.

    The preview area displays the Field text with the specified format.

  3. Click OK.
  4. In the graphics area, specify the insertion point of the Field.

You can add Fields to Notes and SimpleNotes, and you can use Field names as default values for BlockAttribute definitions. You cannot use Fields in Tolerances. To insert a Field, click the Field button when you create a Note or SimpleNote, or when you specify a default value for BlockAttributes.

At any time, you can use Fields to display entity properties.

Note: The Field command uses the current TextStyle and text size.

  Use the SetFieldDisplay command to specify whether Fields display with a gray background in annotations.

To use a field to display entity properties in a text entity:

  1. In the graphics area, double-click the text entity to switch to editing mode.
  2. Place the pointer where you want to insert the field.
  3. Right-click and select Insert Field from the context menu.
  4. In the Field dialog box, do the following:
    • In Category, select All.
    • In Name, specify Entity.
    • Click Specify entity , select the entity in the graphics area, and press Enter to complete the selection.
    • In Property, specify the property whose value you want to display in the field.
    • In Format, specify a format for the field text. Optionally, you can specify Additional Format options.

      The Preview area displays the value of the specified property.

  5. Click OK.

To insert a field in a table cell:

  1. In the graphics area, double-click a cell of a table.
  2. Place the pointer where you what to insert the field.
  3. Right-click and from the context menu, select Insert Field.
  4. In the Field dialog box, in Category, select All or another category.
  5. In Name, select a field.

    The Preview area displays the default value of the specified field.

  6. Specify the format and any other required option.
  7. Click OK.

To insert a formula field in a table cell:

  1. In the graphics area, double-click a cell of a table.
  2. Place the pointer where you want to insert the field.
  3. Right-click and from the context menu, select Insert Field.
  4. In the Field dialog box, in Category, select Entities.
  5. In Name, select Formula.
  6. To specify the formula, do one of the following:
    • Click Average, Sum, or Count. In the graphics area, click the first and the last cell to specify the range and press Enter. At any moment, you can click Evaluate to display the calculated value in the Preview area.
    • Click Cell. In the graphics area, click the cell and press Enter.
  7. Optionally, specify the format and any other required option.
  8. Click OK.

    The cell displays the calculated value.

To insert a field in a text:

  1. In the graphics area, double-click the text entity to switch to editing mode.
  2. Place the pointer where you want to insert the field.
  3. Right-click and select Insert Field from the context menu.
  4. In the Field dialog box, select the Category.

    The Name list displays the fields available in the specified category.

  5. In the Name list, select the information to display in the text.

    The current value of the specified field appears in the Preview area.

  6. In the Format list, specify the format.

    Note: The available options vary according to the specified field. For example, when you select the Date field, the Format list displays the available data formats.

To insert a Block placeholder field in a BlockAttribute:

Note: Block placeholder fields are available only in the Block Editor.

  1. In the Block Editor, do one of the following:
  2. In the Block Attribute Definition, click Field.
  3. In the Field dialog box, in Category, select Entities.
  4. In Name, select BlockPlaceholder.

    The Block reference property list displays all the elements of the CustomBlock and other properties such as Layer, Color, etc.

  5. In the Format list, specify the format.

    Note: The available options vary according to the specified field. For example, when you select the Lineweight property, the Format list displays the available units.

Using Drawing Sheet Set Fields

You can create drawing sheets and use fields to automate the information displayed in title blocks, view labels, and callout blocks. The Field command lets you include drawing sheet set information as field in any text entity from your drawing. As the drawing sheet and drawing sheet set information changes, the data displayed in the title block, view labels, and callout blocks is always up-to-date.

You can create the field as a hyperlink to a drawing sheet or view. Later, when you move the corresponding drawing sheets and views in the Sheet Set Manager, the associated hyperlinks will jump to the correct location.

The Field dialog box includes field codes for specific drawing sheet set information such as drawing sheet number, description, or revision date. Custom properties that you defined for a drawing sheet or for the entire drawing sheet set are also available and you can insert them as fields. Specific field types are available in the DrawingSheetSet category.

  • Fields for which the name starts with CurrentDrawingSheet lets you use properties related to the current drawing sheet.
  • Field for which the name starts with CurrentDrawingSheetSet lets you use properties related to the current drawing sheet set.
  • DrawingSheetSet. Lets you include an item of the specified drawing sheet set into a field.
  • DrawingSheetSetPlaceholder. Lets you insert a placeholder in a callout block or in a view label. For example, you can define block attributes to display information such as view title or drawing sheet number in callout blocks specified for a drawing sheet set. When you use the callout block in a drawing sheet from the Sheet Set Manager, placeholders update automatically to display the correct values.
  • DrawingSheetView. Lets you include an item of the specified drawing sheet set into a field.

Note: To update the value in a drawing sheet set field, use the RebuildField command.

To insert a drawing sheet set custom property field:

  1. Access the Field dialog box.

    Note: You can access the Field dialog box when editing annotations, BlockAttributes, and table cells. For example, access the attribute definitions for each title block attribute for which you want to insert a field.

  2. In Category, select DrawingSheetSet.

    The Name list displays all drawing sheet set properties.

  3. In Name, select one of the following:
    • CurrentDrawingSheetSetCustom. Lets you include as fields custom properties that you defined for the entire drawing sheet set.
    • CurrentDrawingSheetCustom. Lets you include as fields custom properties that you defined for the current drawing sheet set.
  4. In Custom property name, select the custom property to include as field.
  5. In the Format list, specify the format.
  6. Click OK.

To insert a drawing sheet set placeholder field:

  1. Open the Block Attribute Definition dialog box for the callout block or label block that you use with the Drawing Sheet Set Manager.
  2. In Name, type a name for the field.
  3. In the right of the Default value, click Insert Field.
  4. In the Field dialog box, in Category, select DrawingSheetSet.

    The Name list displays all drawing sheet set properties.

  5. In Name, select DrawingSheetSetPlaceholder.
  6. In Placeholder type, select the type of field.
  7. In the Format list, specify the format.
  8. Optionally, click Associate hyperlink to create the field as a hyperlink to a drawing sheet or view. Associating a hyperlink lets you click on the inserted callout block to open the associated drawing sheet or view.

    Note: Associate hyperlink is not available for the ViewportScale and Custom fields.

  9. Click OK to close the Field dialog box.

    The placeholder field displays its name. For example, DrawingSheetTitle.

  10. Click OK to close the Block Attribute dialog box.
  11. In the graphics area, specify the location of the field text.

Using QR Code and Link Fields

The Field command lets you include QR codes and the as field on your drawing.

The Field dialog box includes field codes for embedding QR codes and links into your drawing.

Common data, such as the name of the users who have access to the file and last date when a user added a comment or modified the drawing are also available and you can use them in fields, text entities and table cells.

Specific field codes are available in the CloudDocument category.

  • Fields for which the name starts with ViewOnlyLink let you embed a link or QR code for opening the drawing in view-only mode.
  • Fields for which the name starts with DownloadLink let you embed a link or QR code for downloading the drawing.

To insert a QR code as field:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • On the ribbon, click Insert > Data > Field.
    • On the menu, click Insert > Field.
    • Type Field.
  2. In Category, select CloudDocument.
  3. In Name, specify the version of the drawing to link with the QR code. Available options let you download the drawing or open it in view-only mode.
  4. In Format, specify QR code.
  5. The following options are available only if the drawing is stored on the Cloud Storage
    • DownloadLinkOfCurrentVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code associated with the version of the drawing where the QR code is created.
    • DownloadLinkOfLatestVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code associated with the latest version of the drawing.
    • DownloadLinkOfPrintedVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code associated with the drawing that has been printed.
    • ViewLinkOfCurrentVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code for opening the version of the drawing where the QR code or the link is created, in view-only mode.
    • ViewLinkOfLatestVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code for opening the latest version of the drawing in view-only mode.
    • ViewLinkOfPrintedVersionDrawing. Lets you insert a QR code for opening the version of the drawing that has been printed in view-only mode.
  6. In Description, specify a description of the linked drawing or other additional information. When you scan the QR code, the description displays at the bottom.
  7. In Custom property name, select the custom property to include as field.
  8. Click OK.

Access

Command: Field

Menu: Insert > Field

Ribbon: Insert > Data > (Flyout) Field

Related Topics

Field Dialog Box

Updating Field Information

Setting the Background for Fields

Parent Topic

Working with Text