Defining dynamic text

Parameter

Description

Field Label

Enter text to display for this field in the data tag (and Edit Tag Data dialog box), graphic legend, or data legend layout

Formula

Select this option to use the results of a formula in the field. A formula here works the same way it would in a worksheet; you might want to create the formula in a worksheet first, and then copy it here. See Inserting a function.

Current Tag Field/Field Definition

Variables are placed in this pane automatically by your Function selections. The definition can include multiple data sources, such as the floor the object is on, followed by a field from a record format. You can manually add static text or punctuation, as well as simple arithmetic operators (which operate on numerical fields only).

List values of objects within the tagged/source object that meet the criteria

When selected, a list of values is derived from objects within the tagged/source object that meet the specified criteria. When deselected, the value comes directly from the tagged/source object.

Define Criteria

Opens the Criteria dialog box; see The Criteria dialog box. The specified criteria display above. 

Summarize items

Removes duplicate values from results after calculation

Include parent object

Adds parent object information to results

Advanced calculated field

Select this option to use data pulled from the drawing in the field, or to use automatically incrementing numbers or letters

Current Tag Field/Field Definition

Select a Data Source and (optionally) a Data Destination value and then click Add to Definition or Replace Current Definition to add the appropriate variables in this pane. You can add multiple sources, such as a window's width and cost. You can also manually add static text or punctuation, as well as simple arithmetic operators (which operate on numerical fields only).

For example, to display the price of an appliance with a 10 percent markup from the actual price in the appliance record, you might enter something like this:

#Appliance Record#.#Price# + #Appliance Record#.#Price# * 0.1

You can also use a logical IF function in the definition, where the first result is if your comparison is true, the second if your comparison is false. For example, the statements below are both valid syntax, and they both translate as follows: if the area of a space is greater than 12, return "Yes"; otherwise, return "No."

Yes@#Space#.#Area#>12:No

#WS_IF(('Space'.'Area'>'12'), 'Yes', 'No')#

If you include a worksheet function, the formula must be preceded by the characters #WS_ and followed by another # character, as shown above.

Data Source 

Specify the source of the data to display on the tag or legend. Different options are available for each source.

Object Parameters: Select the Object Name and which Parameter Name to use (for example, window and window width).

Record Format: Select the Format Name and which Field Name from the record format to use (for example, plant record and light range).

IFC Entity: To display pSet values (such as Classification) regardless of the object’s IfcEntity, select AnyIfcEntity, and then select the pSet Name and Property Name to use. To display data for a specific IFC entity, select Choose new IFC Entity, and then from the Select IFC Object dialog box, select an object; the object is displayed in the IfcEntity field. Then select the pSet Name and Property Name to use.

To use one of the IFC entity’s "base" values (such as "name"), select the IFC entity name from the pSetName list.

Object Function: Select an object-specific Function (for example, area).

General Function: Select a general Function (for example, sheet number).

Incrementing Value: Select a format for the value (integer, lower-case character, upper-case character). Then click Sequence Settings to enter the Start Value, Increment, and Next Value to use.

Worksheet Function: Select an object-specific Function (for example, volume). If the function you want isn't on the list, select Additional Functions, and select the function from The Select Function dialog box.

If you select a numeric data source (for example, a "length" object parameter or a "thermal efficiency" IFC property), additional fields display for setting the Units and/or Precision to show on the tag. 

Show thousands separator includes a thousands separator.

Show sign for non-negative values includes the + sign (for positive) or ± sign (for zero) in front of the number.

Show unit/mark shows a unit mark along with the unit value. If selected, select Insert space between value and unit to add a space between the number and unit.

If the Units setting is Feet & Inches (or if the setting is Document Units and the document setting is Feet & Inches), select Show units separator to include a separator between the feet and inches.

If the units and precision settings are different from those set for the document, the settings are added to the field definition. For example, #m_2_1# indicates the tag will use meters with precision .01.

To use the SIA standard for units, select SIA as the Units option and specify a Decimal Rounding Base. Select Always use meters to display fractional meter values instead of centimeters. Enter a Tolerance Size to set the size of the tolerance superscript in relation to the main number.

To number each cell, use the Incrementing Value Data Source.

To include the image scale, use the legend object's ImageScale Parameter Name.

Link to data source

(Data tags only)

Links the selected Data Source field to the selected Data Destination field of the object. For example, you might have a door tag with a field that extracts the Configuration setting from the door’s object parameters. You can link the field to the Operation Type field in the door's IFC record, to automatically update the IFC record when a door is tagged.

Data Destination

(Data tags only)

Specify the destination for the extracted data. Different options are available for each destination.

Object Parameters: Select the Object Name and which Parameter Name to use (for example, window and window width).

Record Format: Select the Format Name and which Field Name from the record format to use (for example, plant record and light range).

IFC Entity: From the Select IFC Object dialog box, select an object; the object is displayed in the IfcEntity field. Select the pSet Name and Property Name to use.

Add to Definition / Replace Current Definition

After you select the details for a data source (and an additional destination for the data, if applicable), these buttons add to or replace the variables in the Current Tag Field Definition pane for data tags or in the Current Field Definition pane for graphic legends or data legends

Value Display 

Show single value 

(Graphic legends and data legends only)

Shows a single value for the field in the legend; if there are multiple values for the field, select Sum values to display their sum

Show multiple values 

(Graphic legends and data legends only)

Shows multiple values for the field in the legend.

Select Only show unique values to exclude repeat values

Specify a Separator to add between multiple values (for example, a comma and a space)

Select Place each value on a new line to show multiple values on separate lines

User-entered field

(Data tags only)

Select this option to allow the user to enter data for the field when the tag is placed

Field Type 

(Data tags only)

Select the type of data to enter in the field:

Text: Field for entry of a string of characters, such as a word or sentence

Integer: Field for entry of whole numbers (uses less memory than a Real Number field)

Boolean: A check box

Real Number: Field for entry of general numbers, or numbers of a specific format, such as fractions, dimensions, or dates; click Define to specify a format

Pop-up: List of options to select from; click Define to enter the options

Define 

(Data tags only)

If the Field Type is Pop-up, opens the Edit Choices dialog box. Enter the options to display, pressing Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac) to separate each item.

If the Field Type is Real Number, opens the Number Format dialog box; select a format.

General: The default general number format

Decimal: Enter a value for the number of decimal places, and specify whether to use commas as separators

Scientific: Enter a value for the number of decimal places

Fractional: Enter the rounding value for fractions

Percentage: Enter a value for the number of decimal places. Entries are multiplied by 100 and are displayed with a percent symbol.

Dimension: Displays the current unit mark after the number (as in " for inches)

Dimension Area: Displays the current area units after the number (as in "sq ft" for square feet)

Dimension Volume: Displays the current volume units after the number (as in "cu ft" for cubic feet)

Angle: Select an accuracy setting (degrees, minutes, or seconds, or decimal numbers up to eight decimal places)

Date: Select a date format

Default 

(Data tags only)

Specify a default value. You must enter a default value for Integer and Real Number type fields.

Link to calculated/user-entered field

(Data tags only)

Links the Current Tag Field Definition or user-entered field to the selected Data Destination field associated with the object. For example, you might define a space tag field that includes the building the space is in, followed by the floor the space is on, followed by an incrementing value for each space. You can link the field definition to the Space Number parameter of the space object, to be used in reports.

Data Destination 

(Data tags only)

Specify the destination for the text value of the tag field. Different options are available for each destination.

Object Parameters: Select the Object Name and which Parameter Name to use (for example, window and window width).

Record Format: Select the Format Name and which Field Name from the record format to use (for example, plant record and light range).

IFC Entity: From the Select IFC Object dialog box, select an object; the object is displayed in the IfcEntity field. Select the pSet Name and Property Name to use.