Automating Title Block Text with Auto-Text Tags

LayOut's Auto-Text generates title block text like dates, page numbers, or custom text you define. Auto-Text tags help improve accuracy and can even save time. LayOut includes the following preset Auto-Text tags and other supported tags:

Auto-Text tags allow you to automatically insert information into your drawing in the same way you add normal text to your drawing. You can also customize those tags, or create your own. 

Add Auto-Text Tags

To add tags to a document, follow these steps:

1. Click Text () from the default toolbar or Tools > Text from the menu bar.

2. In the document area, click the location for the Auto-Text tag.

3. From the menu bar, select Text > Insert Auto-Text, then choose a tag from the submenu. The selected tag appears in the designated location of  the document area.
   
   If you know which tag you want to use, you can also type the tag name, such as <PageNumber>, into a text box and press Enter.

   

4. Click outside the text area. The Auto-Text tag displays the text in the document area.

Customizing Auto-Text Tags

You can customize the preset tags in the Document Setup dialog. For example, you can customize the <Company> tag with your company's name, or create a custom tag for a specific project.

To customize a preset Auto-Text tag, follow these steps:

1. Select Window > Document Setup or Text > Customize Auto-Text to open the Document Setup dialog.
   
   The Auto Text section is selected by default. It lists all the default tags, and any you’ve created, along with their descriptions.

   

2. Select the tag to customize in the list of tags.

3. Depending on the type of tag you selected, you can perform one of the following actions:

   • Address, Author, Company - Insert the custom text you want associated with the selected tag.

   • Current Date, Date Created, Date Modified, Date Published - Change the date format.

   • File Name - Choose how the file name appears.

   • Page Count, Page Number - Set the style, start, and ending pages.

4. Click Close when you are done.

Creating New Auto-Text Tags

When you create a new tag, you can choose from the following tag types:

• File Name – Inserts the current file name.

• Page Name – Uses page names that appear in the Pages panel. See Managing and Navigating Pages for details about the Pages panel.

• Page Number – Uses the current page number, which is managed in the Pages panel.

• Page Count – Shows the total number of pages, or pages within a custom range.

• Custom Text – Displays any text you choose and updates in your document if you change the Auto-Text definition.

• Current Date – Displays today's date.

• Date Created – Inserts the document creation date. This value only changes if you select File > Save As and save the document under a new name.

• Date Modified – Inserts the document’s last saved date. 

• Date Published – Inserts the last date your document was exported or printed.   Unpublished displays if it hasn’t been exported or printed.

• Sequence – Automatically inserts alpha numeric values in set increments. Select a style, such as numbers or letters, what the sequence starts with, increment, and format for your sequence. You can also renumber an existing sequence in Document Setup or the context menu for an existing sequence tag.

To create a new tag, follow these steps:

1. Click Add Tag () below the list of tags in the Document Setup dialog. 

2. Select the type of tag you want to add in the menu. After you select an option, a new tag is highlighted in the list of tags at the top of the Auto-Text pane.

3. Replace the default name for the new tag with a unique name and press Enter. 

4. In the Settings for section, use the controls for selected tag type to set the text that the Auto-Text tag inserts.