Archicad 28 Autotext and Tags: A Guide to Bringing Model Data onto Layouts

Graphisoft’s Archicad 28 help documentation describes Autotext keywords and tag tools as two complementary ways to use project information in drawings and layout documentation. Autotext can retrieve information from areas such as project, site, building, contact, layout, and drawing data. Tags, meanwhile, can be associated with model elements or used independently of the model. This guide is based on how these features are described in the Archicad 28 documentation.

1. Decide which information Autotext should display

Start by identifying the information that needs to appear on a layout or drawing. The keywords in the Archicad 28 help documentation cover a range of data, including project name and code, site name and address, building name, contact details, client information, and layout name and number. For example, the listed keywords include <PROJECTNAME> for the project name, <PROJECT_CODE> for the project code, and <BUILDING_NAME> for the building name.

Pay attention to the type of information when choosing a keyword. A layout’s name, number, and subset are separate fields, each with its own keyword in the documentation. Likewise, a drawing’s name, scale, and renovation filter are defined as separate pieces of information. Use the keyword that corresponds to the specific value you want displayed in the text.

Graphisoft notes that Autotext keywords can be added to GDL scripts. It also explains that 2D drawing elements containing Autotext can be saved as tags to create custom tags. This makes it possible to combine fixed text with the appropriate Autotext information when preparing tag content.

2. Check file and drawing information

Some system Autotext fields depend on the project file. According to the help documentation, these fields remain undefined until the project file has been saved at least once. Keep this requirement in mind if you plan to use information such as the file name, file path, last save time, or the person who last saved the file.

If you want to show the drawing scale on a layout, take care not to confuse two different values. The documentation distinguishes between Drawing Scale and Original Scale: the scale customized in the drawing settings does not have to match the scale of the source view. Decide in advance which scale you want displayed on the layout, then choose the corresponding keyword.

Some Autotext options for renaming Publisher items are not intended for general use; they are available only in the Rename Publisher Items dialog box. Keep this limitation in mind when using information such as folder name, Publisher set name, or source item name.

3. Choose whether the tag should be associated or independent

In Archicad 28, tags can be placed in two basic ways:

1. Associated tag: Click an element to link the tag to it. The tag remains associated with the element if it is moved or changed, and relevant parameter values update automatically in the tag. This method is suitable for displaying information from a model element.

2. Independent tag: The tag is not linked to any element. The documentation gives notes such as “install snow guards here,” which do not come from the model, as an example of independent tag use. An independent tag may therefore be appropriate for general explanatory or instructional text.

Also consider how associated tags behave when elements are hidden. By default, an associated tag is hidden when its element is hidden—for example, when the element’s layer is hidden. If you want the tag to remain visible while the element is hidden, clear the Hide with Associated Element option in Tag Tool Settings. Also note that deleting an element deletes its associated tags. Multistory elements must be tagged separately on each story.

4. Adjust placement and tag content

Tags can be placed using either the simple or detailed method. With the simple method, the tag is placed with one click; it uses the active settings for the arrowhead and marker line type and starting angle. The detailed method requires three clicks if the marker line’s starting angle is not locked, or two clicks if it is locked. For placements that need more control, consider the additional steps offered by the detailed method.

Archicad’s built-in tags provide customizable content. If no suitable tag is available, 2D drawing elements can be saved as tags together with Autotext. This approach lets you use project or element information within a reusable drawing element. However, decide in advance whether the tag should be associated with a model element when choosing its content and placement method.

Common mistakes

• Expecting file-dependent system Autotext fields to populate before the project file has been saved.

• Assuming the drawing’s customizable scale and the source view’s original scale are the same value.

• Overlooking the fact that a tag may be hidden by default when its associated element is hidden.

• Tagging a multistory element on only one story and assuming the tag will appear on the others.

• Forgetting that deleting an element also deletes its associated tag.

Impact on architecture and visualization workflows

These features can be useful in architecture and interior design workflows where model information and layout notes need to be managed together. Pulling project, layout, or drawing information from the appropriate Autotext field can help reduce the need to re-enter the same information in different parts of the documentation. Associated tags can also update relevant parameter information when an element changes. However, the source documentation does not provide information about render performance, hardware requirements, or licensing conditions, so no conclusions can be drawn on those topics. The main points to watch in practice are saving the file for the first time, selecting the correct information field, and checking tag visibility and story behavior.