Create an Annotation with an Attribute Link

This task shows you how to create an annotation with an attribute link. Piping objects are used to illustrate this function. The process is the same for other types of objects.
It is recommended that instead of using this function, you use the newer, more flexible, functionality explained in Creating Text Templates.

When you create an annotation with an attribute link, you are associating the annotation in the diagram with one or more attributes or properties of the component.  When the value of a linked attribute is changed the annotation is updated automatically.

If you create the attribute link on a placed component, the value in the annotation will change whenever the attribute value of the reference component changes.

You can also add the annotation to a reference component, in which case it will display on all placed components (you can create additional annotations on the placed component). In this case, placed components will inherit attribute values from the reference component. If you want each placed component to have unique values, derived from the design document in which it is placed, then you must take an additional step. Right click on the text in the reference component (as shown in Step 3 or 4 below) and, in the drop down menu that displays, select Modifiable in Instance. See Editing Annotation on a Placed Component for more information.

1. Click the Text button and click on the drawing where you want to place the text.  The Text Editor dialog box displays and a text box appears where you clicked. Enter the text in the Text Editor dialog box - it will display in the text box. Right click on the green border of the text box.  It will turn red and and a drop down menu will display - select Attribute Link.

2. Select the valve in your document.  The Attribute Link dialog box opens and displays a list of attributes.  Scroll down the Attribute List to NominalSize and select it.

3. The nominal size will be appear in the Nominal size field in your text box.

4. Repeat the process and add an annotation for Piping Spec.  Click on the line this time and select the attribute for the Piping Specification in the Attribute Link Panel.  The annotation will show the specification associated with the Line ID. 

5. Now, right click on the piping line in the document (or in the specification tree) and bring up the Properties dialog box.  Change the specification to CS300 and click OK.  The annotation for Piping Spec will be updated.
You should take note of the following behavior:
  • If you place an annotation on an instance, with an attribute link that points to an attribute on the reference component (or object), and
  • When you delete that instance, the annotation will not be deleted, unless
  • It is the last instance of a component in the design document. If it is the last instance of a component then the annotation will also be deleted. If it is the last instance of a route it will not be deleted.

To help you recognize an attribute on a reference component: In Step 2 above, all attributes that are preceded by the words Block Valve Function1 are attributes of the reference component. All others are attributes of the instance.