Tag Annotation
On the Tag tab of Ideate Annotate you can automatically tag multiple elements in multi views all at once using flexible rules to get placement just right.
Topics in this Section

Selection
When Annotate is first opened, only the active view is considered. The Selection panel gives you additional options that Revit’s built-in tagging does not provide:
- Include elements in All Open Views
- If an open view is a Sheet View, all of the Views on that sheet will be considered.
- Include elements in Linked Files
Rules
The Rules panel contains a Category: selector drop-down and a Search: tool. Use these options to narrow down the results to meet your requirements.
The main part of the Rules panel displays a dynamic list of Tag Rules that can be used to automatically tag Revit elements. The dynamic nature of the list is that it will only display rules that are applicable to the view. In order for an element to be taggable it must meet both of these conditions:
- The Revit Category is visible in the view.
- There is a Revit Tag loaded for the Revit Category in question.
You are not required to create Tag Rules to use this feature but doing so will greatly improve the consistency of a drawing set. Learn more about Customizing Ideate Annotate Tag Rules.
Rule Bolding
- Any Tag Rules that are checked in the Ideate Annotate UI will appear bold
- When a Revit element is selected in the drawing area, any Tag Rule that applies to that element will appear bold.
- In the example below, MC-Generic (Multi-Category) is bold even though it is un-checked because Specialty Equipment is included in the scope of Multi-Category.
Rule Italics
- Default Rules are those that Ideate Annotate creates on the fly if a Sample or Custom Tag Rule does not yet exist.
- These default rules are shown italicized as the name of the Revit Category and the word “Default” separated by a colon : e.g. Specialty Equipment : Default.
- In our same example image, MC-Generic is a Sample Rule that comes delivered with Ideate Automation, therefore it is NOT italicized.

Overrides
The Overrides pane is where different tagging behavior can be defined. The display will vary, depending upon the category that is selected. Regardless of the category, these options will always be displayed.
- þ Remove existing tags
- When this option is enabled it will identify placed tags that already comply with the rule, delete them, and then replace them with new tags. When not enabled, new tags are placed and no existing tags are removed. This will result in a Duplicate Tags Issue when analyzed.
- Tag Type
- Any Revit Tag can have multiple different Types. A specific Type can be defined here as an override.
- Position
- A visual grid is presented where the tag positioning can be defined by clicking on the different layout options.
- Leader Line: ¨ and Leader Length:
- If the Tag Position has been overridden to be outside of the boundary, the option to include a Leader Line is given as well as to define its length.
- Offset
- If the Leader is disabled and the Tag Position is anything other than middle center, a dimensional offset can be defined to affect the location of the tag.
Tools
At the bottom of the Tag tab you will find additional tools.
- On the left are the Align/Distribute tools that are also available in Browse and Review.
- The Selection Filter button let you to grab a broad selection of elements that will be automatically filtered to select only the applicable Revit Categories.
- The Filter button will add to the existing selection by allowing the end-user to make a crossing window that will return only elements that comply with the selected rule(s).
- To start, select a Rule from the list and then click anywhere in the Revit drawing area (canvas) to deselect elements.
- Pick the Selection Filter button and make your element selection with a crossing window or other method.
- To repeat the filtered selection and add to the current selection, pick the Filter button to make another crossing window.
- Add Tags button starts the tagging process
- The buttons above will be hidden and replaced with a progress bar to indicate the number of views that are being processed.
- The Add Tags button will be enabled when:
- At least one rule is selected
- At least one element selected that complies with a selected rule
- At least one element that is not tagged if Remove Existing Tags is off