FIELD and UPDATEFIELD

Text that calculates its own value (FIELD), such as the date, file name or area, and how to update it (UPDATEFIELD).

What it does

FIELD places text that stores an expression and displays the calculated value, such as the date or the file name in a title block.

Where to find it

Ribbon: type the command
Command line: FIELD
Command line: UPDATEFIELD (alias UPDATEF)

Available fields (`FIELD ?`)

Field	Value
AREA	The total closed area in the drawing.
COUNT	The number of objects (`COUNT circle` counts circles).
DATE / DATETIME / TIME	The date / the date and time / the time.
FILENAME / FILEPATH	The file name / the full path.
LAYER	The current layer.
LOGIN	The Windows user name.
SHEET	The current layout name.

Steps

Type FIELD COUNT circle and press Enter. The prompt bar shows a sample value.
Click the position to place it.
After you edit the drawing, type UPDATEFIELD to recalculate every field.

FIELD COUNT circle shows 3, and FIELD DATE shows the date

Note: When you save as DXF, the latest calculated value is saved as text, so other CAD programs show the correct value.

Try it: Hole count that keeps itself up to date

A 300 x 200 back plate for an electrical cabinet with a grid of M6 tapping holes. The hole count in the note is a FIELD, so when the customer asks for two more holes, the note fixes itself.

REC 0,0 → 300 Tab 200.
First hole: C 30,20 radius 3.25. Select it, type ARRAYRECT 4 80 0, then select the four holes and type ARRAYRECT 3 0 80. You now have 12 holes.
DT with Text height 8, type HOLES: at about 0,-18. (FIELD uses this text height too.)
Type FIELD COUNT circle. The prompt bar shows the value '12'. Click at about 45,-18.
Two extra holes: C 70,140 radius 3.25 and C 230,140 radius 3.25.
Type UPDATEFIELD. The note now reads HOLES: 14.

Back plate with 14 holes and a FIELD note that counted them

Challenge: Put FIELD DATE and FIELD FILENAME under the note, so the printout always shows which file and which day it came from.