In Architectural discipline annotation takes place in a sheet or drawing model container and building graphics take place in a 3D model container. This is the philosophy behind keeping annotation and building graphics separate in Dynamic Views.

There are good reasons for this. First, it prevents annotation showing up as an edge in a section or elevation view. A space annotation is a good example of this since spaces are a combination of a shape and annotation. This combination is an important component for storing and reporting space information. You need to see the Area value for a space, particularly when it is changed by things such as bounding walls – this is the design nature of spaces. You also use spaces to know where they are in a building. So space information needs to be available in the 3D building model container even though the annotation is in the sheet model container.

To accommodate this, a space label artifact is created to immediately communicate basic design and space location information such as space name, space number, and area, when spaces are placed in the 3D building model container. With the space artifact utility, you are given immediate visual feedback when spaces are placed in the 3D building model container.

When a Building View is created for a 3D building floor plan, and the view is used to attach the 3D building as a reference file to a sheet model container, Drawing Rules take over and replace the artifact with a datagroup annotation space label.

When you specify a project specific (or office specific) datagroup space label annotation cell, the Drawing Rules utility uses it. You can also override the space label cell in the drawing rule to quickly switch from one rule to another, resulting in instant changes to the appearance of the space label. For example, one drawing rule can simply display a space name and number while another drawing rule displays a space label name, number, area, and finish.