Product(s):	WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, HAMMER, SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, StormCAD, CivilStorm
Version(s):	All
Area:	Output

Problem

How can I create new annotations for an element type? (show labeling in the drawing pane for certain attributes or results)

How do I annotate model elements by selection set? How do I annotate only certain elements in a model?

How can I rotate and scale annotations individually?

Solution

You can add annotations through Element Symbology. The steps to do this can be found below in this article. First, one must understand the Element Symbology Manager.

Element Symbology

The Element Symbology manager controls the way elements, and their associated labels are displayed in the drawing area. You can create multiple symbology definitions in which you can create different combinations of color coding and annotations for different scenarios and quickly switch between them. The Symbology Definitions manager lets you add, edit, and remove and manage the symbology definitions associated with your model. To change the settings for a definition, change the current symbology definition to the one you want to edit in the Element Symbology Manager (using the dropdown at the top) and make the desired changes there (i.e. turn on/off the desired elements, create new annotations and color coding and turn them on or off, etc.).

Note: The element types that are not used in the current model are marked with an icon.

Also, you can different folders within a symbology definition which can have a collection of color coding and/or annotation that can be turned off as one entity. To create a folder in the Element Symbology Manager:

Click View > Element Symbology.
In the Element Symbology Manager, right-click an element and select New > Folder.
You can drag and drop existing annotations and color coding into the folder you create, and you can create annotations and color coding within the folder by right-clicking the folder and selecting New > Annotation or New > Color Coding.

Creating a New Annotation

1) In the Element Symbology manager (View > Element Symbology) right click on the name of the element that you want to annotation and choose New > Annotation

2) Choose the appropriate field using the drop down menu, which lists the properties in alphabetical order or select the field using the " > " button, which lists all the properties by category.

Note: Alternatively (instead of picking a single field to annotate), you can use Free Form annotations as described below.

3) After you choose all your setting (see details below) you can click "Apply" and then "Ok" to place the annotations.

After placement the annotations can always be moved manually by clicking and dragging the "handle bar" of the annotation.

Free Form Annotations

Note: the "Free Form" option can be used to configure a block of multiple annotations that can be grouped together. See more here: How do you create a free form annotation?

Annotation for a Specific Scenario

By default (and always, for version 2024 and earlier) annotations will reflect the currently active scenario. For example if you annotate pipe diameter and the diameter is different between two scenarios, the annotation will update to reflect the diameter of the active scenario, as you change from one to the other.

However, you may have a need to annotate for a specific scenario or more than one scenario (for example as a way to compare results between scenarios).

Starting with version 2026 (26.00.00.XXX and higher), this can be accomplished with the "Use Specified Scenario" check box. Notice in the screenshot bellow, two separate flow annotations were added, each with a specific scenario specified. In the plan view, the flow results are easily compared by looking at the two annotations:

Annotating By Selection Set

The "Selection Set" dropdown enables you choose a existing selection set of elements that will be annotated. With this, you can annotate only certain elements in your model instead of all of them.

Setting the Offset and Size

The "X Offset" and "Y Offset" are used to adjust the initial placement offset of the annotations with respect to the center point of the element. The height multiplier is used to adjust the initial size of the annotation. This height multiplier is multiplied to the global height setting for annotations that is found on the Drawing tab in the Options manager (File > Options).

If you have multiple annotations for a given element type, it may be easier to use free form annotations as described further above.

Rotating and scaling individual annotations

Annotations can be scaled and rotated one at a time by right-clicking on the label and then selecting scale or rotate.

Can the color of the label be changed without changing the color of the element?

See: Can the color of the label be changed without changing the color of the element?

Annotation in default color and only color-code element symbology

If you want to keep the annotations (labels) in their default color and only color-code your element symbology (for example change the pipe colors without changing the color of the labels or annotations), go to File > Options > Drawing and uncheck 'Color element annotations'. Then click 'OK':

How do I annotate model elements?