A field's position may be defined relative to the top-left corner of the page (see To define a field, below) or in relation to another field – known as a "tag" – instead (see To set up tags, below).

Alternatively, it is possible to set up a field definition manually by selecting New... from the 'Fields' menu and keying in the details on the Definitions page of the Field dialog. It is also possible to convert the field into a tag by filling in the Searching page of the 'Field' dialog as well: see Setting search tag options

An AddText field may be attached to a tag and used, for example, to fill in a form.

The field name definitions are saved in a file with the extension .EE and the same stem name as the input file. You can rename this file in the File page: see Setting fields file options.

Click to expand/collapse this hidden textTo define a field
1.Display the Field dialog and with the 'Definitions' page on view:
oRight-click on the page and select New Field... from the pop-up menu.
Enter the new field's From left and From top coordinates, and its Height and Width dimensions in the edit boxes.
oOr sweep over a piece of text on a page to mark-out the new field's area, then right-click and select New Field... from the pop-up menu.
The selected area's coordinates and dimensions are entered in the dialog automatically.
2.Use the default Field name (FIELD1, FIELD2, etc.)
or click DICOM name... and set up a DICOM tag – see DICOM Element Tags
or type in a new name.
The field names are listed either on the right of the field definition page or below it. If the Tree option is selected, this list shows the hierarchy of fields and their related tags, otherwise it is an alphabetical list of fields: see Fields list/tree.
3.Non-specialists are advised to select Any content for the field TYPE from the drop-down list.
EscapeE 'eE' iconEscapeE is often able to detect when field values do not correspond to the selected type: if this happens the caption "Type" will be shown in red and an 'invalid data' warning given.
4.To make a field relative to a tag, select the appropriate field from the Reference Field drop-down list.
Alternatively, you can drag the field name in the 'tree view' and place it under the name of its parent field.
5.If you need to set up a 'composite' field, tick Composite to access the set-up panel: see Defining a composite field.
6.The field is enabled by default, but you may "switch off" the field by de-selecting the Enabled check-box: see To disable a field or tag.
7.Further options may be defined for the field on the set-up window's other pages:
oSearching  see Setting search tag options and To set up tags below.
oAction  see Setting field actions.
oXML  see Outputting to XML.
8.Click OK.

You may also use EscapeE to define composite fields: these can comprise a combination of other fields' values, simple text or access pre-defined special fields.

A composite field is treated just like any other field, so may be included in a CSV or XML file or used as a file name. It can be manipulated by a plugin such as Barcode or displayed using AddText by leaving the added text field blank.

To depict all fields and tags on the page displayed in the EscapeE 'eE' iconEscapeE window, tick the Show fields. To depict only the fields and tags that have been found on the current page, tick If found instead.
oTo show the field-names and tag-names along with their areas, tick Show names as well.
oClick Remember to keep this set-up.

See also Viewing data fields and tags.

If an Action for the field has been set up and found true, the Found circle is colored cyan True (cyan circle) glyph to indicate that the action will occur: see Setting field actions.
Click to expand/collapse this hidden textTo set up tags
1.Right-click on the piece of text or graphic or sweep out an area of a graphic to select just part of it.
2.Select New Tag... from the pop-up menu then choose from the following sub-options:
oThis size graphic...  To find a graphic, line, drawn path or shade with matching width and height.
oAny graphic...  To search for any kind of graphic, line, drawn path or shade in this area.
oThis text...  The text under the mouse or within the selected area (the default).
oAny text...  Any text in the area of the field.
oTagged text...  To use the selected text as a tag for defining a new AddText field: see Adding Tagged text below.
3.The Definitions page of the Field dialog is displayed, showing details of the new tag. Use the default name (TAG1, TAG2, etc.) or type in a new name for the tag in the Field box. See also Editing fields and tags.
4.Select Searching tab; here you can define how to find a field and how to find the end of the field: see Setting search tag options.
5.Click OK.
Repeat these steps to set up more tags. For convenience, the chosen sub-option is moved to the top of the pop-up menu, e.g. "New Tag This size graphic...".

Blue diamond bullet Note

If there is more than item on the page at the chosen position, a dialog will prompt you to 'Choose which item' from a list, e.g.

Graphic 1750 x 1175

Graphic 1745 x 1170

Click to expand/collapse hidden textAdding Tagged text

Tags may be used to add text to a document if/when a tag's Search options are met.

1.Right-click on the piece of text or graphic or sweep out an area of a graphic to select just part of it.
2.Select New Tag... and choose the Tagged text... sub-option.
3.The Fields dialog opens with the Searching page on view: edit this as appropriate to set up the tag, see Setting search tag options.
4.Click OK: the AddText configuration dialog is displayed.
5.Enter the text string to be added to the document. Set up the font, position and rotation for the string. See To add new text in the Plugins Help.
6.Click OK.

Blue diamond bullet Tips

Open blue diamond bullet Configure the symbolset before defining data fields and tags, see About symbolsets.

Open blue diamond bullet Choose appropriate units from 'View' menu's Mouse coordinates sub-options, see To switch mouse units.

Open blue diamond bullet A field's size and position may be redefined using the Field dialog, see Editing fields and tags, or by dragging it's box/sizing handles on the page, see Viewing data fields and tags.

Open blue diamond bullet Fields can be reordered by dragging the names in the 'tree view' window, see Fields list/tree.