All about the "Tags" feature
In this article, you'll learn all about the "Tags" feature!
Tags are small badges that can be applied to printer, files and print queue items, that make the printers or files easy to identify and give each printer or item unique details on either nozzle, material data, or something completely different by assigning custom tags.
Tags are meant to make it a breeze to change details such as nozzle size or material info on your printer or files, and provides you with a neat way of arranging, grouping and managing your printers.
Tags can be used on;
Printers
Files
Print queue items
Where tags can be applied, you apply them by clicking the "+" (plus) sign which has a dotted outline, which is shown on printers, files and queue items like this;
When changing the "Nozzle size" tag for printers, the settings-based nozzle size of the printer is changed, meaning it's not just visual, but also changes filament & slicer details
The nozzle size tag allows you to easily assign, and later identify, which printer has what nozzle size currently attached!
Static material data vs. assigned spools; for printers, you can either assign a specific spool - each having its own identity - or simply define the material type and color - statically! The main difference being tracking of material usage.
Tags allow you to define static material data for printers, files & queue items.
Before material tags were introduced, only printers could have material properties assigned, and only through the filament management system, by assigning a specific spool - now, printers, files & queue items can all have material properties assigned, without having to be tied to a specific spool, in case you don't use the spool-assigning system!
Material type (e.g. "PLA", "ABS" or "PETG" - custom types are possible)
Material color
Color name
These 3 details account for all the info your printer and files need about the material, to heat up, slice, and start the right files!
The material type holds temperatures, slicing details, material info such as density and filament diameter.
For printers with multiple extruders, material details - whether it's an assigned spool or static tag details - can be assigned to each
For printers, you can either assign a specific spool - each having its own identity, and has to be created in the "Filament" manager, or - using the tags - define static material type and color data.
The main difference being, that with assigned spools, we can track the usage of each spool individually, while with static material data, we only use the information such as heat temperatures and material slicer settings.
Custom tags are 100% defined by you; you can create tags with custom text, and choose from a list of background colors.
These tags can be anything you'd like, such as; "maintenance" or "clogged" for printers with issues, or "smooth PEI sheet" if the printer has a different sheet - there are no limits!
Queue items will match with printers that have the same tags as the queue item; same nozzle size (if defined), same material type (if defined), same material color name (if defined), and contain all possible custom tags
One of the best things about tags, is that it's not just for the visuals; the tags are used to match print queue items with your printers!
When a print queue item has any tags assigned, whether it's nozzle size, material data or custom tags, it will require printers to at least have the same nozzle size, same material type and material color name, as well as contain all possible custom tags that the queue item has.
If a queue item has the tag "Nozzle size: 0.6", only printers with this nozzle size will match with the queue item automatically!
For material data, the material type must match - if set - as well as the color name - we don't match based on the actual color code.
If a queue item has no tags at all (custom or otherwise), the queue will default to match by the standard criteria; gcode analysis, bed size etc.
A printer can have more custom tags than the queue item, as long as it contains at least all the possible custom tags assigned to a queue item
Learn more about print queue & printers matching; Auto-Matching Queue Items to Printers
About tags
What are tags?
Tags are small badges that can be applied to printer, files and print queue items, that make the printers or files easy to identify and give each printer or item unique details on either nozzle, material data, or something completely different by assigning custom tags.
Tags are meant to make it a breeze to change details such as nozzle size or material info on your printer or files, and provides you with a neat way of arranging, grouping and managing your printers.
Where can tags be applied?
Tags can be used on;
Printers
Files
Print queue items
How to apply tags
Where tags can be applied, you apply them by clicking the "+" (plus) sign which has a dotted outline, which is shown on printers, files and queue items like this;
About the "Nozzle size" tag
When changing the "Nozzle size" tag for printers, the settings-based nozzle size of the printer is changed, meaning it's not just visual, but also changes filament & slicer details
The nozzle size tag allows you to easily assign, and later identify, which printer has what nozzle size currently attached!
About material tags / static material data
Static material data vs. assigned spools; for printers, you can either assign a specific spool - each having its own identity - or simply define the material type and color - statically! The main difference being tracking of material usage.
Tags allow you to define static material data for printers, files & queue items.
Before material tags were introduced, only printers could have material properties assigned, and only through the filament management system, by assigning a specific spool - now, printers, files & queue items can all have material properties assigned, without having to be tied to a specific spool, in case you don't use the spool-assigning system!
The material details;
Material type (e.g. "PLA", "ABS" or "PETG" - custom types are possible)
Material color
Color name
These 3 details account for all the info your printer and files need about the material, to heat up, slice, and start the right files!
The material type holds temperatures, slicing details, material info such as density and filament diameter.
For printers with multiple extruders, material details - whether it's an assigned spool or static tag details - can be assigned to each
Difference between static & assigned spools
For printers, you can either assign a specific spool - each having its own identity, and has to be created in the "Filament" manager, or - using the tags - define static material type and color data.
The main difference being, that with assigned spools, we can track the usage of each spool individually, while with static material data, we only use the information such as heat temperatures and material slicer settings.
About custom tags
Custom tags are 100% defined by you; you can create tags with custom text, and choose from a list of background colors.
These tags can be anything you'd like, such as; "maintenance" or "clogged" for printers with issues, or "smooth PEI sheet" if the printer has a different sheet - there are no limits!
Tags & print queue; matching items
Queue items will match with printers that have the same tags as the queue item; same nozzle size (if defined), same material type (if defined), same material color name (if defined), and contain all possible custom tags
One of the best things about tags, is that it's not just for the visuals; the tags are used to match print queue items with your printers!
When a print queue item has any tags assigned, whether it's nozzle size, material data or custom tags, it will require printers to at least have the same nozzle size, same material type and material color name, as well as contain all possible custom tags that the queue item has.
If a queue item has the tag "Nozzle size: 0.6", only printers with this nozzle size will match with the queue item automatically!
For material data, the material type must match - if set - as well as the color name - we don't match based on the actual color code.
If a queue item has no tags at all (custom or otherwise), the queue will default to match by the standard criteria; gcode analysis, bed size etc.
A printer can have more custom tags than the queue item, as long as it contains at least all the possible custom tags assigned to a queue item
Learn more about print queue & printers matching; Auto-Matching Queue Items to Printers
Updated on: 30/06/2023
Thank you!