Property text is text that is associative to properties in the current file, as well as to properties in models attached to the current file. Property text strings retrieve file or model-related data. The Select Property Text dialog box specifies the type of information to be retrieved and the source file to be referenced. When a property text string is resolved, its current property value is displayed. For example, you can use property text to extract and display a filename and last modification date, and they will remain updated without manual editing.
All standard Solid Edge file properties are available for use as property text. Properties that can be computed from data in the document, such as active sheet and number of sheets, are also available.
You can select property text from a variety of dialog boxes, and you can add and edit property text strings by typing and copying them. You can use the Select Symbols and Values dialog box to insert annotation and dimension symbols directly into an annotation or dimension. You also can insert references that derive their values by property text, to extract bend data, hole data, weld beads, and drawing views. This dialog box eliminates having to type any three-character property text codes.
You can specify the property text to be extracted while creating or editing callouts, balloons, parts lists, blocks with labels (for example, a block that consists of a drawing border and title block), and other annotations like datum frames and feature control frames.
You can use property text to extract values into product manufacturing information (PMI) documentation, such as dimensions, callouts, and balloon annotations.
On a family of parts drawing table, you can use property text to extract graphical model information into user-defined table columns, to supplement the dimensional and positional values derived from the family of parts.
You can use property text to extract variables and values from the Variable Table.
For callouts, balloons, and some other annotations, you can select properties from more than one source file, or reference file. The source file is set on the Select Property Text dialog box, which is displayed when you select the Property Text button 
. You see this button on the Callout Properties dialog box, the Balloon command bar, and on the Balloon page of the Parts List Properties dialog box, for example.
For parts lists, the part or sheet model geometry file is the source of property text. The properties available for you to select on the Columns tab of the Parts List Properties dialog box are defined in the source model files using the File Properties command and the Material Table command. For more information about using parts lists, see the Parts lists topic.
For family of parts drawing tables, the master part file, which is where the Variable Table is defined, is the source of property text.
When you select property text strings from the Select Property Text dialog box, the available properties vary with the property text source file setting. Properties such as Company, Project, Revision Number, Document Status, and Last Printed Date can be extracted directly into the title block of a drawing border template.
Example:
For a list of properties that can be selected when the reference file is set to From Active Document, see Property text source list (Source: From Active Document).
When you select property text from other dialog boxes, such as the Select Symbols and Values dialog box or the Callout Properties dialog box, the property text string is created for you. This ensures the syntax is correct.
You can type the property text strings yourself, and you can customize property text strings by typing format codes that modify the extracted property value.
For a list of property text codes and modifiers, see these help topics:
You can use property text to specify that variables and values in the Variable Table be extracted and referenced in a drawing, profile, or sketch. For example, you can use this information to retrieve dimensional values for engineering design calculations, such as when using the Goal Seek command. You also can annotate your 2D or 3D design using callouts that reference dimensional variables in the Variable Table. The Variables property extracts current data directly from the table. As your design changes, so do the dimensional values in the design.
For more information about variables and property text, see these Help topics:
To learn more about using variables in your design work, see the Help topic, Using Variables.
To learn how to access the Variable Table through property text, see the Help topic, Extract Variable Table data using property text.
Property text is updated automatically during document transition (for example, when you open or save a file). You can also update all property text fields in the current file at any time with the Update All Property Text command on the PMI tab in a model or on the Home tab in draft.
If you open a document for which an associative model is absent, the property text displayed will be the last known good information. For example, if you view a drawing on another system without the model from which the drawing is derived, the property text will be the information obtained the last time the model was available.