# Create HMI tags in the Tags editor

The Tags editor options listed below are common to all types of tags. To see the additional options for a specific type of tag, go to the help topic for that tag type.

## To create an HMI tag

1. Decide which HMI server you want to create the tag in.
2. Open the Tags editor by doing one of the following:
   - In the Explorer window, double-click the Tags icon in the Tags folder.
   - Right-click the Tags title and select Open from the context menu.
   - Drag the Tags icon to the workspace.
3. To add the tag to a folder, double-click the folder in the folder hierarchy to open it. The folder name appears in the Name box.
4. Click the New button in the form section to clear the form and position the cursor in the Name box.
5. Type the tag name and select its type.
6. Enter the additional information required in the Tag section for the type of tag you are creating.
7. Choose a data source and enter the information as required for that type of data source.
8. Click Accept to save the tag to the HMI Tag database.

   Tip: | Once you've created a tag, you can't change its type or name by editing them. To rename a tag or change its type, you must duplicate the tag and then supply a new name and type. When you enter information in the form, the Prev and Next buttons change to Accept and Discard buttons. Click Accept to save tag information. Click Discard to cancel changes to a tag. You can also create new tags in the Tag Browser.

## Options

- Tag
  - Name

    Type the tag's name. If you are defining a tag within a folder, the folder name will already be present and is considered part of the tag name. The name can be 255 characters long, and can include letters, numbers, the underscore (_), the dash (-), and back slash (\) (for tags in folders).

    Tip: | Use letters in the tag name in addition to numbers. Tag names with over 30 numbers may not display properly in the tag browser.

  - Type

    Choose digital, analog, or string. Additional input boxes related to the type are shown.

  - Description

    Type a description of the tag (128 characters maximum) if desired.

- Data Source
  - Device

    Choose Device if data for the tag originates from a specific memory location in a programmable controller or from another Windows program.

    - Address. Type the address of the device, or click the browse button to open the Tag Browser. The list will show all non-HMI tags in the application. (HMI tags cannot reference other HMI tags.) Select a tag in the Tag Browser, and click OK to insert the address in the Address box.
  - Memory

    Choose Memory if data originates from the value table or you wish to store variables in volatile memory.

    - Initial Value. For memory tags only, type a starting value for the tag.
    - Retentive. Check this box if you want the tag to retain its value at run time when the application is closed and reopened, or if the run-time terminal is shut down and restarted.

      Tip: | This feature only applies to run time, not to development. Any changes to the tag database, either through the editor or through importing a CSV file, will cause retentive tags to reset to their initial values.

## See also

Set up an HMI tag database

About HMI tag names

About HMI tag types

About data sources

Log tag data

data source

Add and edit HMI tags from the Tag Browser

Keywords: HMI tag, create