This reference describes the Tags field as it appears across Estimate Setup → Substrates, Print Machines, Finishing Machines, and Category Parts under Products → Categories. It also lists the other compatibility checks Estimator runs alongside tags during route selection. Pricing rules, included-step calculations, and substrate physical fields are covered in their own clusters.
Where the Tags field appears
Field | What it controls | When to change this | What depends on it |
Tags (on a substrate row) | Routing labels Estimator pairs with machine Tags to decide whether the substrate–machine pairing passes the tag check. | When the substrate belongs on a specific production path (cover-only digital, large-format only) that must not pick up unrelated machines. | Which machines are eligible to use this substrate; presence of the substrate in the Excluded machines section of Issue analysis. |
Tags (on a print or finishing machine record) | Routing labels Estimator pairs with substrate and part Tags to decide whether the machine is on the candidate route. | When the machine belongs on a specific production path and you want it excluded from unrelated routes. | Which routes the machine joins; what appears in Excluded machines on Issue analysis when the machine is filtered out. |
Tags (on a category part row) | Routing labels Estimator pairs with machine and substrate Tags at the part level — the narrowest tag layer. | When the same physical machine is valid for one part of a product but not another (cover lamination vs inner). | Part-level route narrowing; whether a quote's part can use a specific machine record. |
Tag-matching rules
Rule | Effect on route selection |
Substrate and machine share at least one tag value | Tag check passes for that pairing. Other compatibility checks still run. |
Substrate and machine both carry tags but none overlap | Tag check excludes the pairing. The machine appears in Excluded machines with a tag-mismatch reason on Issue analysis. |
One side has no tags | Estimator treats the empty side as unrestricted by tags. The pairing passes the tag check. |
Part-level tags conflict with substrate tags | Part tags narrow further; the route requires overlap on both. Empty part tags are unrestricted. |
Other compatibility layers Estimator runs alongside tags
Compatibility check | What Estimator verifies | Where to check it on a quote |
Substrate sheet size | Press accepts the substrate's sheet dimensions. | Issue analysis → Excluded machines, sheet-size reason. |
Weight range | Substrate weight (gsm or lb) falls inside the machine's min/max. | Excluded machines, weight-range reason. |
Thickness range | Substrate thickness falls inside the machine's min/max. | Excluded machines, thickness-range reason. |
Step type | The machine's step type matches the Production Steps entry on the part. | Excluded machines, step-type reason. |
Coating compatibility | Coating-aware machines accept the substrate's coating value. | Excluded machines, coating reason. |
Run-speed configuration | A press-specific speed override exists for the substrate-and-weight combination. | Price breakdown — speed line on the press row. |
Tag-name guidance
Practice | Why |
Use lower-case hyphenated values ( | Estimator treats |
Prefer route-meaningful names ( | Generic tags become wildcards over time as more rows pick them up; route-meaningful tags stay actionable. |
Keep one tag per route | Combining several routes into one tag ( |
Notes on exceptions
Tag changes do not affect saved estimates retroactively. Recalculate any saved estimate that needs to pick up the new routing.
A standalone customer-visible tag-management menu is not currently available. Add, rename, and remove tag values inline on the substrate, machine, or part where the tag is used.
Related articles
Troubleshoot tag and compatibility problems