# Spans and Relations: Start in span mode by default

**URL:** <https://support.prodi.gy/t/spans-and-relations-start-in-span-mode-by-default/4340>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Tags:** enhancement, front-end\
**Created:** [June 17, 2021, 8:04am UTC](https://support.prodi.gy/t/spans-and-relations-start-in-span-mode-by-default/4340 "2021-06-17T08:04:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RichardSieg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/support.prodi.gy/richardsieg/32/2210_2.png) [@RichardSieg](https://support.prodi.gy/u/RichardSieg)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2021, 8:04am UTC](https://support.prodi.gy/t/spans-and-relations-start-in-span-mode-by-default/4340/1 "2021-06-17T08:04:40Z")

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Hi there!

We have a labeling process with spans and relations. By default, the relation mode is turned on. We would have to start with the labels first though. Is it possible to switch so that the spans are the first activated mode?

Thank you and all the best,

Richard

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**Author:** ![ines](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/support.prodi.gy/ines/32/3_2.png) [@ines](https://support.prodi.gy/u/ines)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://support.prodi.gy/t/spans-and-relations-start-in-span-mode-by-default/4340/2 "2021-06-20T01:11:52Z")

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Hi! This definitely makes sense and we should have a setting for that! Maybe we could just have a setting that lets you order the annotation mode buttons (similar to how you can customise the `"buttons"` at the bottom). Then you could define `["spans", "rels"]`. I'll add this to the list of enhancements!

In the meantime, you could probably use a workaround like the one I suggested in this thread and simulate a click on the span mode button whenever the task changes:

> [@Default selected label in NER\_manual](https://support.prodi.gy/t/default-selected-label-in-ner-manual/4333/2):
>
> Hi! At the moment, the selected label is kept active as you navigate between annotation tasks – this can often be useful if you're mostly annotating one specific label (because you won't hav to re-select it), but I can definitely see how it can also be desirable to have it reset to the first one. I need to think about how we can best solve this via a config setting. In the meantime, one workaround could be to use JavaScript to simulate a click on the label whenever the current example changes. …

The selector is a bit hacky – we probably need a better human-readable class here:

```javascript
const button = document.querySelector('button[title="Select spans (s)"]')

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RichardSieg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/support.prodi.gy/richardsieg/32/2210_2.png) [@RichardSieg](https://support.prodi.gy/u/RichardSieg)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://support.prodi.gy/t/spans-and-relations-start-in-span-mode-by-default/4340/3 "2021-06-21T12:33:08Z")

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Great! Thank you, Ines!

We do the span labeling and relation in one go. To give more context: We have a task very similar to Semantic Role Labeling, where we label an action and for each action other arguments in the text. That's why we need the relation labeling (with only one label): to connect one action to its arguments.

Best,

Richard