diff --git a/core/predefined_mci.js b/core/predefined_mci.js
index 7463186f..01d81d90 100644
--- a/core/predefined_mci.js
+++ b/core/predefined_mci.js
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const moment = require('moment');
 const async = require('async');
 
 exports.getPredefinedMCIValue = getPredefinedMCIValue;
+exports.getPredefinedMCIFormatObject = getPredefinedMCIFormatObject;
 exports.init = init;
 
 function init(cb) {
@@ -532,3 +533,21 @@ function getPredefinedMCIValue(client, code, extra) {
         return value;
     }
 }
+
+function getPredefinedMCIFormatObject(client, text) {
+    const re = /\{([A-Z]{2})(?:[!:][^}]+)?\}/g;
+    let m;
+    const formatObj = {};
+    while ((m = re.exec(text))) {
+        const v = getPredefinedMCIValue(client, m[1]);
+        if (v) {
+            if (!isNaN(v)) {
+                formatObj[m[1]] = parseInt(v);
+            } else {
+                formatObj[m[1]] = v;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return _.isEmpty(formatObj) ? null : formatObj;
+}
diff --git a/core/text_view.js b/core/text_view.js
index dcd14c7c..74b622ba 100644
--- a/core/text_view.js
+++ b/core/text_view.js
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ const renderSubstr = require('./string_util.js').renderSubstr;
 const renderStringLength = require('./string_util.js').renderStringLength;
 const pipeToAnsi = require('./color_codes.js').pipeToAnsi;
 const stripAllLineFeeds = require('./string_util.js').stripAllLineFeeds;
+const getPredefinedMCIFormatObject =
+    require('./predefined_mci').getPredefinedMCIFormatObject;
+const stringFormat = require('./string_format');
 
 //  deps
 const util = require('util');
@@ -153,6 +156,12 @@ TextView.prototype.setText = function (text, redraw) {
         text = text.toString();
     }
 
+    const formatObj = getPredefinedMCIFormatObject(this.client, text);
+    if (formatObj) {
+        // expand before converting
+        text = stringFormat(text, formatObj);
+    }
+
     this.text = pipeToAnsi(stripAllLineFeeds(text), this.client); //  expand MCI/etc.
     if (this.maxLength > 0) {
         this.text = renderSubstr(this.text, 0, this.maxLength);
diff --git a/docs/_config.yml b/docs/_config.yml
index 457a75c3..8520d124 100644
--- a/docs/_config.yml
+++ b/docs/_config.yml
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ collections:
       - art/views/horizontal_menu_view.md
       - art/views/mask_edit_text_view.md
       - art/views/multi_line_edit_text_view.md
-      - art/views/predefined_label_view.md
       - art/views/spinner_menu_view.md
       - art/views/text_view.md
       - art/views/toggle_menu_view.md
diff --git a/docs/_docs/art/mci.md b/docs/_docs/art/mci.md
index 0696672b..64c1ee1c 100644
--- a/docs/_docs/art/mci.md
+++ b/docs/_docs/art/mci.md
@@ -123,11 +123,9 @@ Some additional special case codes also exist:
 | `XY`   | A special code that may be utilized for placement identification when creating menus or to extend an otherwise empty space in an art file down the screen. |
 
 
-> :information_source: More are added all
-the time so also check out [core/predefined_mci.js](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/master/core/mci_view_factory.js)
-for a full listing.
+> :information_source: More are added all the time so also check out [core/predefined_mci.js](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/master/core/mci_view_factory.js) for a full listing.
 
-:memo: Many codes attempt to pay homage to Oblivion/2, iNiQUiTY, etc.
+> :memo: Many codes attempt to pay homage to Oblivion/2, iNiQUiTY, etc.
 
 
 ## Views
@@ -146,7 +144,6 @@ a Vertical Menu (`%VM`): Old-school BBSers may recognize this as a lightbar menu
 | `FM` | Full Menu      | A menu that can go both vertical and horizontal. | See [Full Menu](views/full_menu_view.md) |
 | `SM` | Spinner Menu         | A spinner input control | Select *one* from multiple options. See [Spinner Menu](views/spinner_menu_view.md) |
 | `TM` | Toggle Menu          | A toggle menu | Commonly used for Yes/No style input. See [Toggle Menu](views/toggle_menu_view.md)|
-| `PL` | Predefined Label    | Show environment information | See [Predefined Label](views/predefined_label_view.md)|
 | `KE` | Key Entry            | A *single* key input control | Think hotkeys |
 
 > :information_source: Peek at [/core/mci_view_factory.js](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/master/core/mci_view_factory.js) to see additional information.
@@ -189,7 +186,7 @@ Predefined MCI codes and other Views can have properties set via `menu.hjson` an
 | `height` | Sets the height of views such as menus that may be > 1 character in height |
 | `width` | Sets the width of a view |
 | `focus` | If set to `true`, establishes initial focus |
-| `text` | (initial) text of a view |
+| `text` | (initial) text of a view. See  |
 | `submit` | If set to `true` any `accept` action upon this view will submit the encompassing **form** |
 | `itemFormat` | Sets the format for a list entry. See [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting) below |
 | `focusItemFormat` | Sets the format for a focused list entry. See [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting) below |
@@ -219,6 +216,12 @@ Standard style types available for `textStyle` and `focusTextStyle`:
 ### Entry Formatting
 Various strings can be formatted using a syntax that allows width & precision specifiers, text styling, etc. Depending on the context, various elements can be referenced by `{name}`. Additional text styles can be supplied as well. The syntax is largely modeled after Python's [string format mini language](https://docs.python.org/3/library/string.html#format-specification-mini-language).
 
+#### MCI Formatting
+For more advanced layouts, you may want to apply formatting to MCI codes. In this case, an alternative syntax is supported similar to standard [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting). MCI codes can be surrounded by `{` and `}` in the `text` field of your `theme.hjson` for a Text Label (`%TL` aka [Text View](./views/text_view.md)). An example:
+```
+text: "|00|07{BN!stylel33t}" // render board name in "l33t" text
+```
+
 ### Additional Text Styles
 Some of the text styles mentioned above are also available in the mini format language:
 
diff --git a/docs/_docs/art/views/predefined_label_view.md b/docs/_docs/art/views/predefined_label_view.md
deleted file mode 100644
index b9349a23..00000000
--- a/docs/_docs/art/views/predefined_label_view.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
----
-layout: page
-title: Predefined Label View
----
-## Predefined Label View
-A predefined label view supports displaying a predefined MCI label on a screen.
-
-## General Information
-
-> :information_source: A predefined label view is defined with a percent (%) and the characters PL, followed by the view number and then the predefined MCI value in parenthesis. For example: `%PL1(VL)` to display the Version Label. *NOTE*: this is an alternate way of placing MCI codes, as the MCI can also be placed on the art page directly with the code. For example `%VL`. The difference between these is that the PL version can have additional formatting options applied to it.
-
-> :information_source: See *Predefined Codes* in [MCI](../mci.md) for the list of available MCI codes.
-
-> :information_source: See [MCI](../mci.md) for general information on how to use views and common configuration properties available for them.
-
-### Properties
-
-| Property    | Description  |
-|-------------|--------------|
-| `textStyle` | Sets the standard (non-focus) text style. See **Text Styles** in [MCI](../mci.md) |
-| `justify` | Sets the justification of the MCI value text. Options: left (default), right, center |
-| `fillChar` | Specifies a character to fill extra space in the view. Defaults to an empty space |
-| `width` | Specifies the width that the value should be displayed in (default 3) |
-| `textOverflow` | If the MCI is wider than width, set overflow characters. See **Text Overflow** below |
-
-### Text Overflow
-
-The `textOverflow` option is used to specify what happens when a predefined MCI string is too long to fit in the `width` defined.
-
-> :information_source: If `textOverflow` is not specified at all, a predefined label view can become wider than the `width` if needed to display the MCI value.
-
-> :information_source: Setting `textOverflow` to an empty string `textOverflow: ""` will cause the item to be truncated if necessary without any characters displayed
-
-> :information_source: Otherwise, setting `textOverflow` to one or more characters will truncate the value if necessary and display those characters at the end. i.e. `textOverflow: ...`
-
-## Example
-
-![Example](../../assets/images/predefined_label_view_example1.png "Predefined label")
-
-<details>
-<summary>Configuration fragment (expand to view)</summary>
-<div markdown="1">
-```
-PL1: {
-  textStyle: upper
-}
-```
-</div>
-</details>
diff --git a/docs/_docs/art/views/text_view.md b/docs/_docs/art/views/text_view.md
index 8eaf9478..0475cec9 100644
--- a/docs/_docs/art/views/text_view.md
+++ b/docs/_docs/art/views/text_view.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ A text label view supports displaying simple text on a screen.
 
 | Property    | Description  |
 |-------------|--------------|
-| `text` | Sets the text to display on the label |
+| `text` | Sets the text to display on the label. See [MCI Formatting](../mci.md#mci-formatting) for information for advanced formatting. |
 | `textStyle` | Sets the standard (non-focus) text style. See **Text Styles** in [MCI](../mci.md) |
 | `width` | Sets the width of a view to display horizontally (default 15)|
 | `justify` | Sets the justification of the text in the view. Options: left (default), right, center |