Organize your Archicad sheet index by groups of layouts

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Organizing sheet indexes efficiently is essential for maintaining clarity and flexibility in project documentation. This article explores a versatile method for grouping layouts in Archicad using custom properties, as well as two alternative approaches for different project sizes and requirements.

Issue description

When managing multiple layouts within a project, it’s important to present information in a way that is both clear and adaptable. Without effective grouping, sheet indexes can become cluttered, making it difficult to quickly locate specific drawings or to tailor documentation to various audiences.

Solution

 Method 1: using custom properties in the Layout Info Scheme 

1. Create a new info field in the Layout Info Scheme under Book Settings (e.g., ‘Drawing type’). 

2. After creating the ‘Drawing type’ property, assign values to each layout (e.g., ‘Floorplan’ or ‘Elevation’). These values will act as sub-headers, dividing different sheets in the Sheet Index

3. Open the Index Settings and include the custom property (in this example it’s ‘Drawing type’) in the Sheet Index fields. This step ensures that ‘Drawing type’ appears as a column in your Sheet Index table. 

4. In the Sheet Index settings, enable the ‘Show Headline’ option by ticking the box. This will display the values of ‘Drawing Type’ (in this example ‘Floorplan’ and ‘Elevation’) as sub-headers in the Sheet Index. 

Method 2: Grouping layouts using Subset-based 

For smaller projects or when a more formal structure is needed, grouping layouts using subset-based organization methods, which offer a structured approach to layout grouping. 

1. Create subsets within the Layout Book to categorize layouts (e.g., Floorplans, Elevations) 
   
   
2. Assign layouts to the corresponding subsets 
   
   
3. In the Index Settings, include the ‘Subset Name’ in the Sheet Index. 
   
   
4. Use subsets to group and organize layouts in the Sheet Index.
   
   

Outcome

This method organizes layouts in a clear and adaptable way, making it easy to align with your project requirements. 

 

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These techniques were originally shared by Community member @vlahtinen. If you’d like to explore the original discussion, click here to read the full thread!

This article is part of the ‘Tip of the Month’ series on Graphisoft Insights, highlighting valuable community-driven solutions for modeling challenges. Try these methods in your next project and experience the difference in model quality and efficiency.