How can I manage element ownership effectively in Archicad Teamwork?

[Andrea Polgar]

Tired of not knowing which team member has control over project elements in Archicad Teamwork?

Unclear element ownership causes confusion, double work, and delays in collaborative BIM projects.

To prevent this, Archicad provides visual feedback features and a clear set of ownership protocols that make it easy to see who is working on what at any given time.

By using the Info Tag, Colored Workspaces, and Navigator Icons, you can get an instant overview of reservation status.

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Info Tag

Instantly shows who owns or can edit an element. Best for quickly identifying the status or owner of a single element as you work. Use this when you need to know who is responsible for a specific object.

• In Teamwork, the Info Tag of an element belonging to you displays Editable.
• If an element is owned by someone else, the Info Tag indicates Reserved by [Owner name].
• If an element has been released or can be reserved, the Info Tag indicates that it is Free for Reservation.

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Navigator icons and status

Use status icons (like green dots) and quick-action buttons for reserve, request, or release in the Navigator. Most helpful for managing layouts, views, or when you need to resolve access fast. In a Teamwork project, a green dot next to Navigator items means that the item is reserved by you.

The Teamwork Status panel at the bottom of the Navigator (Palette only) also indicates whether the selected item is: Editable, Free for Reservation, Reserved.

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Colored Workspaces

Shows ownership and status by color in any view. Ideal when you want a full project overview—great for larger teams or when managing many elements at once. 

Colored Workspaces apply unique color schemes to elements based on their reservation status or current owner. You choose the color scheme from a drop-down menu in the Teamwork Palette, and the visual effect stays consistent as you navigate different windows and views—so you’re never in the dark about who controls what

Access Colored Workspaces from the Teamwork Palette (Window > Palettes > Teamwork).

 

Available Color Schemes and Their Uses

Color Scheme Option	What It Shows	Best For...
Highlight My Reservation	Your reserved elements in Highlight color; others in Passive color	Quickly spotting your own edits in a busy model
All with Original Color	All elements in their normal colors (default)	Reviewing the model as it will appear in documentation
Gray Out Unowned Workspace	Your reserved elements in original color; everything else grayed out	Focusing exclusively on your work area, ignoring others’ edits
Show Reservation by Users	Each user’s elements in their assigned color; unowned elements in Free color	Coordinating across large teams, instantly seeing everyone’s contributions
Own/Free/Others’ Workspace	Your elements in your color, free in Free color, others’ in Passive color	Balancing between available, yours, and teammates’ work
Requested by Me/From Me/Others	Your requests and requests to you in distinct colors; others in Passive	Managing and responding to edit requests
Highlight Tracked Changes	Elements you are tracking highlighted	Reviewing and approving revisions

 

Customising workspace colors

 

You can adjust all workspace-related colors in Options > Work Environment > On-Screen Options. Categories include:

• Highlight (your selected or reserved elements)
• Passive (elements belonging to others)
• Free Elements
• Requested by Me and Requested from Me

User color assignments can also be customized. By default, user colors are set globally by the administrator, but anyone can override them locally for better personal clarity. This is done by selecting a user in the Teamwork Palette and clicking their color icon. A color block with a missing corner indicates a local override

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Practical Scenarios

• When reviewing a floor plan:  Use Show Reservation by Users to spot overlapping work areas at a glance.
• When editing in 3D: Highlight My Reservation helps you focus only on your current edits, minimizing distractions.
• When managing requests:  Requested by Me/From Me lets you prioritize and process incoming change requests visually.
• When tracking revisions:  Highlight Tracked Changes draws attention to elements under review.

Extra tips for clear ownership management

• Reserve only what you need: Only reserve elements you plan to edit, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring others aren't blocked.
• Release promptly: As soon as you finish editing, release ownership right away. This keeps your team moving and prevents unnecessary delays
• Assign ownership actively: You can assign your reserved elements to another user (even without a request) via the context menu—ideal for handovers or task switching. Always add a message for clarity, and remember both users need to synchronize (“Send”/“Receive”).
• Respond to requests: Act quickly when you get a reservation or ownership request. The “Request” button in Navigator helps streamline this process.
• Customize user colors: Use personalized colors in Colored Workspaces for better visibility of your and others' reservations.
• Check permissions before reserving: Especially for complex items (e.g., layout books or master layouts), make sure you have the proper role and permissions; otherwise, reserve commands may not be available.
• Communicate before long absences: If you’ll be away, release or reassign your reserved elements to avoid project deadlocks.
• Reserve all only when solo: Use “Reserve All” only if you’re the only active user—otherwise, this will block your teammates.
• Regularly send & receive: Synchronize often to keep your reservations up to date and prevent ownership confusion.