AutoCAD sheet search

Search

Search the current subset or all subsets to jump directly to matching sheets and Xrefs, turning the worksheet into a fast AutoCAD sheet organizer.

AutoCAD sheet batch creation

Batch

Build, validate, and create multiple sheets as a controlled batch; worksheet rows remain staged until you explicitly commit them.

AutoCAD Xref manager

Xref

Manage nested drawing references directly beneath the sheet that owns them, including paths, type, missing references, and recovery.

PDF + eTransmit

PDF+

Publish selected AutoCAD sheets or subsets to PDF and run sheet/subset eTransmit through native SSM-oriented workflows.

Live + staged in the same workspace

Batch-create, configure, and organize AutoCAD sheets without losing control.

Sheet Smith separates established Sheet Set data from new worksheet rows. Existing SSM content is edited live; new rows become an AutoCAD sheet-creation batch that stays staged until sheet configuration, filename/layout rules, and collisions are validated and confirmed.

Established content · live

Manage the real AutoCAD Sheet Set.

Rename, reorder, repath, move, duplicate, reassociate, publish, and maintain established sheets and subsets directly against the DST.

Subset create, rename, reorder, hierarchy moves, duplicate, delete, plus Sheet Set / Subset DescriptionEstablished Sheet Number / Sheet Name edits use an optimized direct live-commit path when no structural change is pendingSheet description, Expected Layout, Include for Publish, and Custom Sheet Set PropertiesMissing-sheet reroute/recovery, Import Sheets, and Duplicate Subset As

Worksheet additions · staged

Build the sheet batch first. Commit when ready.

Type rows manually, paste or pre-fill data, insert blanks, and use Fill Series. Creation validation catches known collisions before SSM write.

Manual worksheet rows, Pre-fill rows, Fill Series, and inserted rowsCreation Layout dropdown per staged rowDrawing Filename and Layout Name policies resolve before creationCreate Staged Sheet / Create Staged Sheets is the explicit commit point

AutoCAD Xref manager · sheet-aware

Manage AutoCAD Xrefs inside the sheet list.

Nested Xref disclosure

An AutoCAD Xref manager tied to the sheet that owns each reference.

Established sheet rows disclose DWG Xrefs as indented child rows, including Xref-of-Xref branches. Instead of managing Xrefs in isolation, Sheet Smith keeps selection, open/close state, missing/unloaded conditions, nested ownership, saved paths, and supported batch Xref actions in the same sheet-management worksheet.

Attach, Unload, Reload, Detach, Bind, Attach/Overlay, Absolute/RelativeSelect New Path and Find & Replace directly from visible Xref rowsMulti-select visible Xrefs with Ctrl/Shift for supported batch actionsAfter one missing Xref is rerouted, recover nearby exact filenames using This Drawing / Current Subset / Sheet Set scopeNested operations target the immediate host drawing; recovery preserves existing Attach/Overlay and saved-path stylePinned tooltip lets Saved Path be edited in place with keyboard control

Sheet Smith AutoCAD Xref manager showing sheet rows, nested Xref rows, and the Xref context menu

Feature map

One AutoCAD sheet manager for the full Sheet Set loop.

Sheet configuration

A true 2 × 7 setup table

AutoCAD sheet configuration stays visible in one compact table: Subset, Description, Storage Location, Sheet Creation Template, Creation Layout, Drawing Filename, and Layout Name.

Sheet organizer

Spreadsheet-style staging

Use Sheet Smith as an AutoCAD sheet organizer: sort, multi-select, drag, rename, insert rows, Fill Series, Pre-fill, and Duplicate Sheet Series across staged or established identity cells. Simple established number/name edits use the optimized direct live-commit path.

Batch validation

Catch collisions before commit

AutoCAD sheet batch creation and batch duplication are preflighted for missing templates/storage, invalid layouts, duplicate sheet numbers, existing target DWGs, conflicting Layout Names, and full Duplicate Sheet Series collisions before any DST modification.

Quality-of-life, everywhere

The little interactions that make a daily workspace.

↕

Active Row multi-select

Single click activates; Ctrl toggles; Shift extends. Dragging any active row moves the selected ordered block together.

↳

Drag to subset

Drop established or staged imported/copied rows onto another subset. Backing DWGs move into the target Storage Location and established Expected Layout references are repathed.

⌨

Keyboard-first navigation

Enter opens, arrows move/expand/collapse, Shift extends selection, and Tab/Shift+Tab continue rename/input through the worksheet.

F2

Fast subset rename

F2 renames subsets; landing lines show reorder targets; hierarchy relocation can move folders and contents with confirmation.

◎

Open-state awareness

Open drawings display status glyphs, the active AutoCAD drawing is highlighted, and middle-click closes open sheet/Xref drawings.

i

Useful tooltips

Sheet details include description, file, Expected Layout, location, size, save/editor/lock state, and physical sheet size in inches.

⇄

Expected Layout reassociation

Choose any existing DWG and paper-space layout; Sheet Smith updates native SSM identity without modifying the source drawing.

!

Missing-file recovery

Resolve one moved sheet or Xref, then use the confirmed old-folder → new-folder clue to recover nearby exact-filename matches without guessing.

＋

Smart row insertion

Insert one row normally; hold Shift while the context menu is open to insert multiple rows with the compact amount dialog.

≡

Filename + Layout policies

Preset or custom Drawing Filename and Layout Name rules keep new DWGs and paper-space layouts consistent.

⇪

Import existing layouts

Pick DWGs and paper-space layouts, prefill detectable sheet identity, and commit accepted sheets live to SSM.

⚡

Direct live identity edits

Established Sheet Number / Sheet Name edits commit directly when no structural change is pending, avoiding a full DST reread, tree rebuild, and worksheet rebind.

×N

AutoCAD sheet batch duplication

Duplicate Sheet Series turns one established sheet into an AutoCAD sheet batch-duplication workflow with Fill Series sheet numbers, supported numeric/cardinal/ordinal Sheet Name tokens, and full-batch collision preflight.

✓

Integrity + Reconnect

Run a read-only Sheet Set Integrity Check, then safely Reconnect Sheet Set to rebuild the SSM connection, tree, selection, Xref cache, and worksheet binding when needed.

◫

AutoCAD-native palette feel

Available without an active drawing, persistent dock/floating state, collapsible groups, thin auto-hide scrollbars, and flicker-resistant worksheet painting.

One-page guide

AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager guide: from batch creation to PDF + eTransmit.

Use the sections below as the working guide for Sheet Smith 1.3.0: AutoCAD sheet creation and configuration, sheet search and organization, Duplicate Sheet Series, subset/Xref management, PDF publishing, and sheet/subset eTransmit. Everything stays on this page so the product overview and operating guide live together.

SHEETSMITHOpen the main Sheet Smith palette.

SHEETSMITHDST0 none · 1 recent DST · 2 recent DST + recent subset.

SHEETSMITHSUBSET0 collapsed · 1 expanded · 2 restore recent panel state.

SHEETSMITHREFRESHClear and rebuild the Xref disclosure cache.

1 · Open a Sheet Set and understand Live vs Staged

Choose a DST from the Sheet Smith selector. Existing sheets and subsets are established SSM content and edits to them are live.
New worksheet rows are staged. Manually type them, use Pre-fill, Fill Series, or Insert Row(s) Above/Below.
Staged rows do not become real SSM sheets until Create Staged Sheet / Create Staged Sheets is confirmed.
Use SHEETSMITHDST to control startup behavior and SHEETSMITHSUBSET to control the Subsets-panel startup state.

2 · Configure AutoCAD sheet creation settings

Sheet Smith keeps AutoCAD sheet configuration together: Subset, Description, Storage Location, Sheet Creation Template, Creation Layout, Drawing Filename, and Layout Name.
Browse/repath Storage Location; double-click it to open the folder. Missing assigned folders show red.
Sheet Creation Template points to the DWT/DWG used for new sheets and can be opened by double-click.
Creation Layout selects the paper-space source layout used for staged sheet DWGs.
Drawing Filename presets: {SheetNumber}.dwg, {SheetNumber} - {SheetName}.dwg, or {SheetName}.dwg.
Layout Name presets include {Sheet Number}, {Sheet Number} - {Sheet Name}, Creation Layout, saved custom names, and Custom. Custom names are validated before creation.

3 · Batch-create, search, organize, rename, and create sheets

Worksheet columns are Lock, Expand/Collapse, Sheet Number, Sheet Name, and Creation Layout.
Double-click Sheet Number or Sheet Name headers to toggle ascending/descending sort. Single-click still selects the whole column.
Single click sets the Active Row; Ctrl toggles rows; Shift selects a visible range. Drag an active multi-selection to move the complete ordered block.
Dragging sheet row(s) onto another subset moves established DWGs into the target Storage Location and repaths Expected Layout; staged imported/copied backing DWGs move with their staged rows.
First identity-cell click activates; the second click on Sheet Number/Name enters rename. Staged Creation Layout uses its dropdown.
Established Sheet Number / Sheet Name edits use the optimized direct live-commit path when no structural change is pending, avoiding a full DST reread/tree rebuild/grid rebind.
Tab and Shift+Tab continue editing across staged rows and established sheet identity cells.
Creation validation blocks missing storage/template, invalid creation layouts, duplicate numbers, existing target DWGs, and known invalid/reserved Layout Name collisions before the SSM write.

4 · Open, move, duplicate, delete, and reassociate established sheets

Double-click established sheets to open/activate. Enter does the same for selected sheet(s); middle-click closes an already-open drawing.
Right-click uses Open Sheet(s), Duplicate Sheet(s), Move Sheet(s), and Delete Sheet(s). Hold Shift while the menu is open to switch Open to read-only and Delete to Remove from List.
For one established sheet, hold Shift while the menu is open to change Duplicate Sheet into Duplicate Sheet Series.... This is the AutoCAD sheet batch-duplication workflow: choose the copy count; Sheet Number advances with Fill Series rules and supported numeric/cardinal/ordinal tokens in Sheet Name advance too.
Duplicate Sheet Series preflights the complete batch and stops before DST modification if a generated Sheet Number or target DWG filename would collide.
Move Sheet(s) cascades through the actual subset hierarchy, relocates the same native SSM sheet components and referenced DWGs, then repaths Expected Layout. Open/locked files, target collisions, and shared-DWG references are preflighted; all sheets sharing one DWG must move together.
Expected Layout... reads layouts from an existing DWG without modifying it, then updates the native SSM DWG + layout reference.
The same DWG + layout identity cannot be assigned as a duplicate Sheet Smith sheet reference.

5 · Manage Xrefs and nested Xrefs from disclosure rows

Expand an established sheet to reveal DWG Xrefs; expand child Xrefs independently to see deeper branches.
Ctrl/Shift multi-selects visible Xref rows without selecting parent sheets. Double-click or Enter opens/activates selected Xref drawings; middle-click closes them.
Right-click exposes Attach..., Unload, Reload, Detach, Bind..., Xref Type, Change Path Type, Select New Path..., and Find and Replace.... Supported modifying commands work across multiple selected Xrefs; Select New Path remains single-Xref.
Missing Xrefs display (Not found). A normal left click can open Select New Xref Path immediately; unloaded references display (Unloaded) and do not trigger missing-path recovery.
After one missing Xref is rerouted to a different folder, Recover Nearby Missing Xrefs can use This Drawing / Current Subset / Sheet Set scope. Only exact expected filenames that actually exist in the resolved folder are repaired.
Recovery preserves each Xref's Attach/Overlay type and Absolute/Relative/filename-only saved-path style. Nested recovery modifies the drawing that directly owns the nested definition.
Modifying Xref commands operate on the immediate host drawing and leave that drawing dirty for normal AutoCAD Save/Close handling.
Hover to inspect Status, Xref Type, Path Type, Found At, Saved Path, Size, and Date. Press Tab to pin the tooltip; edit Saved Path; Enter commits; Escape unpins.

6 · Organize subsets, folders, imports, and duplicates

The subset tree follows Storage Location hierarchy. Creating a child subset creates/assigns a matching child folder.
F2 renames. Drag/drop reorders siblings or relocates hierarchy. Moving hierarchy can move folder/content after confirmation.
Deleting a subset offers folder + contents, subset only, or cancel. Ctrl/Shift subset multi-selection supports batch-safe Reveal, Publish, eTransmit, Close All, and deletion.
Import Sheets... selects existing DWGs and paper-space layouts, prefills detectable sheet identity, and copies/reuses drawings in the target subset Storage Location without modifying source drawings.
Duplicate Subset As provides AutoCAD subset batch duplication: duplicate hierarchy only or hierarchy + folder contents while preserving Description, filename rule, Layout Name policy, and relevant sheet metadata.

7 · AutoCAD sheet/subset PDF publishing and eTransmit

Include for Publish is a live SSM checkmark for established sheets.
PDF Sheet / PDF Sheets provides AutoCAD sheet PDF publishing for one or multiple selected sheets; multi-selection produces one multi-page PDF.
Publish Subset provides AutoCAD subset PDF publishing and skips sheets excluded from publish. Subset output proposes {DST name}-{Subset name}.pdf, and multi-subset publishing collects destinations before execution and waits for each selected PDF before continuing.
AutoCAD subset eTransmit proposes {DST name}-{Subset name}.zip in AutoCAD's native Specify Zip File dialog without overwriting a filename the user already typed.
Output folders open after completion, and AutoCAD subset/per-sheet eTransmit reveals the actual saved destination.

8 · Keyboard, mouse, safety, and recovery notes

Up/Down moves through visible worksheet items; Shift+Up/Down extends same-type selection; Right expands; Left collapses.
Middle-drag pans vertically. Crossing the Windows drag threshold prevents a middle-click close.
Sheet tooltips report identity, Description, file, Expected Layout, location, size, save/editor/lock state, and sheet size in inches.
After one missing sheet is rerouted, Sheet Smith can use the confirmed old-folder → new-folder move to check other broken references from that same original folder. Only exact expected filenames are repaired; unmatched sheets remain missing.
When the complete subset folder move is confirmed, the subset Storage Location can be updated to the resolved folder.
Existing target DWGs are never silently overwritten during staged creation.
Layout Name post-create rename runs only after the SSM write lock is committed/released; side-database save restores AutoCAD's original WorkingDatabase and uses a temporary sibling DWG before replacement.
Expected Layout reassociation does not copy, rename, or save the selected source DWG.

9 · Check integrity and reconnect safely

The Sheet Set root context menu includes Sheet Set Integrity Check... and Reconnect Sheet Set.
Sheet Set Integrity Check is non-destructive. It compares Sheet Smith UI/binding state, the loaded DST hierarchy/sheets/properties, drawing references, and cached Xref state, classifying results as HEALTHY, WARNING, REPAIRABLE, or MANUAL ACTION REQUIRED.
Reconnect Sheet Set cancels edits, safely detaches the worksheet binding, clears stale selection/Xref/cache state, recreates the SSM connection, rereads the active DST, rebuilds the workspace/subset tree, restores the active subset when possible, and safely rebinds the worksheet.
Reconnect does not write corrective changes into the DST. Staged/unestablished rows are warned about first because rebuilding from the DST discards staging-only rows.
The safe rebind path resets stale CurrentCell/selection indexes so they cannot survive a source-list replacement.

Built around the files you already have.

Sheet Smith is not a parallel sheet database. It is a workspace over AutoCAD Sheet Set data, DWGs, layouts, folders, Xrefs, publishing, and eTransmit—with staged creation added where a deliberate commit is safer than immediate writes. For users looking for an “AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager on steroids” workflow, the difference is practical: batch sheet creation, sheet organization, Xref/subset management, Duplicate Sheet Series, PDF publishing, and eTransmit are brought together without replacing the native DST/SSM data model.

Download Sheet Smith →

AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager for batch sheet creation.