How to Create a Schedule View Template in Revit

A "schedule view template" in Revit refers to a View Template specifically configured to control the appearance, filtering, and sorting of a schedule view. These templates are indispensable tools for maintaining consistency across your project documentation. While you primarily create a general View Template, you then apply it to your schedule views. Beyond direct application, Revit offers a powerful method to manage these view templates and their assignments across all your views, including schedules, through a specialized "View List" schedule.

Creating a View Template for Schedule Views

To define a View Template tailored for your schedules, follow these steps:

Access View Templates Settings:
- Navigate to the View tab on the Revit ribbon.
- In the Graphics panel, click View Templates, then select Manage View Templates. For more details on View Templates, refer to the official Autodesk Revit Help on View Templates.
Duplicate or Create New:
- In the "View Templates" dialog box, you have two main options:
  - Duplicate an existing template: Select a relevant view template (e.g., one used for general views or a default schedule template) and click Duplicate. Give it a clear, descriptive name such as "Schedule - Door List" or "Sheet Index Template."
  - Create a new template: Click New, select "Schedule" from the list of view types, and then assign a name.
- Pro Tip: Duplicating and modifying an existing template that already has some desired settings can often save significant time.
Configure Template Properties:
- Once your new template is created, fine-tune its properties to suit your schedule requirements. Key settings for schedule templates include:
  - Discipline: Typically "Coordination" or the specific discipline relevant to the schedule.
  - Visibility/Graphics Overrides: Define how text, lines, and other graphic elements appear within the schedule. This is crucial for controlling font styles, colors, and border lines.
  - Filters: Set up rules to include or exclude specific data rows based on parameter values, ensuring your schedule displays only relevant information.
  - Sorting/Grouping: Determine the order of rows and how they are grouped within the schedule.
  - Formatting: Control the appearance of headers, data fields, and calculation totals.
  - Appearance: Define grid lines, text styles, and shading for the schedule cells.
- Ensure the checkboxes next to the properties you want this template to control are ticked. Unchecked items allow the individual schedule view to override that specific setting independently.
Confirm and Save:
- Click OK to save your changes and exit the View Templates dialog.

Applying a View Template to a Schedule View

Once you have defined your schedule view template, you can apply it to any existing or new schedule view:

Select the Schedule View: Open the desired schedule view or select it in the Project Browser.
Access View Properties: In the Properties palette, locate the Identity Data section.
Assign Template: Click the button next to View Template.
Choose Template: From the "Apply View Template" dialog, select your newly created schedule template (e.g., "Schedule - Door List") and click OK.

Your schedule view will instantly update to reflect the settings defined in the applied view template, ensuring consistency across your documentation.

Managing View Templates with a View List Schedule

Revit offers a powerful, yet often underutilized, feature to manage view templates and their assignments across all your views, including schedules. This is accomplished by creating a special type of schedule called a View List. This process allows you to quickly see which template is assigned to which view and even modify these assignments in a centralized location.

To create a View List schedule for managing view template assignments:

Initiate Schedule Creation: In your Project Browser, right-click on Schedules/Quantities.
Select New View List: Choose the New View List option from the context menu. This is a distinct option from creating a standard "Schedule/Quantities." For general information on schedules, see Autodesk Revit Help on Schedules and Quantities.

Configure View List Properties:

In the "View List Properties" dialog, select the appropriate parameters from the Available fields list to include in your schedule.

Essential Fields for Template Management:

Field Name	Purpose
View Name	Unique identifier for each view in the project.
View Template	Displays the name of the View Template currently assigned to the view.
View Type	Categorizes views (e.g., Floor Plan, Schedule, Elevation). Useful for filtering.
Sheet Number	Indicates if the view is placed on a sheet and which one.
Sheet Name	Provides the name of the sheet the view is on.

Use the Add Parameter button to move your selected fields to the Scheduled fields list.

Organize and Filter (Recommended):
- Filter Tab: Consider filtering by View Type equals Schedule to focus specifically on your schedule views.
- Sorting/Grouping Tab: Sort the list by View Template and then by View Name to organize your list logically.
- Formatting Tab: Adjust column headings and appearance as desired.
Finalize Creation: Click OK to create the View List schedule.

Benefits of a View List for Template Management

Centralized Overview: Gain a comprehensive list of all views in your project and their assigned view templates in a single glance.
Efficient Modifications: You can directly modify the "View Template" field within the View List schedule for any view. This allows you to change template assignments for multiple views quickly without opening each view individually.
Consistency Check: Easily identify views that might be missing a template or have an incorrect one assigned, helping maintain project standards.
Audit Tool: Utilize it to audit your project's view organization and ensure adherence to your defined template standards.

Best Practices for Schedule View Templates

Consistent Naming: Adopt a clear and logical naming convention (e.g., "SCDL-Arch-Finishes," "SCDL-DoorList-General") for easy identification.
Thorough Testing: Always apply your newly created template to a test schedule to ensure all settings work as expected before widespread application.
Limit Overrides: When applying a template, aim to have most properties controlled by the template. This reduces manual errors and ensures consistent documentation.
Document Usage: Briefly explain the purpose and intended use of each template within your project standards document.
Regular Review: Periodically review and update your view templates as project requirements and company standards evolve.

By mastering the creation and management of schedule view templates, and by effectively leveraging the powerful View List schedule, you can significantly enhance your Revit workflow, ensuring high levels of consistency and efficiency in your project documentation.