Skip to main content
A Reference Binder is a binder inside a Smart Doc that’s linked to a project schedule. When you attach a schedule, the binder auto-generates one page per product in that schedule and keeps the pages in sync as products are added, removed, or updated. Use a Reference Binder when the same page layout should repeat for every product, like submittals, product cutsheets, or spec sheets.

​
How Reference Binders Work

  • A Reference Binder is tied to a single schedule on the project.
  • Every row in the schedule becomes one page inside the binder.
  • You design a single layout (using Smart Fields and Elements) and it applies to every product page in the binder.
  • If a product is added to the schedule, a new page is added to the binder automatically. If a product is removed, its page is removed.
  • You can’t add or delete pages inside a Reference Binder by hand, the schedule controls what’s in there.

​
Adding a Reference Binder

  1. Open a Smart Doc.
  2. In the left rail, open the Pages drawer.
  3. Click the + next to Binder.
  4. Choose Add Reference Binder.
  5. In the modal, select the schedule to reference.
  6. Click Create.
The binder is added to the Pages drawer with one page per product in that schedule.

​
Designing the Layout

Open any page inside the Reference Binder. The layout you build on that page applies to every product page in the binder. Use the left rail to insert:
  • Smart Fields (Product tab) to display product-specific data like Manufacturer, Model, Finish, Lead Time, and so on. These update per page based on the product for that row.
  • Smart Fields (Identity and Project tabs) for company and project data that stay the same across pages.
  • Smart Doc Elements (text, images, tables, checklists, dividers, page numbers, form fields) for static content.
As you work, use the page selector inside the binder to preview how the layout looks for different products.

​
Field Reference

When you add a Smart Field inside a Reference Binder, the field is bound to the binder’s referenced schedule. Each product page then resolves that field for its own row. A few notes on field behavior:
  • Product fields (from the Product tab in Smart Fields) resolve per page. On page 1, the Manufacturer field shows page 1’s product; on page 2, it shows page 2’s product; and so on.
  • Identity fields (Company) and Project fields are the same on every page in the binder, because they aren’t per-product.
  • If a product row is missing a value for a field, that field renders as empty on that product’s page.
  • Adding a new product to the schedule creates a new page using the same layout, with that product’s values filled in.
  • Renaming or deleting the underlying field in the schedule updates every page in the binder.
See Smart Fields for a full breakdown of Identity, Project, and Product fields.

​
Managing a Reference Binder

Select the binder in the Pages drawer to open the Binder Inspector on the right, where you can:
  • View the linked schedule.
  • Rename the binder.
  • Set default page size, orientation, or background for the binder.
  • Delete the binder (this removes all of its auto-generated pages, but doesn’t affect the schedule).

​
Reference Binder vs. Custom Binder

See Custom Binders for the manual alternative.