If you can make it create different sizes of sheets in one time, yes: very much!

Jose,
for our own sheets we use a separate file that is prepopulated with all sorts of sheets, and we Insert from File to get what we need, so for our own sheets I don't think we would need a different approach. However, I can think of an API tool that would be stunningly useful. Something that will look at a folder full of consultant provided PDFs and create or revise Dummy Sheets appropriately. I find that
1: Many consultants are still in Acad, so we have no choice but to address their sheets as dummy sheets for the index
2: Even when a consultant is in Revit, we don't get a model with correct sheet info on the day of plot, so at best we are using a week or more outdated info
3: No one bothers to give us an accurate sheet index in Excel, no matter how much we ask for it
4: everyone adds or changes sheets in the last 24 hours before a deadline anyway

As it is, we simply wait to get consultant PDFs, then manually update our dummy sheets to match, then plot the cover sheet last. An API tool that does this for us would be very nice indeed.

Gordon

Gordon,
It would seem the placeholder option is the best way for you to handle those, .. also built into the app is the ability to bring the sheets in simply as placeholders.

Jose, I would like to check it out.
RevitTV use to have one but very complicated and have also tried Jason Grants.

Indeed, placeholder is the way to go. I just still refer to them as dummy sheets from the days before placeholder sheets, when they where real sheets in the project, with nothing on them.
The problem is we have to make our placeholder sheets match the actual delivered PDFs, which we typically get about an hour after the deadline. My thought is a tool that will take a given folder full of PDFs and make Placeholder Sheets to match.

Gordon

Placeholders dont work well for anything but making multiple sheets at once, and not having to pick 40 titleblocks when you create 40 sheets. Placeholders never survive the entire project lifecycle, if you need to edit your drawing list to have revision dates on it. You cant place a revision on a placeholder.

Having said that, placeholders make creating multiple sheets so fast that i dont see any ROI on installing and dealing with a 3rd party app just to make sheets.

So Aaron, how do you handle getting DWG based consultants in your sheet list? Full Citizen sheets?
And how have you gotten your consultants trained to provide an up to date and correct model in time for print? Cause we can't seem to get the ducts modeled ABOVE the ceiling more than half the time. At least not prior to the third addenda. In a better world I wouldn't dream of using a PDF to Placeholder sheet tool. But in the world I do inhabit, it sounds mighty good.

Gordon

You arent hearing what im saying. Placeholders are great, in theory. They cant get Revision dates on them. So they end up being Full Citizen sheets anyway. I thought we were discussing using an app to make sheets based on criteria put in a dialogue (those are the ones ive seen) versus, using the native built in placeholder to Sheet functionality.

If there is an app out there that will read PDF titles, seperate them in to Sheet numbers and sheet titles, and manage to create sheets and isue revisions on them, then.... uh.... Awesome! Otherwise, i doubt its worth the effort, but thats simply my humble opinion. BTW, we *only* do this for non revit consultants. NO WAY im using ghetto sheets for someone who actually has a model.

Yes, we get our consultants to fill out their sheet info correctly, so when we get the mdoel before printing, it populates our drawing list correctly. All it entails is sending them instructions, and the Shared parameters for sorting, and doing it before the last night.

Aaron, you pretty much nailed it, thats what I wanted to know.

The app was originally written in 2010, updated for 2011, and I was wondering if it was worth my efforts to tweak it to take advantage of any new 2012 api features.

I'll update it and post as-is .. suggestions for improvements would be welcome,.. and highly encouraged.