Naming Standards

Consistent naming standards are essential for keeping the CDE organized, easy to navigate, and free from confusion.
They ensure that all members can quickly identify, locate, and work with the correct version of each document.

Why Naming Standards Matter

Avoid version mix-ups by clearly identifying each file
Improve search results with predictable, uniform naming
Ensure compliance with industry standards (e.g., ISO 19650)
Streamline collaboration between teams and stakeholders

Important: If a file does not follow the naming standard applied to a folder, it will be automatically redirected to the Holding Area until corrected

1 – Managing Naming Standards

In the desired project, go to Naming Standards in Project Settings
In the ribbon, click Create
Enter a name and an optional description, then click Apply

Under Naming Convention, click Select Attributes
In the tab that opens, you will see all custom attributes that have been applied to the CDE Module (click here to remember how to create them)
Check the attributes you want to include as mandatory in the naming structure.
Click Apply – these attributes will now be required when naming a file

Reorder the attributes by dragging them into position

Choose a delimiter – either a dot (.) or a hyphen (-)
(Optional) Add Related Attributes –fields that may appear in the file name but are not required for identification

Typical Naming Convention Structure

(Example of Required vs. Related Attributes)

Each project may define its own rules, but a common structure looks like this:

[Project ID]-[Role]-[Document Type]-[Description]-[Revision]

Required Attributes:

Project ID – Unique identifier for the project (e.g., 1234)
Role – Team or specialty (e.g., ARCH for Architecture, STR for Structure, MEP for Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing)
Document Type – Category (e.g., DR for Drawing, SP for Specification)
Content – Short description of the file

Related Attribute: