KB: Fixing Sheet Number Issues in Altium Designer Schematic PDF Release

Created: January 19, 2026 | Updated: January 19, 2026

When releasing schematic PDFs using Output Jobs or Project Releaser in Altium Designer, users may encounter missing sheet numbers, sheet totals, or document numbers in the generated PDF. This issue often occurs due to incorrect template configuration, unannotated sheets, disabled compiled name expansion settings, or improper Output Job data source configuration. Managed sheets can also be affected if they remain read-only or lack proper annotation. To resolve this, ensure the schematic template includes the correct special strings, annotate all sheets (including managed sheets), enable compiled name expansion in preferences, and configure Output Job settings for accurate sheet numbering during release.

Solution Details

When releasing the schematic PDF document through Output Job or Project Releaser, the generated PDF may miss its sheet number, sheet total, or document number. Sometimes this issue can also occur for managed sheets. This article explains the steps to configure the schematic and Output Job for a proper release with sheet number information.

Root Cause

The issue occurs because the schematic template lacks the required special strings, sheets are not annotated, compiled name expansion settings are disabled, or Output Job is not configured correctly. Additionally, read-only device sheets cannot have sheet or document numbers configured.

Solution Overview

To fix this issue, configure the schematic template with the correct special strings, annotate all sheets (including managed sheets), enable compiled name expansion in preferences, and ensure the Output Job uses the correct data source and name expansion settings.

Step-by-Step Resolution

1. Ensure Special Strings Exist in the Template

Open your schematic sheet or template.
Check the title block for the following special strings:
- =SheetNumber – Displays the current sheet number.
- =DocumentNumber – Displays the document number.
- =SheetTotal – Displays the total number of sheets.
If these strings are missing, edit the template and add them in the appropriate fields.

2. Annotate Sheets

Go to Tools » Annotation » Number Schematic Sheets.
This assigns sheet numbers to all schematic sheets in the project.
Verify that each sheet now has a unique number and the total count is correct.

3. Annotate Managed Sheets

For projects using managed sheets:
- Open the schematic document.
- Navigate to Tools » Annotation » Annotate Compiled Sheets.
Switch to the Compiled Editor:
- Click the sheet name near the editor option at the bottom-left of the schematic window.
Confirm that sheet number and sheet total values are resolved for each managed sheet.

4. Enable Compiled Name Expansion

Go to Tools » Preferences » Schematic Editor » Compiler » Compiled Name Expansion.
Enable the following options:
- Sheet Number
- Document Number
This ensures that special strings are expanded correctly during compilation.

5. Set Data Source in Output Job

Open your Output Job file.
For the schematic PDF output:
- Ensure Data Source = [Project Physical Documents].
This setting ensures the output uses the compiled project data rather than logical or incomplete sources.

6. Configure Schematic PDF for Name Expansion

In the Output Job:
- Select the schematic PDF output.
- Right-click and choose Configure.
In the preview window:
- If sheet numbers appear as *, go to Drawings » Name Expansions.
- Enable the Sheet Number parameter.
Click OK, refresh the view, and regenerate the output.