For easing orientation and finding counters in the storage system, I attempted to do things in a similar way for all nationalities. Since not all nationalities are the same – some have many infantry types, some a lot of vehilces, others a lot of different SW – I did not apply all patterns slavishly but adapted them a bit. This also served the purpose of trying to keep all Axis nationalities in one HandyBox and the Allies in the second (except for each side's Minors in the third). Furthermore I tried to keep each nationality either within one tier or within one Assorter, which worked out in most but not all cases. In this, you find the 1st 'pattern'.
Within each nationality, the basic 'pattern' will start with Full Squad Infantry types on Position 1, HS Infantry types on Position 2, SMC & Crews on Position 3, and SW on Position 4. If there are many infantry types, Full Squad Infantry will continue on Position 5, HS types on Position 6, Guns on Position 7. Vehicles follow after the Guns. This is the 2nd 'pattern'
If a nationality does not fit in a single tier, then Infantry, SW, and Guns will be found in the top tier and vehicles continue in the bottom tier. The exception are nationalities with a lot of different infantry types (like the US with USMC and Early Philippine Army). In the latter case, the extra infantry will be found in the bottom tier beneath the infantry on the top tier. This is the 3rd 'pattern'.
Infantry will usually be stored in A75's because there are many counters of a given type. The quality will usually decline from the top to the bottom compartment. This is the 4th 'pattern'.
The postion of leader-types, Snipers, Heroes and crews will usually be basically the same for all nationalities. Crews in particular might instead be found with the Squads/HS if it fits better. Normally A78's will be used for SMC types. This is the 5th 'pattern'.
The position of SW-types will usually be basically the same for all nationalities. Some nationalities have so many different SW-types, that two inserts are needed. Acquistion in particular might be found with the SW-types or with Squads/HS if it fits better. Normally A78's will be used for SW-types. This is the 6th 'pattern'.
Guns will first be sorted by type (i.e. MTR, AA, INF, AT, RCL, ART), then by caliber (where 75* would be followed by 75, 75L, and 75LL within a given caliber). Within the same caliber type, the third criterium might be alphabetical order of the printed gun designation on the counter. In some cases, a criterium might be the nationality suffix (for example a GrW34(g) for a Hungarian colored MTR). It will be attempted not to 'overlap' Gun types across more than one insert if it can be avoided (i.e. all MTRs in one insert, all AA in the next). If I had enough counters available to form stacks of 6 of each gun type of a given nationality consistently, I tended to use A75's. The identical stack height is important to hinder lateral counter-shifting within an A75 during transport and thus to keep mix-up at a minimum. In some cases, where even double OoBs do not yield 6 Guns of a given type, I might have substituted excess 5/8“ Concealment conters at the bottom of a stack to raise it to the height of 6. In case I did not have double OoBs to draw from, which resulted in many different Gun stacks of different height (mainly 6, 4, 3 or 2), I tended to prefer A78's to minimize counter-mixup caused by shifting during transport. This is the 7th 'pattern'.
Vehicles will usually be first sorted by 'type' like Unarmed Transport, Truck Type MP expenditure, AC type expenditure, Tanks, Non-Turreted CT AFV, ht's, OT TD's, SPA, SPAA, AFV of foreign origin. The next criterium will usually be unit designation as printed on the counter (for example different Pz IV types in order after Pz III types). Sometimes, a criterium can be MA caliber size. The ID# of the Chapter H vehicle notes is not a criterium as this would require cross-referencing which I want to avoid. As the picture is comparably diverse for Vehicles, the greatest variety in 'pattern' may be encountered. But as all vehicle types are stored horizontally and visible, you will easily be able to single out the Vehicle that you need. In this, you are aided by the labels that sticks in each compartment of the insert and specifies the vehicle types within in an easy to read font size. As unarmored & unarmed Transportation is usually more 'to the left' and Tanks 'more to the right', you will even be able to intuitively know which insert of a top tier you need to lift if the vehicle you are looking for is stored in the bottom tier of an Assorter. Even if this might sound a bit unsystematic, it works very well in practice.You'll see. With regard to preference of A78's to A75's the same principles as for Guns are applied. This is the 8th 'pattern'.
With regard to System Counters, the ones you need to handle most marking of Infantry, Vehicles, Levels, Smoke, Residual FP, and some other things are located in the top tier of the first System Counter Assorter. This serves the purpose that you need to lift up as few inlays during the game as possible for the System counters you need. On the bottom tier of the first Assorter of System Counters you will find things you usually only need to fetch at the start of a game or on rather rare occasions (for example Mines, 'White Conveyance' such as Horses or Cycles, Aircraft, Boats, OBA counters etc.). Generally, the system counters are 'themed' in their inserts (for example Residual FP, Smoke/Flame/Blaze, Vehicle Markers, all forms of CC, HW, Melee, etc.). This is the 9th 'pattern'.
The second Assorter of System Counters holds all sorts of Terrain on the top tier (Fortifications, Bridges, PTO terrain, DTO terrain, and Night). Again, each insert is 'themed'. Usually, you will only need to draw things here at the start of play or on rare occasions. The bottom tier of the second Assorter of system counters holds stuff that is very rarely needed (for example SASL counters or system counters for a couple of HASLs like perimeter markers etc.). This is the 10th 'pattern'.