Yes, do it as you have described, you look at it through the top of the board.
Generally, If you make an SMT component, make it so that the pads are on the top of the board. Then when you use it you can change it to the bottom.
This way if it’s on the top it’s output in a placement report as being on top, if put on the bottom then it’s on the bottom.
If you make the component with the pads on the bottom the system may assume the component is on the top unless you tell it that it’s on the bottom (then the pads may swap to the top).