OpenBuildings™ Designer Help

Grid System Settings

Used to define default settings for how Grid Systems are presented, labeled and dimensioned.

Used to manage gridlines authoring behaviors. It is used to define default settings for how Grid Systems are presented, labeled and dimensioned.


The Grid System Settings dialog is opened from the Settings option in the Grid Systems Settings toolbar. This dialog populates the local setting of the selected Grid System. When multiple grid system definitions are selected, the collective result of settings displays **Varies** against properties having conflicting values. These settings are stored in the Grid Definition dgnlib. The settings will apply to the highlighted grid system definition(s).
Attention: The toggle settings - having two options, e.g. Display label on top: On/Off, can be set to another option simply by double-clicking.
SettingDescription
Grid System Settings Defines floor among the disciplines and specify whether to include reference floor or not. Additionally, it applies default Grid template annotations and set minimum grid line extension value.
  • Use Floor Discipline — Selects All or one of the available building disciplines, among:
    • Architecture
    • Structural
    • Mechanical
    • Electrical
    The grid settings apply to the active floor in selected discipline. This option is useful where grids may need to be created to service a particular discipline. It creates Grids for only those floor definitions which have the corresponding discipline value. (Based on the discipline enumeration available in the floor manager, which is a user extendible list.)
  • Exclude Reference Floors — When set to Yes, excludes the reference floor. The Grid System will only take into consideration the primary floor definition and will exclude and ignore the reference floor definition. When set to No, all floor definitions are used and Grids will be created for all floor definitions. It is not uncommon for Floor Manager to contain numerous reference floor definitions for other purposes.
  • Grid Template — Applies the default DGNLib template available at the location set by the configuration variable BB_GRID_TEMPLATE_DGNLIB.


    Selecting Manage Templates opens the Element Templates dialog where the definition of the Grid Annotation and Settings used to display the Grid within a model or used in the production of an external grid model through the Create/Update Grid Models option. It is also used in the generation of the preview and any transient representation.
  • Minimum Grid Line Extension — Sets the shortest distance allowable between label bubble and the end of the grid line. This is the minimum extension value defined for the grid lines. Disabled for Sketch Grids.
Grid Labels Sets label format and their order to suit regional conventions. This option allows you to define the default labeling format as either alpha or numeric. (A,B,C… or 1,2,3… ) and the direction of labels.

In practice, Grid labeling requirements differ region wide to or even project to project. The Label Direction options allows you to define the direction in which the grid is defined to accommodate the appropriate labeling sequence.



Right to Left / Bottom to Top


Left to Right / Bottom to Top (Default)


Right to Left / Top to Bottom



Left to Right / Top to Bottom

The above illustrations demonstrate how the label direction affect the definition of the orthogonal grid and likewise the display order of the label. The origin for all the grids remain at 0,0. The addition of a view-independent XY compass (glif) to the gridline preview is required to help communicate the layout and labeling direction. For radial grids, the view compass illustrates the labeling direction, as below:


Counter clockwise, Inwards


Counter clockwise, Outwards


Clockwise, Inwards


Clockwise, Outwards
For outward types, the label numbering direction of circular gridlines starts from innermost grid line and increments towards the outermost.


Example of Counter clockwise, Outwards



Example of Clockwise, Outwards

In case of inwards types, the label numbering direction of circular gridlines starts from outermost grid line and increments towards innermost.
  • Label Vertical / Radial — Sets the label format either to alpha character or numeric, auto sequenced in incrementing order. Pick one from the list:
    • A, B, C...
    • 1, 2, 3...
  • Label Vertical / Radial Direction — Sets the vertical or radial direction of the labels assigned to in grid layout.
    • Left to Right (for Orthogonal) / Counterclockwise (for Radial)
    • Right to Left (for Orthogonal) / Clockwise (for Radial)
    Disabled for Sketch Grids.
  • Label Horizontal — Sets the label format either to alpha character or numeric, auto sequenced in incrementing order. Pick one from the list:
    • A, B, C...
    • 1, 2, 3...
    Applicable to Orthogonal grids.
  • Label Horizontal Direction — Sets the horizontal direction of the labels assigned to in Orthogonal grid layout.
    • Bottom to Top
    • Top to Bottom
    Disabled for Radial and Sketch Grids.
  • Exclude Label Characters — Enter characters (alpha or numeric - as defined for format), separated by a comma delimiter to skip it from labeling of grids and in any automated sequencing of the label. This is useful when a certain character could confuse its impression, e.g. F over E, O over Q etc., practiced by various CAD standards.
Grid Label Display Sets label display placement and alignment. Settings are disabled for Sketch Grids.
  • Display Label on Top / Bottom / Left / Right — Sets to display or not the label on respective side. Option toggles between:
    • On
    • Off
  • Display Label on Elevations — Sets the display and position of the label on an Elevation dynamic view. Set one of the options among:
    • Off - Prevents the gridlines of the given grid from showing up in Elevation dynamic views. Since each grid has its own settings, you can therefore turn off the display of individual grids in an Elevation dynamic view. This is in contrast this with the global Show Grid System setting in the View Attributes dialog - Building Panel General tab, which prevents gridlines from all grids from showing up in the Elevation dynamic view.
    • Top
    • Bottom
    • Top & Bottom
  • Align Linear Labels — When On, grid labels are aligned to the orthogonal grid system regardless of the Min/max Extents defined. When Off, grid labels attach to their parent grid lines at the selected Min/max Extents.
  • Align Radial Labels — When On, grid labels are aligned to the radial grid system regardless of the Min/max Extents defined. When Off, grid labels attach to their parent grid lines at the selected Min/max Extents.
Dimensions Sets whether or not to display the dimension with grid labels, the dimension style and the offset values. Settings are disabled for Sketch Grids.
  • Display Dimension — When set the dimensions are displayed as set to the side of the grid label. The options are:
    • Always — Displays the dimension of the grid lines at default position.
    • With Grid Labels — Displays the dimension along the grid labels.
    • With Top/Left | Top/Right | Bottom/Left | Bottom/Left ... Grid Labels — Displays the dimension at specified side option of the grid labels.
    • Never — Displays no dimensions.
  • Dimension Style — Applies predefined dimension style from the pull-down options.
  • Dimension Text Height Override — Applies a desired value over the default 0:0 1/8 to set override to dimension text height.
  • Dimension Plan Offset — Sets the value of plan offset for the dimensions.
  • Dimension Elevation Offset — Sets the value of elevation offset for the dimensions.
Save As Default Settings Saves as default option, allowing the Grid System setting to be saved both to the Local and Global storage. Remains pre-set by default when there is no grid systems defined and the Grid Systems dialog is empty.
Apply to All Grid Systems Applies the current Grid System Settings to All Grid Systems, irrespective of selections. This option does not apply setting to the Global settings, unless Save As Default is also selected.
Tip: You can define the default setting used for new grids, by selecting Save As Default Setting, but ultimately each Grid System definition holds its own settings. Grid Systems can also be re-synchronized across all Grid System definitions by selecting Apply To All Grid Systems.

Element Templates Properties

The "Grid Templates" define physical symbology for the Grid Systems. They are stored in the location defined by the configuration variable BB_GRID_TEMPLATE_DGNLIB. Their properties are managed in the Element Templates dialog. For a given template, both Grid and Elevation Annotations' desired properties can be set that suit graphics and symbology standards. For example, the minor grid Lines can have separate symbology from major grids with settings for level, weight, style and color, and Y offset for elevation story.

Tip: The Element Templates is also accessible from backstage (File > Settings > Building).
Using the New Template tool on the toolbar of the Element Templates dialog, you can create a new template group and add template to the tree diagram. Using the right-click > Add > menu option you can add Grid Annotations and Elevation Annotation property groups, necessary for Grid template.


  • Elevation Annotation — This group defines properties for Label, Lines and Target applicable to Elevation. You can modify selected property to override default values as required.
  • Grid Annotation — This group defines properties for Label, Label Mask, Leaders, and Major and Minor Grid Lines applicable to Grid. You can modify selected property to override default values as required.
Tip: To add new grid templates or change default template properties, ensure you are accessing them through GridTemplate.dgnlib available in the default path \Configuration\Datasets\<active dataset>\DgnLib.
Warning: Certain Grid Systems Settings are not valid for Sketch Grids and are only applicable with tabular defined orthogonal and radial grids. Sketch Grids typically define these options as part of their graphical placement.
Parent topic: Grid Systems Manager