Constructing grids

This page explains how to create a drafting grid. Learn more about grid and how you can use it to make your drafting easier.

To add a drafting grid to an object (line or arc)

Point to the object to which you want to add a grid, right-click, and then click Construct Grid.

The Grid Properties dialog box appears.

I. Adding perpendicular guides

To draw guides perpendicular to the object, in the Perpendicular Guides section, click Add perpendicular guide , and then click how many lines you want your grid to have.

NOTE: The outer guides are counted. This means that, if you want the grid to divide the object into three sections, you need to select 4 Guides.

When you click an option, records for the guides appear in the list.

Position	Sets the guides' positions along the object (line or arc). In each record, click in Expression to see the options that you can use to position the respective guide. Distance from beg: How far from the object's beginning you want the guide. Distance from end: How far from the object's end you want the guide. Ratio from beg: Positions the guide according to a ratio along the length starting from the beginning. Type 1/2 if you want the guide at the object's halfpoint; type 1/3 if you want it at a third from the beginning, and so on. Ratio from end: Positions the guide according to a ratio along the length starting from the end. Type 1/2 if you want the guide at the object's halfpoint; type 1/3 if you want it at a first third from the end, and so on.
Expression	The expression that sets the position of the guide relative to what you have chosen in Position Type a value for how far you want to position the guide.
Value	The value for the position to which the expression evaluates.

(Optional) In Expression, edit the distances of the individual guides if you need them positioned differently. (Consult the table in Step 1.)

NOTE: You can type a number, a parameter (it has to exist in the project already), or formulas.

(Optional) To draw individual perpendicular guides, click Add perpendicular guide . As you add a new guide, its record appears in the list. Edit each new guide as you need it.

To add parallel guides to the object, in the Parallel Guides section, click Add parallel guides .

The Add Parallel Guides dialog box appears.

Type how many guides you need on either side of the object. Consult the following table:

For a line object		For an arc object
Upper guides count	How many guides you want above the line.	Outer guides count	How many guides you want outside the arc.
Lower guides count	How many guides you want below the line.	Inner guides count	How many guides you want inside the arc.
Distance		How far apart you want the guides.

Records appear for the guides in the list. Note that the upper/inner guides have positive values and the lower/outer guides have negative values.

(Optional) In Expression, edit the distances of the individual guides if you need them positioned differently. (Consult the table in Step 2.)

NOTE: You can type a number, a parameter (it has to exist in the project already), or formulas.

(Optional) To draw individual parallel guides, click Add parallel guide . As you add a new guide, its record appears in the list. Edit each new guide as you need it: when you type a positive value, the guide will be above the line/inside the ar; when you type a negative value, it will be below the line/outside the arc.
When you have added the perpendicular and parallel guides you need, click OK to place the grid.

You can edit a constructed grid. Here's how:

Do any of the following:
- Doble-click the guide.
- Right-click the guide, and then click Object Properties.

NOTE: When you want to edit a grid, do not click the base object — the line or arc. Doing this will display the object's own properties.