Horizontal Grids (5:18 min)

Add Horizontal Grids

You can continue in your previous file or open the progress file (03_Medical Center_Grids_B.rvt) from the previous exercise. If you open the progress file, save it with a new name.

Move your mouse near the bubbles at the top of the grid and then roll the wheel up a little. This will zoom in on the bubbles. To re-center the view, hold the wheel down and drag, this is panning. Look at the numbers in the bubbles. Notice how they are numbered sequentially starting with the first one you placed. We want to add the grids in the other directions but have them lettered instead of numbered. To do this, add one grid, rename it and then continue.

  1. On the Architecture tab, on the Datum panel, click the Grid tool

As an alternative, you can use keyboard shortcuts. For the Grid tool, type the letters gr on your keyboard—type the letters only in sequence, do NOT press enter!

  1. For the start point, click near the upper left next to (and just below) Grid 10.
  2. Move the mouse horizontally to the left and click the end point just to the left of Grid 1.

Figure 3–7 Create a single horizontal grid - renumber before continuing

Notice that the new grid is number 11. It is important that you renumber it before continuing (see Figure 3–7).

  1. Move your pointer directly over the text of Grid 11 and then click directly on the number—it should activate and become editable text.
  2. Type in: A and then press enter (see Figure 3–8).

Figure 3–8 Edit the parameter of the new grid to rename it

Stay in the grid command and continue adding grids below Grid A. Start to the right below the end of Grid A and end to the left below the grid bubble. Notice Revit will align the endpoints as you click.

  1. Create Grid B by clicking start and end points aligned with Grid A.

After clicking the end point, a small blue dimension will appear between Grid A and B. This is called a temporary dimension. Click right on the text of this dimension to edit its value to move Grid B.

  1. Edit the temporary dimension value to: 16'-6" and then press enter to accept it (see Figure 3–9).

Figure 3–9 Draw the next grid aligned to the endpoints of the first, then edit the temporary dimension to move it

  1. Repeat the exact process to create Grid C and edit its distance from B to 16'-6" as well.
  2. Add one more: Grid D and set its distance to 5'-6" this time.

If you need to adjust the length of grids after you create them, drag the endpoints. All aligned grids will stretch together.

  1. Click and drag the open circle at the right end of one of the horizontal grids. Drag it to between Grid 6 and 7 and then release (see Figure 3–10).

Figure 3–10 Drag one gird and all aligned grids follow

All the grids move together. Usually this is beneficial. However, in some cases you may not want this. To prevent this behavior, unlock the end.

  1. Click the small lock icon at the right end of Grid D to unlock it.
  2. Drag this endpoint back to its original position (to the right of Grid 10).

Notice that this time only Grid D is affected (see Figure 3–11). (see ).

Figure 3–11 Unlock a grid to drag it independently

  1. Select Grid D. On the Modify tab, click the Copy tool and verify that the Multiple checkbox is still checked on the Options Bar.
  2. Click the start point on Grid D, start moving straight down, type in: 18'-6" and then press enter.
  3. Continue copying grids down at: 13'-9"10'-3"7'-0"13'-0" and 25'-3" (5) total (see Figure 3–12).
  4. Press esc twice to finish copying.

Figure 3–12 Add remaining grids—Dimensions added in the figure for clarity

The main portion of the building (Grids A through H) is “L” shaped. On the right side between Grids 8 – 10 a small projection to the south occurs. These are Grids I and J. Using the unlock procedure, we can shorten Grids I and J in just that area.

  1. Unlock Grid I and drag its left end to the right between Grid 7 and 8. Repeat for Grid J.

Notice that I and J lock back together automatically when they align.

  1. Repeat the procedure to unlock the bottom end of Grid 8, 9 and 10 and stretch them below Grid J. (Be sure to unlock each time or other grids will also stretch).

There are plenty of other adjustments that can be made. For example, you can hide and show the bubbles at either end with the small checkbox (see Figure 3–13).

Figure 3–13 Toggle the grid bubble on or off as desired

  1. Make any final adjustments to your grid layout to match this figure:

It is a common office standard in many firms to omit letters “I” and “O” from grid designations to avoid having them confused with “1” and “0” on drawings. If you want to rename Grid I, first rename Grid J to K, and then you can change I to J. You cannot have two grids with the same name (see Figure 3–14).

Figure 3–14 Completed grid layout