Grids in Title Blocks?

[Gordon.Price]

So I am wondering what people are doing to create some sort of reference grid in the sheet family, and make it disappear for plotting. The approach the office has been using is to have different TB types, one with grids, one without. But then you have to go sheet to sheet to change them, which is kind of a pain. In a perfect world there would be a way to add a Project Information item called Ready to Print or something, and tie the visibility of the grid to that. Another option is to just have the one type, and just go change the type as needed, but editing types in the family editor is not something everyone is going to know how to do. So then I thought perhaps I could use the API to make a tool that toggles the grid on and off in the TB family for you. But I don't think the API can access the Family Editor, so I can't modify a family with it. I guess at that point I could make it an instance parameter, and use the API to just change all instances?

Anyway, hoping to hear what others are doing.

Thanks,
Gordon

[DanielleAnderson]

In our titleblock, we have an visibility subcategory called "guidelines". When you don't want that set of lines to print, you go to visibility graphics and turn it off. It works quite well.

[Gordon.Price]

In our titleblock, we have an visibility subcategory called "guidelines". When you don't want that set of lines to print, you go to visibility graphics and turn it off. It works quite well.

Hmmm. I assume you still have to go to every view, or have you found a slick way to change the visibility in all sheets? That has been our biggest issue, sheets getting batch plotted and a bunch of grids showing up, resulting in a bunch of paper waste. But perhaps that is where the API could come in? An instance variable in the Sheet and an app that toggles the visibilty in the appropriate sheets only?

Thanks,
Gordon

[kpaxton]

I guess it has everything to do with how you're wanting to use the grids. Do you want something you can physically snap to? or just something for a visual reference?

Within our titleblock, I create grids that use the Invisible Linetype - they're not going to print. To 'use' these, I select the view we'd like to move, then hover over the titleblock which visibly 'turns on' the lines. Then I just move the view where I want it.

I guess I could also use Danielle's additional idea of placing these in a subcategory and turning them off - IF they get in the way.

Although you can snap to the invisible lines, unfortunately you don't have the ability to with the geometry within the view we're moving, so it's still an 'eyeball' thing. Keep in mind you do have the 'Workplane Visibility' toggle (blue grid button - part of the Tools button palette) to assist. Set the size of the grid, turn it on, then grab the grips and adjust and move to where you want it.

-Kyle

[Dimitri Harvalias]

I assume you still have to go to every view, or have you found a slick way to change the visibility in all sheets?

You can select multiple views/sheets in the project browser and then apply visibilty, filter, view templates to a whole bunch at once. This also applies to pasting so if you had a set of general notes or a key plan you wnated to add to a number of sheets you can just do it all from the browser.

[jcdecastro]

We use invisible lines in the titleblock.
The only draw back is always mousing over them. It takes a few months of use to get use to them being there ALL THE TIME.

[ford347]

I was using a sub-category of lines called grid lines as Danielle suggested. I went away from that and just put some 'reference lines' in there. Works pretty good. they don't show up, but you can align, snap etc. to these and never have to look at them in your project.

Josh

[robert.manna]

We use the subcat approach with a twist. There is a visibility parameter (type based) in the TB families tied to all the grid lines. By default this is turned off in the TB families. If a user wants they can turn the grid lines on, and viola! You've got grids whose appearance can be controlled via object styles, but you don't have to worry about applying and re-applying view templates to modify your views, just throw a simple switch in the TB family.

On top of that all that, you could create two types within the TB family, one with the grid off or on. So take your pick with my families you can manage the grid lines any way that you want.


HTH,
-R

[DanielleAnderson]

Great Tip Robert! I'll have to give that a try.