Rectangular grid
This function creates a grid in a layer the user specifies from a box that the user creates.
To run this function: Choose Create > Rectangular grid, or...
Point and drag to define the window box.
Use the mouse to define a box region about the size and location of the grid you wish to create.
The box is used the same way as a WINDOW IN box either corner to corner or centre to corner as the boundary.
A DESIGN GRID PARAMETERS form is displayed:
Grid string number
This field will be filled with the design string number. If you are creating more than one Grid choose different string numbers to get them displayed in different colours.
Grid layer name
This field will not be filled as you have to choose a layer name that is not already in use. If you choose an existing layer, the validation of the field will fail and you will be asked to supply another name.
Define Origin of the Grid
Set the Northing, Easting and Elevation values for the origin point. The origin is the real world coordinate used to position the first grid node, (lower left node in the window ) and all other nodes are positioned according to the camera position and current view. i.e. in the plane of the screen. If the origin is changed then the plane the grid is located in will be moved up or down in the current view so that the new plane includes the new origin.
Define Grid Step Size
Define the size of the steps along the Y and X. For example if you wanted a grid with total X of 100 with 20 nodes, the X step size needs to be 5.
Define Number of Nodes
Define the number of nodes along the Y and X. For example if you wanted a grid with total Y of 100 with Y step size 10, the number of nodes needs to be 10.
Dimensions of the grid
Display only. These fields are calculated from the step size multiplied by the number of nodes.
Press APPLY to continue or CANCEL to exit the function.
Warnings
This layer is currently in the system. A brand new layer must be chosen for the results You have entered the name of an existing layer, the grid layer must be a new layer.
Results
The grid you have defined will be drawn on the screen and the active layer will remain the same ready for you to start using the grid.
The Grid Styles File
All grids use a special styles file for the initial display called "SSI_STYLES:grdstyle.ssi". You can alter this file if you wish to use different grid markers or colour each grid differently to the default colours. You do not have to use this style once the grid is created. However, you can any use any styles file you like and each grid layer could have a totally different styles file. Setting the drawing method to markers to give the best display for any new styles files you might create for your grid.