Coordinate System Form

Use the Coordinate System form to change grid labels and specify non-uniform grid spacing in the X and Y directions (X Grid Data, Y Grid Data), or specify skewed grid lines (i.e., use the General Grid Data area of the form). When working with the GLOBAL coordinate system only, options are available to specify Model Datum and Story Height Above and Below. Also, the form has options to hide grid lines and change the location and size of the label bubble as they appear on screen and in printed output. As changes are made to the data, the sketch in the upper right-hand corner of the form will update.

To shift the location of the coordinate system relative to the default GLOBAL coordinate system, click the System Origin button to access the Locate System Origin form.

Coordinate System Name edit box. An unlimited number of coordinate systems can be defined. Each system must have a unique name.
Display Grid Data as: Ordinates or Spacing. If the Ordinates option is selected, the grid locations are specified relative to the point of origin (0,0). If the Spacing option is selected, the grid locations are specified using lengths. Lengths are measured between grid lines (not cumulatively from the point of origin).
X Grid Data, Y Grid Data spreadsheets. These spreadsheets define the labeling, location, and visibility of grid lines in the X and Y directions.
Grid Line ID cells. The grid labeling scheme that is automatically applied across all grid lines in the coordinate system can be specified using the Grid Labeling Options form. The spreadsheet cells shown here can be used to further refine the labeling scheme, if necessary.
X and Y Ordinates or X and Y Spacing cells. Use these edit boxes to specify the locations for the grid lines. As indicated above, if using ordinates, specify ordinates relative to the point of origin (0,0). If using spacing, specify the distances between grid lines.
Visibility cells. It can be helpful to Show grid lines during Drawing operations and Hide them to "clean up" the appearance of the model as it becomes more complex.
Bubble Location cells. Switching the location of the bubble used to display the label ID can be helpful if, for example, multiple coordinate systems have been defined in the model.
General Grid Data spreadsheet. This area is included on the form if the system is defined as Cartesian on the Coordinate System Definition form (i.e., the previous form). Use this spreadsheet to specify grid line locations by specifying the start and end points of each grid line using Ordinates or Spacing (length), depending on which option is selected in the Display Grid Data as area of the form.
Hide All Grid Lines check box. Check this edit box to hide all grid lines in the coordinate system.
Bubble Size edit box. The size of the ID bubble is specified, in pixels, for all grid lines in coordinate system.
Grid Color display box. This is the color that will be used to display the grid lines. Click on the color to display the Color form and select another color.
Reorder Ordinates button. If the Display Grid Data as Ordinates option has been selected, this button is enabled. Clicking the button will order the ordinates in ascending order.

GLOBAL Coordinate System Only. The Model Datum and Story Height Above and Below edit boxes are added to the form when the GLOBAL coordinate system is selected on the preceding Coordinate Systems form.