Controling grid spacing using global parameters

[TimHevel]

Hi all,

Im trying to set-up a conceptual design template in which i can control grid spacing by a couple of global parameters.

I found out that revit gives priority to the grids in the top right corner of the screen.

it is not common practice to start numbering grids starting from the top right, but from the top left or bottom left.

so why does revit do that, and can it be changed?

in families you can control reference plane priority by making it a strong reference or defining it as origin.

can a symilar thing be done for grids?

Pinning does not work, revit wants to remove constraints

beforeafter

[Kimtaurus]

Pin the grids which you don't want to move.

[TimHevel]

Hi Kimtaurus,

Like i said, i tried that

.

However when i pin Grids A and 3 it works fine.

[Kimtaurus]

When the dimension is a string, pinning the grids works.

Is it a solution to always dimension from the same grid? And use formules in the Global Parameters? I've pinned grid 2 and am able to move the other grids with global parameters (in this case 3).

[TimHevel]

Im sorry that doensn't give enough flexibility, because im not trying to change the value of the globalparameter, im replacing one global parameter with another when want to change gridspacing. i have setup multiple type eg. 5400 6600 and 7600. and i want to change each individual spacing, by switching parameters.

[Kimtaurus]

Maybe Dynamo could do the trick?

[loboarch]

Maybe you could kind of do this if it is a template file. You could create an array of a number of grids (more than you think you might ever need) going in the x and y directions. Then add 2 reference planes to be the "controls" for the spacing. Place your global parameters measuring from Grid 1 and Grid A in the 2 directions. Now you can set the spacing using the global parameter to move the reference planes and then use the Align tool to move grids 2 and B respectively into position. The rest of the array will follow suit. Adjust the array numbers to the actual number of grids you need. You can now adjust the grid spacing over and over using the same process. One thing is you can't lock the grids to the reference planes because it will conflict with the array.

Maybe not exactly what you want but it is close.

I have created a Screencast showing an example.

[TimHevel]

that could work if all the grid spacings were the same. but they dont necessarily have to be unfortunately.

we are developing a system for a contractor to mix and match their "standard" apartments to fullfill the developers design brief, after which the architect can design a facade around it.

[loboarch]

Yeah if not all the same, then my idea does not work.  I am not sure there is a way to "automate" this in Revit without using an external tool like Dynamo.

In all honesty maybe it is something that does not necessarily need automation? Layout of grids is something that happens 1 time on a project and might have a slight change every once and awhile, but that is typically to one or 2 grid lines to accommodate some kind of special situation. It can't take more than a couple of minutes to lay out a grid system one grid at a time.