Modifying the Structural Grid Drawing Annotation Element Templates

How can I modify Grid annotation templates? 

• Open the Element Templates dialog:
  • From Resources in explorer
  • Or, from the Backstage choose Settings > Building > Element Templates. The Element Templates dialog will open.
• In the Element Templates dialog, right-click on the GridTemplate.dgnlib in the file list on the left and choose Open Library from the pop-up menu. 

If you get a message that the file is not part of a workset or is not part of the active workset, choose the option that opens the file in the active workset.

• In the Element Templates dialog, expand the Grid Template folder and select the Default Element Template. In the Properties section of the dialog, the Elevation Annotation and Grid Annotation property groups will become visible.

• You can expand the properties settings for any of the listed annotations and review or modify the settings.
  • The cells for Elevation Target and Grid labels are found in the cell library DrawingCells.cel, but you can choose from any cell library that is listed in the MS_CELLLIST configuration variable.
  • The Masks for Elevation Target and Grid Label should be set to color 255 (this equates to the paper color on a plot). The masks will hide any elements that the targets and labels overlap.
  • All of the dimensional sizes for text height, radius, offsets, etc., are in plotted height as measured on paper.
• If you want to create a parallel set of Annotation templates, copy the Default element template:
  • Right-click on the name in the template list and choose Copy from the pop-up menu

• Right-click in the Template list and choose Paste from the pop-up menu

• Right-click on the newly pasted copy and choose Rename from the pop-up menu

• Define your new name.

You can assign your Element Template to your Grid System in the Grid Systems Settings dialog:

Configuration Variable: 

• BB_GRID_TEMPLATE_DGNLIB – Sets the path and filename of the DGNlib file that stores the element templates defining the annotation used in grids and elevation markers on drawings.