Customize the reference grid

Use grid options in the Editor Settings dialog box to customize grid snapping, inference constraints, grid lines, and other appearance options.

For steps to use the editing grid in your workflow, see The reference grid.

General settings

General settings customize grid spacing, major line intervals, rotate the grid with the map, and grid elevation for 3D local scenes.

1. Show the Editor Settings dialog box using one of the following methods:
   • On the status bar located at the bottom of the current map, hover over Grid , and click Editor Settings .
   • On the Edit tab, in the Tools group, click the Editor Settings dialog box launcher .
2. Click the Grid tab and expand General.
3. Change one or more of the following settings:
   • Spacing—Specifies the distance and units between grid lines.
   • Major line interval—Displays major grid lines at the specified interval. Major grid lines appear darker and can provide a visual reference when compared to the minor grid lines.
   • Rotate with map—When enabled, the grid automatically rotates when you rotate the map.
   • Elevation—Specifies the z-value height at which the grid appears in a 3D scene.

     Note:

     This setting is available only with 3D local scenes.

Snapping and inference

Snapping and inference settings customize how the pointer snaps to the grid and infers 90 degree constraints.

1. Show the Editor Settings dialog box using one of the following methods:
   • On the status bar located at the bottom of the current map, hover over Grid , and click Editor Settings .
   • On the Edit tab, in the Tools group, click the Editor Settings dialog box launcher .
2. Click the Grid tab and expand Snapping and inference.
3. Change one or more of the following settings:
   • Snap to grid—When enabled, the pointer snaps to the grid lines and grid intersections based on your active snap settings.
   • Infer from grid—When enabled, the pointer snaps perpendicular to a grid line from the previous vertex. This can be useful for quickly sketching orthogonal lines such as square or rectangular features.

Display and visibility

Display and visibility settings customize the appearance of the grid lines, display scale settings for 2D maps, and grid fill options for 3D local scenes.

1. Show the Editor Settings dialog box using one of the following methods:
   • On the status bar located at the bottom of the current map, hover over Grid , and click Editor Settings .
   • On the Edit tab, in the Tools group, click the Editor Settings dialog box launcher .
2. Click the Grid tab and expand Display and visibility.
3. Change one or more of the following settings:
   • Grid lines—Displays the grid as contiguous lines or as grid points at all intersections.
   • In beyond—The minimum display scale at which the grid is visible in a map.
   • Out beyond—The maximum display scale at which the grid is visible in a map.
   • Dynamic scaling—Displays a secondary grid at a larger scale if you zoom out and exceed the Out beyond display scale setting.

     Note:

     This setting is available only with 2D maps.

   • Grid fill—Displays grids in 3D local scenes as shaded sketch planes.

     Note:

     This setting is available only with 3D local scenes.