Grid Dimensions¶

Grid Dimensions creates coordinated dimension strings for selected grids in the active Revit view.

Flow automatically identifies parallel grid groups, excludes grids that are already dimensioned and lets you place each dimension string directly in the view.

Ribbon: Flow → Annotation → Grid Dimensions

When to Use Grid Dimensions¶

Use Grid Dimensions when you need to quickly create continuous dimensions across groups of parallel grids.

Rather than dimensioning each grid set separately, Flow can:

• identify parallel grid groups automatically
• process multiple grid orientations from the same selection
• exclude grids already referenced by dimensions
• apply a consistent Dimension Type
• let you choose the location of each resulting dimension string

Supported Views¶

Grid Dimensions can be used in:

• Floor Plans
• Reflected Ceiling Plans
• Engineering Plans
• Area Plans
• Sections
• Elevations
• Detail Views

Other view types are not supported.

Before You Start¶

Open the Revit view containing the grids you want to dimension.

Grid Dimensions works with straight grids that form parallel groups.

Each usable group must contain at least two grids.

The project must also contain at least one linear Dimension Type whose name begins with ADa.

Creating Grid Dimensions¶

1. Select the Grids¶

Start:

Flow → Annotation → Grid Dimensions

If at least two grids were preselected before opening the tool, Flow uses that selection automatically.

Otherwise, Revit prompts you to:

Select the grids to dimension. Press Escape to finish.

Select the required grids and complete the Revit selection.

You can include grids running in different directions in the same selection. Flow separates them into usable parallel groups automatically.

2. Flow Checks Existing Dimensions¶

Flow checks whether any of the selected grids are already referenced by dimensions in the active view.

Already-dimensioned grids are excluded.

If any are found, Flow reports the number of excluded grids and lists their Grid Names.

If fewer than two undimensioned grids remain after filtering, Flow asks you to make another grid selection.

3. Flow Groups the Grids¶

The remaining grids are grouped automatically according to their direction in the active view.

Each parallel group containing at least two usable straight grids can produce a dimension string.

There is no need to specify whether the grids are vertical, horizontal or angled.

4. Choose the Dimension Type¶

The first time a usable grid group is found, Flow opens the Choose the dimension type window.

Only linear Dimension Types whose names begin with ADa are available.

If ADa_Blue exists, Flow places it first in the list.

Choose the required Dimension Type and select Continue.

5. Place the Dimension¶

For each parallel grid group, Revit prompts you to pick the dimension location.

Click where you want the dimension string to be placed.

Flow automatically:

• determines the grid direction
• creates a dimension direction perpendicular to the grids
• orders the grid references correctly
• creates the continuous dimension string using the selected Dimension Type

You control the dimension's location by clicking directly in the view.

6. Continue Dimensioning¶

If your selection contains more than one usable parallel group, Flow prompts you to place each group in turn.

After all groups from the current selection have been processed, Flow returns to grid selection.

You can then select another set of grids and continue using the same Dimension Type.

Press Esc when you have finished.

Parallel Grid Groups¶

Grid Dimensions automatically identifies grids that are parallel in the active view.

This means you do not need separate workflows for vertical, horizontal or angled grids.

For example, a selection containing:

• several parallel grids running in one direction; and
• several parallel grids running in another direction

can be separated into two dimension groups automatically.

Groups containing fewer than two usable grids cannot create a dimension.

Curved grids are not currently supported by this workflow.

Existing Grid Dimensions¶

Grid Dimensions avoids creating additional dimensions for grids that are already dimensioned in the active view.

Flow checks existing dimensions in that view and identifies the grids they reference.

If a selected grid is already referenced:

1. the grid is excluded from the new dimension
2. Flow reports that it has been excluded
3. the existing dimension remains unchanged

If fewer than two usable grids remain, no new dimension is created for that selection.

Dimension Type¶

Grid Dimensions uses a standard linear Revit Dimension Type selected during the workflow.

The chooser includes Dimension Types that:

• use the Linear dimension style; and
• have a name beginning with ADa.

ADa_Blue is placed first when it is available.

If no suitable ADa linear Dimension Types exist, Flow reports:

No ADa linear dimension types are available in this project.

Load or create an appropriate Dimension Type before running Grid Dimensions again.

Dimension Placement¶

Dimension placement is controlled directly in the Revit view.

For each parallel group, click the location where you want the dimension string.

Flow uses this point to establish the dimension baseline and automatically determines the correct dimension direction relative to the grids.

This works for horizontal, vertical and angled parallel grid arrangements without requiring a separate orientation setting.

Duplicate and Zero-Length Segments¶

When creating the dimension string, Flow protects against references that would result in zero-length dimension segments.

If a zero-length segment is encountered, Flow can remove the redundant reference and retry the dimension creation.

This helps produce a valid continuous dimension where the remaining grid references allow it.

If a Grid Dimension Cannot Be Created¶

Fewer than two grids selected¶

Grid Dimensions requires at least two grids.

If necessary, Flow prompts you to select additional grids.

Grids are already dimensioned¶

Already-dimensioned grids are excluded automatically.

If fewer than two undimensioned grids remain after filtering, Flow cannot create a dimension from that selection.

Select another grid group or review the existing dimensions in the active view.

No usable parallel group¶

If the remaining selection does not contain at least two usable straight parallel grids, Flow reports:

Flow could not find a parallel group containing at least two usable straight grids.

Check that the selected grids are straight and that at least two run parallel to each other.

No suitable Dimension Type¶

The project must contain at least one linear Dimension Type beginning with ADa.

If none are available, load or create the required Dimension Type and run Grid Dimensions again.

Revit cannot create the dimension¶

If an individual grid group cannot be dimensioned, Flow reports the failure and continues with the workflow where possible.

Review the grid geometry and selected dimension location before trying again.

Related Help¶

• Grid Dimensions Troubleshooting
• Annotation
• Wall Dimensions
• Join Dimensions