In AutoCAD, the “Grid” is a non-plotted background to the drawing that allows different aspects of the drawing to be aligned with each other more accurately, helping to creating accurate spacing between elements. For example, items can be “Snapped” to the grid, meaning that they can only be moved in increments equal to the spacing of the grid. The grid can be dotted, or lined, and can be customized in a number of ways, including changing the size of the spacing it uses.
Load up AutoCAD. To start a new drawing, click the “Application” button in the top left of the screen, click “New,” and then click the template you want to start from. If you're opening an exising file, click the “Application” button, then click “Open,” navigate to the location of the file on your computer's hard drive, and then double-click it.
Make the grid active -- if it's not, look for the “Grid” icon on the status bar at the bottom on the window. If the status bar is displaying icons, the grid icon looks like a lined grid. If the status bar is displaying text labels, the icon simply displays “GRID.” Click it once to activate the grid.
Click “Tools,” and then click “Drafting Settings.” When the “Drafting Settings” dialog window appears, click the “Snap and Grid” tab. If you want to snap items to the grid, look for the “Snap Type” heading, and make sure “Rectangular Snap” and “Grid Snap” are both selected.
Type the spacing that you want the distances between the lines or dots of the grid to be horizontally in the “Grid X spacing” text box, under the “Grid spacing” header. Do the same for the distance you want between the grid lines vertically by entering a figure in the “Grid Y spacing” box. If you want the X and Y spacing to be the same, remember that the X figure is entered into the Y box by default unless you change this manually.
Click “OK” when you're done.
