Working with Document Grids

Ruler guides aren't the only way to align objects. The document grid can also be used as a structure for designing pages. The baseline grid is used to keep lines of text even. (See page 409 for how to align text to the baseline grid.)

To display the grids:

• Choose View > Grids & Guides > Show Document Grid or View > Grids & Guides > Show Baseline Grid.
  
  

Choose Show Document Grid to see the horizontal and vertical gridlines.

To hide the grids:

• Choose View > Grids & Guides > Hide Document Grid or View > Grids & Guides > Hide Baseline Grid.
  
  

To change the grid apperance:

1.	Choose Edit > Preferences > Grids (Win) or InDesign > Preferences > Grids (Mac) to open the Grids Preferences dialog box . The Grids Preferences dialog box lets you control the display and arrangement of the document grid.
2.	Use the Color pop-up list to change the grid color.
3.	Enter an amount in the Horizontal and Vertical Gridline Every fields to set the distance between the main gridlines.
4.	Enter an amount in the Subdivisions field to create lighter gridlines between the main gridlines.
5.	Enter an amount in the Start field to set where the baseline grid should start.
6.	Use the Relative To list to position the start of the grid relative to the top of the page or the top margin.
7.	Enter a percentage in the View Threshold field. This sets the lowest magnification at which the grid is visible.
8.	Check Grids in Back to position the gridlines behind objects on the page, as shown on page 28 in figure .

InDesign's "Smart" View Commands

If you have not used other page layout programs, you may not realize how smart some of InDesign's View commands are. These are the commands Fit Page in Window, Fit Spread in Window, and Entire Pasteboard.

In most other programs, if you choose the Fit Page in Window command, the magnification changes to show the entire page. If you then change the size of the window, the magnification is no longer the correct size to show the entire page.

InDesign, however, is much smarter. When you choose those three View commands, InDesign continues to display the entire page, spread, or pasteboard even if you resize the window. The magnification dynamically changes as you change the size of the window.

The command will stay active until you choose a new view or manually change the magnification. That's pretty smart!

To turn on Snap to Grid:

• Choose View > Grids & Guides > Snap to Document Grid. If Snap to Document Grid is checked, the feature is already turned on.