Secondary Features — Grid Generation
Overview
Secondary features are automatically generated child features linked to a parent. The Grid Generation secondary feature creates a grid of linear features (rows × columns) with configurable spacing and baselines — useful for laying out gridded survey patterns, archaeological dig grids, or sampling layouts.
Feature Types Required
You need three feature types in the project:
- Parent linear feature type — defines the grid's anchor line and parameters
- GridLines — the generated grid lines (linear). Required.
- GridLineIntersections — point features at line intersections. Optional.
- GridLineCentres — point features at square centres, used for cell labels. Optional.
Parent Feature Type Setup
Create a linear feature type with these attributes:
_secondary_feature(short text) — default valueGridLinesRows(numeric)Cols(numeric)Spacing(numeric, metres)Baseline(radio group) — options: Centred, Left, Base
GridLines Feature Type Setup
Create a linear feature type named exactly GridLines. No required attributes — style it however you wish.
GridLineIntersections (Optional)
Create a point feature type named exactly GridLineIntersections. No required attributes — style as desired.
GridLineCentres (Optional, for cell labels)
Create a point feature type named exactly GridLineCentres with a short-text attribute named SQUARE_LABEL.
To make labels render (e.g. A1, A2, A3…):
- Open the feature type's style settings.
- Click the annotation button.
- Set the Attribute field to
SQUARE_LABEL. - To minimise the point icons, tick Simplified icon and pick the smallest circle.
Mobile Workflow
- In the mobile app, create a parent feature using the grid parent feature type.
- Set Rows, Cols, Spacing, and Baseline.
- Save — the GridLines (and intersections/centres if configured) generate automatically.
- If you edit the parent later, the grid regenerates. Delete the parent and the entire grid disappears.