Today, I’m going to conclude my UI Addon series by talking about the raid frame addon Grid.
In my personal opinion, Grid is without doubt the most power addon that a druid healer can have. However a lot of customization is are required to get raid ready.
You have to get your frames from 
to something like 
.
The first thing you need to know about Grid is that the download above includes only the core addon. To truly make it usable you have to download several other Grid addons.
I use the following addons:
- GridIndicatorCornerText – Allows me to show HoT timers in the corners.
- GridIndicatorSideIcons – Allows me to place buff/debuff icons on the top, bottom, right and left of the frames.
- GridManaBars – Adds mana, energy and rage bars to your frames.
- GridStatusHoTs – Allows you to better customize the way HoTs look within your frames.
- GridStatusLifebloom – Allows you to customize the way lifebloom appears in your frames.
- GridStatusRaidDebuff – Allows you to track and display various raid debuffs.
I prefer having all of my HoT durations visible and in numeric format. This helps me evaulate my HoT situation in a glance.
Here is my grid layout:
Grid Configuration
Next, I want to show you how to configure Grid. The first thing that you need to do is pull up the Grid configuration UI. The easiest way to do this is to type /grid config. Here is what is looks like.
The interface is somewhat confusing, but once you play with it a little you will learn your way around. It is broken down this way.
- Frame – Allows you to map “Statuses to different parts of your frame. It also allows you to configure the look of your raid frames.
- Layout – Allows you to setup the layout of your entire grid panel.
- Status – Modify or add additional Statuses.
- Profile – Add, modify or delete profiles.
For the remainder of this post I’m going to assume that you have installed the addons that I mentioned above.
The look of your frames
The first thing I do is Invert my colors. This makes the health bars much easier to see. To do this, go to the parent level of the Frame and click “Invert Bar Color”. While you are on this page, go ahead and increase the “Center Text Length”. I have mine set at 10 characters.
All of the options to change the padding, spacing and scale of your whole Grid panel are in the parent level of “Layout”. I have Padding and Spacing both set to zero and padding is set to 1.45.
After you get the grid panel setup and placed where you want it, you will want to alter the actual raid frames. This is done under Frame – Advanced. There are many different options to choose from here. The most important are the frame height and width and the orientation of the frame. Set your height and width to whatever works best for you. “Orientation of Frame” sets which way damage is shown in the frame. By default, it is set to vertical. This means that when you take damage, your health bar lowers from top to bottom. If it is set to Horizontal it lowers from right to left. Personally, I like it set to Horizontal.
The next thing I like to change is the mana bar location. By defualt, this is located on the right side of your frame and has a vertical orientation. I like it better at the bottom of the frame with a horizontal orientation. To do this go to Frame – Advanced – Mana Bar and change the “Side” option to Bottom.
With the above set, your layout will be pretty much set. Next you will want to decide how you want your frames to react to different statuses.
Configuring your frames
In this section, I’m going to take my frame and show you how I setup each section. I’m going to start at the top and go clockwise.
Top – I have the top of my frame set to show the Rejuvenation spell icon when the target has a rejuvenation active on it. In order to do this:
- Go to Frame – Icon (Sides) – Top Icon, then click Buff:Rejuvenation.
- Go to Frame – Advanced – Icon (Sides) and set the icon sizes to an acceptable level.
Top-Right – I have the top-right of my frame set to show my regrowth timer. Follow these setups to duplicate:
- Go to Frame – Top Right Corner and make sure that nothing is checked.
- Go to Frame – Corner Text Top Right and click Buff: My Regrowth.
- Go to Status, My HoTs, Buff: My Regrowth. Make sure enabled is checked and that Show HoT-counter is not checked. Then set the color to whatever you prefer.
Right – I have the right of my frame set to show Thorns. This one is a little different because you have to add Thorns to your status list.
- First, we need to add Thorns to the status list. Go to Status – Auras and type Thorns in the “Add new Buff” section.
- Go to Status – Auras – Buff: Thorns and make sure Enabled is checked.
- Go to Frame – Icon (Sides) – Right Icon and check Buff: Thorns.
Bottom-Right – I have the bottom right set to show my Wild Growth timer.
- Go to Frame – Bottom Right Corner and make sure that nothing is checked.
- Go to Frame – Corner Text Bottom Right and click Buff: My Wild Growth.
- Go to Status, My HoTs, Buff: My Wild Growth. Make sure enabled is checked and that Show HoT-counter is not checked. Then set the color to whatever you prefer.
Bottom – I have the bottom of my frame set to show the Regrowth spell icon when the target has a Regrowth active on it. In order to do this:
- Go to Frame – Icon (Sides) – Bottom Icon, then click Buff:Regrowth.
- Go to Frame – Advanced – Icon (Sides) and set the icon sizes to an acceptable level.
Bottom-Left – This is area is mostly a place holder used for debuffs.
Left – I have the left of my frame set to show Mark and Gift of the Wild. This one is a little different because you have to add Mark to your status list.
- First, we need to add Mark to the status list. Go to Status – Auras and type Mark of the Wild in the “Add new Buff” section then do the same for Gift of the Wild.
- Go to Status – Auras – Buff: Mark of the Wild and Buff: Gift of the Wild and make sure Enabled is checked.
- Go to Frame – Icon (Sides) – Left Icon and check Buff: Mark of the Wild and Gift of the Wild.
Top-Left – I have the top-left of my frame set to show my Rejuvenation timer. Follow these setups to duplicate:
- Go to Frame – Top Left Corner and make sure that nothing is checked.
- Go to Frame – Corner Text Top Left and click Buff: My Rejuvenation.
- Go to Status, My HoTs, Buff: My Rejuvenation. Make sure enabled is checked and that Show HoT-counter is not checked. Then set the color to whatever you prefer.
Center Icon – You will want to make sure that Curse and Poison icons show up in the middle of your frames so they are easy to see. Under Frame – Center Icon, I have the following this checked:
- Debuff type: Curse
- Debuff type: Poison
- Raid Debuff
You can add other custom debuffs here as well.
Center Text – I just have 3 things set here:
- Unit Name
- Offline Warning
- Health Deficit
Center Text 2 – I use this area to show my lifebloom timer. Do the following:
- Go to Frame – Center Text 2 and click Lifebloom Duration.
- While you are there also click Death Warning, Debuff: Ghost.
- Go to Status – Lifebloom – Lifebloom Duration. Make sure enabled is checked and set your colors.
Border – I use the border to show when I have a target selected and when a target has Agro. It’s very important to know when someone gets agro so you can start throwing HoTs on them. Use the following settings:
- Go to Frame – Border and check Aggro Alert and Your Target
- Go to Status – Aggro alert and set the priority to 99 so it will always show up. Also, make sure enabled is checked.
- Go to Status – Your Target and make sure the priority is set to something below 99. Also, make sure enabled is checked.
I hope by reading this post that Grid will at least be a little easier for you to configure. Please feel free to contact me or leave comments here is you need any help.
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[...] Rejuvo’s post on his Grid setup with good instructions [...]
Welcome to the blogsphere.
This is a nice clear post on setting up Grid. Good work.
Gobble gobble.
Thanks
Got a problem with Grid that I haven’t been able to solve (and have asked on other blog’s posting guides about it…with no response).
I’m sure it’s something basic, but, lets just say I’m not a addon whiz. I followed your guide step-by-step and still run into the same problem I’ve had for a long time. Whenever I relog or DC it resets to the generic settings.
I had no issues other than this. After following your guide I had it setup just as I wanted it. Then the dreaded log-off/ on …/baffle >.<. I even tried it again creating a new profile and this also didn't work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently running Grid and Vuhdo at the same time until I can solve this.
Did it actually save the additional profile that you created? Meaning that you can still switch to the profile you created. Or did it not even save that?
If it did not it almost sounds like a permissions issue is not allowing the files to be updated.
What OS do you run?
Oh one other thing, how do you exit the game. Always make sure to use /camp or you risk the game not saving your settings.
I’m actually not sure if it saved. I was pretty frustrated and tired and called it a night after it reset.
I’m 15 minutes from my weekend freedom! Will post again after I check it out. Really appreciate the quick response!
Also, little embarrassed to say I can’t answer what OS I’m running. Gotta ask my wife on this one. I was a grunt in the Marine Corps so cut me some slack
The main thing is to be careful how you exit the game. I know that on my old PC I had an issue where WoW would crash sometimes when I would exit the game. This would always seem to happen right after I made lots of changes and the changes would all be lost.
If you do not log out the correct way “/camp” the game will not save any UI/addon changes at all.
Not sure what’s left to do. I uninstalled/re- installed the addon and have tried everything I can think of. It definitley isn’t saving my changes.
Ok, here’s my guess. I’m assuming that you are running Windows Vista and your folder is set to read only.
Go into Windows Explorer and browse to your Interface folder. Go to properties and make sure that read only is not checked.
Your explanation on setting up grid is very well done. =)
I will say that I’m not overly fond of your current set-up. Having both a timer and an icon for the same spell is redundant, and takes up quite a lot of valuable real estate in those tiny rectangles.
I find it more useful to have a corner for rejuv, a corner for regrowth, a corner for wild growth, and a corner for swiftmend (it shows both rejuv/regrowth, not just yours but those of other druids.. don’t forget, you can swiftmend them even if they aren’t your own!).
I also find it more useful to set debuffs up with the border, using the priority feature. Aggro (red) at 70, poisons (green) at 80, curses (purple) at 90. Aggro is predictable, and I find it more effective for me to see the borders light up when someone needs dispelling, instead of small dots.
As well, I find it works better for me to have names on the left, and the lifebloom timer on the right- this way, I have more room to make the font size bigger. Not to mention have lots of room in the center for the icons of debuffs I add in (think Frost Blast on KT, or Incinerate Flesh on Jaraxxus).
I’m also quite partial to inverting the class colors- dark bars, with the missing health being the lighter color. *shrugs* I just like looking at it that way better.
Just some alternative suggestions! I wish I could pop in a picture, so that you could see what I’m talking about.. some things are hard to visualize. But I’m not sure if its possible, and even if it was, I’m just not good w/ the tech stuff.
I’m really enjoying your blog, this is actually my first time here. Welcome to the community!
@Avanii – If you could get me a screenshot I would really appreciate it. I will not disagree that my setup has some redundancy built in. Just hit take a screenshot and save it on photobucket or something, it’s free!
The only reason I use icons and timers is because you cannot see timers on a HoT unless it’s your own HoT. So I use the icons so that I will know if someone has a spell that I can swiftmend. For myself, using timers helps me better understand the situation at a glance. It allows me to better predict when I need to refresh HoTs when random damage is taking place.
I could very well drop the icons and just combine them both under a colored box or something and I may do this in the future.
In regards to poisons and such, I just see them better when the icon pops up in the middle. The agro indicator allows me to HoT up someone that shouldn’t necessarily have agro. Hopefully this can keep them alive till the proper tank can grab agro.
I really appreciate your comment and my Interface and Grid configuration are constantly changing to fit evolving needs. The best way to make things better are by seeing and hearing what others do and why they do so.
Thanks again!
My Grid SS-
http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo109/Avanii87/grid-altered.jpg
Thanks for the advice on photobucket, silly me. =P
Pink is rejuv, green is regrowth, yellow is for any rejuv/regrowth on the target (including those of other druids), turquoise is wild growth. The border is blue (out of combat) showing that I’m missing mark/gift. As I mentioned in the above post, the border changes colors with aggro, poisons and curses. The top icon is my target. The timer is obviously lifebloom, which changes color each stack- red for 1, yellow for 2, green for 3.
This isn’t a great shot, I was rushing and was experiencing some lag, so there are things that aren’t seen. On the bottom I have a small icon (I had to shrink it, it was huge!) for thorns (those who have it, NOT missing it). On the right, I have an icon that lets me see ready check responses.
The middle is reserved for AFKs, offlines (dc), dead, or icons that represent something that needs to be dealt with (like incinerate flesh, or [insert spell here]). I used to have my lifebloom timer in the middle, with a health deficiency where the lb timer is currently. I found that I never actually used that information, so I took it out. Seeing how much health is missing from the bar is enough for me.
I don’t actually use corner timers. I’ve tried them, and I can definitely understand the appeal; however, I’ve found that I respond faster to colors than anything else. I again use the priority options provided. For example, rejuv is pink. With 4 seconds left, it turns a dark purple, and with 2 seconds left it turns red.
I find that having the little orangey-yellow icon for all hots is more than enough for me. If I’m going to swiftmend, I’m not usually picky about which hot it uses.. if I am for some reason, I’ll hot one of my own. Which, truth be told, is usually what happens anyway.. lol.
Like I said, I prefer my health to be dark (in the picture, the missing health would be orange, as I do use class colors. Inverse, I guess would be the word?), with the missing health the light color. Maybe it’s that I don’t find it as jarring to look at, but its only a personal preference.
Anyway, there it is! I try really hard to have my grid give me all the information I want while staying as clean and clutter-free as possible. I like to be able to read it at a glance without needing to interpret.. like squinting to read a tiny timer.
I do recommend downloading another grid component, called GridStatusMissingBuffs. It combines all welfare/deluxe buffs, and highlights when someone is missing one, not when someone has it. I find that it is another feature that gives me more real estate on my little rectangles during combat.
I totally hear you about having an evolving grid/interface.. I’m so right there with you. I’m always trying to make everything work better for me!
P.S. I was having difficulties with the camera distance on my tauren (I used to be a nelf), and used that little trick of yours that you posted. Freaking awesome, thanks! =D
And wow.. what a wall of text. Sorry! ><