Why is This Checkbox Always Disabled?

The 2011 release of Revit MEP has given many new format options for panel schedules.  Some are obvious; the purpose of others are not as easy to figure out.  One such option is the control to display multi-phase circuits on multiple rows.  While working in the Set Template Options dialog when editing a panel schedule template, have you noticed this option and not figured out why it is always disabled?

 

 

 

There is a simple answer.  This control only applies to panels that use the One Column Panel Configuration.  Typical two column formats will show multi-phase circuits on multiple rows by default, but the one column formats show multi-phase circuits on one row by default.  Checking this setting will break out the phases onto separate rows as illustrated by the preview image in the dialog.

 

(Click the image for an enlarged view.)