diff --git a/src/assert.js b/src/assert.js
index 35ea290..916fa81 100644
--- a/src/assert.js
+++ b/src/assert.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ const _in = exports.in = (raw, name, arr) => {
 const arr = exports.arr = (raw, name, length, _type, _default) => units => {
     assert(type(raw)(units) == 'array', `Field "${name}" should be an array!`)
     assert(length == 0 || raw.length == length, `Field "${name}" should be an array of length ${length}!`)
-    raw = raw.map(val => val || _default)
+    raw = raw.map(val => val === undefined ? _default : val)
     raw.map(val => assert(type(val)(units) == _type, `Field "${name}" should contain ${_type}s!`))
     if (_type == 'number') {
         raw = raw.map(val => mathnum(val)(units))
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ const wh = exports.wh = (raw, name) => units => {
     return xy(raw, name)(units)
 }
 
-exports.trbl = (raw, name) => units => {
+exports.trbl = (raw, name, _default=0) => units => {
     if (!Array.isArray(raw)) raw = [raw, raw, raw, raw]
     if (raw.length == 2) raw = [raw[1], raw[0], raw[1], raw[0]]
-    return numarr(raw, name, 4, 'number', 0)(units)
+    return arr(raw, name, 4, 'number', _default)(units)
 }
diff --git a/src/outlines.js b/src/outlines.js
index 66e0849..ed1061f 100644
--- a/src/outlines.js
+++ b/src/outlines.js
@@ -198,8 +198,7 @@ exports.parse = (config = {}, points = {}, units = {}) => {
             // process keys that are common to all part declarations
             const operation = u[a.in(part.operation || 'add', `${name}.operation`, ['add', 'subtract', 'intersect', 'stack'])]
             const what = a.in(part.what || 'outline', `${name}.what`, ['rectangle', 'circle', 'polygon', 'outline'])
-            const bound_by_default = ['rectangle']
-            const bound = part.bound === undefined ? bound_by_default.includes(what) : !!part.bound
+            const bound = !!part.bound
             const mirror = a.sane(part.mirror || false, `${name}.mirror`, 'boolean')()
             // `where` is delayed until we have all, potentially what-dependent units
             // default where is [0, 0], as per filter parsing
diff --git a/src/points.js b/src/points.js
index 5f6c0c0..0d48cc8 100644
--- a/src/points.js
+++ b/src/points.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const render_zone = exports._render_zone = (zone_name, zone, anchor, global_key,
 
     // column layout
 
+    const col_minmax = {}
     if (!Object.keys(cols).length) {
         cols.default = {}
     }
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ const render_zone = exports._render_zone = (zone_name, zone, anchor, global_key,
         // column-level sanitization
 
         col = col || {}
+        col_minmax[col_name] = {min: Infinity, max: -Infinity}
 
         a.unexpected(
             col,
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ const render_zone = exports._render_zone = (zone_name, zone, anchor, global_key,
             width: units.$default_width,
             height: units.$default_height,
             padding: units.$default_padding,
+            autobind: units.$default_autobind,
             skip: false,
             asym: 'both',
             colrow: '{{col.name}}_{{row}}',
@@ -155,21 +158,83 @@ const render_zone = exports._render_zone = (zone_name, zone, anchor, global_key,
         // actually laying out keys
 
         for (const key of keys) {
+
+            // copy the current column anchor
             let point = col_anchor.clone()
+
+            // apply transformations
             for (const r of rotations) {
                 point.rotate(r.angle, r.origin)
             }
             point.r += key.orient
             point.shift(key.shift)
             point.r += key.rotate
+
+            // save new key
             point.meta = key
             points[key.name] = point
+
+            // collect minmax stats for autobind
+            col_minmax[col_name].min = Math.min(col_minmax[col_name].min, point.y)
+            col_minmax[col_name].max = Math.max(col_minmax[col_name].max, point.y)
+
+            // advance the column anchor to the next position
             col_anchor.y += key.padding
         }
 
         first_col = false
     }
 
+    // autobind
+
+    let col_names = Object.keys(col_minmax)
+    let col_index = 0
+    for (const [col_name, bounds] of Object.entries(col_minmax)) {
+        for (const point of Object.values(points)) {
+            if (point.meta.col.name != col_name) continue
+            if (!point.meta.autobind) continue
+            const autobind = a.sane(point.meta.autobind, `${point.meta.name}.autobind`, 'number')(units)
+            // specify default as -1, so we can recognize where it was left undefined even after number-ification
+            const bind = point.meta.bind = a.trbl(point.meta.bind, `${point.meta.name}.bind`, -1)(units)
+
+            // up
+            if (bind[0] == -1) {
+                if (point.y < bounds.max) bind[0] = autobind
+                else bind[0] = 0
+                
+            }
+
+            // right
+            if (bind[1] == -1) {
+                bind[1] = 0
+                if (col_index < col_names.length - 1) {
+                    const right = col_minmax[col_names[col_index + 1]]
+                    if (point.y >= right.min && point.y <= right.max) {
+                        bind[1] = autobind
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // down
+            if (bind[2] == -1) {
+                if (point.y > bounds.min) bind[2] = autobind
+                else bind[2] = 0
+            }
+
+            // left
+            if (bind[3] == -1) {
+                bind[3] = 0
+                if (col_index > 0) {
+                    const left = col_minmax[col_names[col_index - 1]]
+                    if (point.y >= left.min && point.y <= left.max) {
+                        bind[3] = autobind
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        col_index++
+    }
+
     return points
 }
 
diff --git a/src/units.js b/src/units.js
index 90e0eaa..6831192 100644
--- a/src/units.js
+++ b/src/units.js
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ const default_units = {
     $default_splay: 0,
     $default_height: 'u-1',
     $default_width: 'u-1',
-    $default_padding: 'u'
+    $default_padding: 'u',
+    $default_autobind: 10
 }
 
 exports.parse = (config = {}) => {
diff --git a/test/cli/bad_input/error b/test/cli/bad_input/error
index 2ed6722..e922a13 100644
--- a/test/cli/bad_input/error
+++ b/test/cli/bad_input/error
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Error: Input doesn't resolve into an object!
+Error: Input doesn't resolve into an object!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cli/big/reference/points/points.yaml b/test/cli/big/reference/points/points.yaml
index 82720d6..f744193 100644
--- a/test/cli/big/reference/points/points.yaml
+++ b/test/cli/big/reference/points/points.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ matrix:
         width: 18
         height: 18
         padding: 19
+        autobind: 10
         skip: false
         asym: both
         colrow: default_default
@@ -28,3 +29,8 @@ matrix:
             key: {}
             name: default
         row: default
+        bind:
+            - 0
+            - 0
+            - 0
+            - 0
diff --git a/test/cli/big/reference/points/units.yaml b/test/cli/big/reference/points/units.yaml
index ae049c1..0b00ed1 100644
--- a/test/cli/big/reference/points/units.yaml
+++ b/test/cli/big/reference/points/units.yaml
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ $default_splay: 0
 $default_height: 18
 $default_width: 18
 $default_padding: 19
+$default_autobind: 10
 a: 47
diff --git a/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/points.yaml b/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/points.yaml
index a3179f0..0ec0976 100644
--- a/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/points.yaml
+++ b/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/points.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ matrix_col_row:
         width: 18
         height: 18
         padding: 19
+        autobind: 10
         skip: false
         asym: both
         colrow: col_row
@@ -32,3 +33,8 @@ matrix_col_row:
             name: matrix
         col: *ref_0
         row: row
+        bind:
+            - 0
+            - 0
+            - 0
+            - 0
diff --git a/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/units.yaml b/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/units.yaml
index 4f4cee3..454b8bb 100644
--- a/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/units.yaml
+++ b/test/cli/minimal/reference/points/units.yaml
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ $default_splay: 0
 $default_height: 18
 $default_width: 18
 $default_padding: 19
+$default_autobind: 10
diff --git a/test/cli/missing_input/error b/test/cli/missing_input/error
index 8948ed0..2b2dba0 100644
--- a/test/cli/missing_input/error
+++ b/test/cli/missing_input/error
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Usage: ergogen <config_file> [options]
+Usage: ergogen <config_file> [options]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cli/nonexistent_input/error b/test/cli/nonexistent_input/error
index d5ef9b2..4207ee3 100644
--- a/test/cli/nonexistent_input/error
+++ b/test/cli/nonexistent_input/error
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Could not read config file "nonexistent.yaml": Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'nonexistent.yaml'
+Could not read config file "nonexistent.yaml": Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'nonexistent.yaml'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/outlines/fillet.yaml b/test/outlines/fillet.yaml
index a34ed68..5dc5e85 100644
--- a/test/outlines/fillet.yaml
+++ b/test/outlines/fillet.yaml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ outlines:
     - what: rectangle
       where: true
       size: cy
+      bound: true
   fillet:
     - what: outline
       name: base
diff --git a/test/points/adjustments___points.json b/test/points/adjustments___points.json
index 25ce5c1..ab5e160 100644
--- a/test/points/adjustments___points.json
+++ b/test/points/adjustments___points.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_bottom",
@@ -61,7 +62,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                0,
+                0,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_left_top": {
@@ -85,6 +92,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_top",
@@ -126,7 +134,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                10,
+                10,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_bottom": {
@@ -150,6 +164,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_bottom",
@@ -208,7 +223,13 @@
                 },
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                0,
+                0,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_top": {
@@ -232,6 +253,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_top",
@@ -290,7 +312,13 @@
                 },
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                0,
+                10,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/points/basic_2x2___points.json b/test/points/basic_2x2___points.json
index d2c7baf..ab42f3d 100644
--- a/test/points/basic_2x2___points.json
+++ b/test/points/basic_2x2___points.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_bottom",
@@ -40,7 +41,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                10,
+                0,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_left_top": {
@@ -64,6 +71,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_top",
@@ -84,7 +92,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                10,
+                10,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_bottom": {
@@ -108,6 +122,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_bottom",
@@ -128,7 +143,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                0,
+                0,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_top": {
@@ -152,6 +173,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_top",
@@ -172,7 +194,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                0,
+                10,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/points/default___points.json b/test/points/default___points.json
index d1c34cb..667bfc4 100644
--- a/test/points/default___points.json
+++ b/test/points/default___points.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "default_default",
@@ -32,7 +33,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "default"
             },
-            "row": "default"
+            "row": "default",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                0,
+                0,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/points/overrides___points.json b/test/points/overrides___points.json
index 6edfefd..9094335 100644
--- a/test/points/overrides___points.json
+++ b/test/points/overrides___points.json
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_bottom",
@@ -57,7 +58,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                10,
+                0,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_left_home": {
@@ -81,6 +88,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "left_home",
@@ -118,7 +126,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "left"
             },
-            "row": "home"
+            "row": "home",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                10,
+                10,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_middle_bottom": {
@@ -142,6 +156,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "middle_bottom",
@@ -181,7 +196,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "middle"
             },
-            "row": "bottom"
+            "row": "bottom",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                0,
+                0,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_middle_home": {
@@ -205,6 +226,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "middle_home",
@@ -244,7 +266,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "middle"
             },
-            "row": "home"
+            "row": "home",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                10,
+                10,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_middle_top": {
@@ -268,6 +296,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "middle_top",
@@ -307,7 +336,13 @@
                 "key": {},
                 "name": "middle"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                10,
+                10,
+                0
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_home": {
@@ -331,6 +366,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_home",
@@ -374,7 +410,13 @@
                 },
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "home"
+            "row": "home",
+            "bind": [
+                10,
+                0,
+                0,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     },
     "matrix_right_top": {
@@ -398,6 +440,7 @@
             "width": 18,
             "height": 18,
             "padding": 19,
+            "autobind": 10,
             "skip": false,
             "asym": "both",
             "colrow": "right_top",
@@ -441,7 +484,13 @@
                 },
                 "name": "right"
             },
-            "row": "top"
+            "row": "top",
+            "bind": [
+                0,
+                0,
+                10,
+                10
+            ]
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/points/units___units.json b/test/points/units___units.json
index 729b66e..07b55ed 100644
--- a/test/points/units___units.json
+++ b/test/points/units___units.json
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
     "u": 19,
     "cx": 18,
     "cy": 17,
-    "a": 10,
-    "b": 15,
     "$default_stagger": 0,
     "$default_spread": 19,
     "$default_splay": 0,
     "$default_height": 18,
     "$default_width": 18,
-    "$default_padding": 19
+    "$default_padding": 19,
+    "$default_autobind": 10,
+    "a": 10,
+    "b": 15
 }