http://plnkr.co/edit/SkqwlmfSM6jpgS9rR5Ad
var ModalInstanceCtrl = function ($scope, $modalInstance, items) {
$scope.gridOptions = {
data: 'myData',
columnDefs: [{field: 'name', displayName: 'Name'}, {field:'age', displayName:'Age'}, {field: 'remove', displayName:'', cellTemplate: removeTemplate}]
};
$scope.myData = [{name: "Moroni", age: 50},
{name: "Tiancum", age: 43},
{name: "Jacob", age: 27},
{name: "Nephi", age: 29},
{name: "Enos", age: 34}];
$scope.items = items;
$scope.selected = {
item: $scope.items[0]
};
$scope.ok = function () {
$modalInstance.close($scope.selected.item);
};
$scope.cancel = function () {
$modalInstance.dismiss('cancel');
};
};
The modal has it's own scope not inheriting from the scope where you defined the gridOptions, this error occurs if it can't find the gridOptions to set the gridDim on it.