Creating and modifying geometry needs to be very accurate. The creation and modification tools provide coordinate position boxes to constrain the position of points but sometimes it is convenient to use points on existing geometry. Snapping is the process of selecting these points.
If a point is required a snap zone circle is displayed around the mouse cursor. If a snap point is within this zone the point will be snapped too. The snap tool buttons allow you to select what type of point will be snapped to so that unwanted snap points may be ignored:
Snap to End Points
Snap to Mid Points
Snap to Points
Snap to Quadrant (ie to any of the four "compass points", NSEW)
Snap to Tangent
Snap to Perpendicular (right-angle snap)
Snap to Centre (of arc or circle)
Snap to Intersection
Snap to Nearest Point (on existing entity)
Snap to Grid
Two utility commands are also available:
Select All Snaps
Clear All Snaps
There is also a Show Grid button (
) to toggle whether the grid is shown.
Notes:
- The snaps are also prioritised in the above order.
- To temporarily override snapping hold down the ALT key.
- The snap distance value may be adjusted by going to the Geometry tab of the Options dialog.
- Snap may be used in conjunction with or overridden by the coordinate constraint options.