Snap
modes allow you to complete your drawings with precision and
fine detailed accuracy. It takes all the hassle out of creating
precise designs and is aimed at saving you both time and effort.
The Snaps toolbar may be accessed using the Snap icons or by
using any one of the accelerator keys. Once this has been
accessed, you will be able to tell which mode you are in by the
shape of your cursor.
In Snap
Mode, the cursor moves exactly onto an existing part of the
drawing and the point that is snapped to is accepted. This move
and accept is performed each time you press ‘Enter’ or your left
mouse button. A Snap Mode is therefore useful if you must
continuously snap onto the same type of point, for example if
you are drawing lines between grid points and must continually
snap onto those grid points. The Snap Mode saves you having to
jump to the point and then accept it as two separate actions.
The
different snap modes that may be accessed include:
Grid
When
using this snap mode, always ensure that your grids are switched
on under the tools menu. You may access the Grid Snap Mode by
clicking on the Grid Snap Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or by
pressing the Shift and G keys on your keyboard at the same time.
The Grid
Snap Mode will jump onto a grid point even if it is not
displayed. If you however magnify into your drawing, the
previously invisible grid points will appear.
Grab
All
In Grab
All mode the cursor is a square and automatically jumps exactly
to any point within this square each time you press ‘Enter’ or
your left mouse button. The Grab All Snap Mode may be accessed
by clicking on the Graball Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or by
pressing the Shift and A keys on your keyboard at the same time.
Point
To access the
Point Snap Mode, click on the Point Snap Icon in the Snaps
Toolbar or press the Shift and J Keys on your keyboard at the
same time.
Sometimes when using Point Snap the cursor may jump to a
seemingly blank point on the Screen. This is normally an arc,
circle or ellipse centre point that you cannot see because the
‘Show Arc Centres’ option in Settings – View Settings is not
checked. Once you have checked this box, the centre points will
re-appear.
Freehand
The
Freehand Mode may be accessed by clicking on the Freehand Icon
in the Snaps Toolbar or by pressing the ‘Shift’ and F keys on
your keyboard at the same time.
Geom
Intersection
The Geom
Intersection Mode may be accessed by clicking on the Geometry
Intersection Snap Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or by pressing the
Shift and I keys on your keyboard at the same time. As you press
Enter or click in the Geom Intersection Mode, the cursor
automatically snaps onto the closest intersection or tangency
point between geometry lines and circles.
Circle Centre
The
Circle Centre Snap mode may be accessed by clicking on the
Circle Centre Snap Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or by pressing the
Shift and E keys at the same time. This mode will not snap to
the centres of Geometry circles, which means that you will need
to use the ‘Geom Intersection’ mode for this purpose.
Perpendicular
The
Perpendicular Snap is only operational when you are drawing a
line. It will snap to another line or arc so that the line you
are drawing is perpendicular to the other line or arc. You can
access the Perpendicular Snap Mode by clicking on the
Perpendicular Snap Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or by pressing the
Shift and P keys on your keyboard at the same time.
Nearest Line / Arc
The
Nearest Line / Arc Snap mode may be accessed by clicking on the
Nearest Element Icon or by pressing the Shift and N keys on your
keyboard at the same time.
Tangent
The
Tangent Snap is only operational when you are drawing a line or
an arc. It will snap to another line or arc so that the line or
arc you are drawing is tangential to the other line or arc. This
mode may be accessed by clicking on the Tangent Snap Icon in the
Snaps Toolbar or by pressing the Ctrl and T keys on your
keyboard at the same time.
Intersection
To
access the Intersection Snap mode, click on the Intersection
Snap Icon in the Snaps Toolbar or press the ‘Shift’ and Z keys
on your keyboard at the same time. This mode can be used to
automatically snap onto the closest ‘solid line’ intersection or
a Geometry/’solid line’ intersection.
