Snap Modes

Source file: cad-snap-modes.htm

Snap modes control where drawing entities are placed in 3D space, in relation to the action plane.

Snap mode controls appear in the far right of the status bar, in the lower right corner of the user interface, when the selected tool requires a coordinate to be picked.

Icon Label Description Shortcut



or

Pick Mode 2D/3D

Toggle between:

  • picking a point anywhere in 3D space

    and

  • restricting point picked to the action plane in direction of view.

 X
Project to Action Plane Project a point perpendicularly onto the action plane. Shift (mouse over)
Disable Snaps Disable transient snap targets. Ctrl (while selecting)
Snap Targets Change the active transient snap targets. none

 

Transient snap targets give you an extra level of control and precision when placing points. Some commonly used snap targets are discussed in the practical examples below.

Snap targets can be toggled by opening the Snap Targets palette and clicking their buttons.

Icon Active transient snap target option

point

midpoint

line length

angle from line

angle from grid

parallel to line

perpendicular to line

collinear to line

collinear to endpoint perpendicular

collinear to midpoint perpendicular

collinear to point on grid

grid point

You can pick 3D points and project their digitised coordinates to the action plane. Transient snap modes become available for digitised coordinates restricted to the action plane, such as snapping at fixed angles, midpoints or parallel to existing lines.

Tip:  Snap angles can be changed in the PointStudio preferences in View windows > Picking & snapping.

When you're picking coordinates, one of several visualisations will appear according to the active snap mode, to indicate where your coordinate pick will be placed.

Crosshairs indicate digitising on the action plane. The cursor with a cyan square, and crosshairs in blank space indicate snapping to the action plane.

If only the cursor is visible, without visualisations, the pick is not snapping to anything, so will place a point in 3D space.

An orange circle indicates that the pick will snap to a point.

A yellow dashed line with a green X indicates that the pick will snap to an object and then project to the action plane.

Note

  • Do not confuse snap modes with the selection toolbar icons. The point selection mode does not mean that you will snap to a point when clicking in the view.

  • Snap modes will open with the most recently used selection mode.

  • Right-clicking on Snap Targets gives you the option enabling of All or None.