Snap

SNAP

In previous chapters several methods of constructing accurate drawings have

been described – using Snap ; absolute coordinate entry; relative coordinate
entry; and tracking. Other methods of ensuring accuracy between parts of
constructions are achieved by making use of Object Snaps ( Osnaps ).

Snap Mode , Grid Display and Object Snaps can be toggled on/off from the
buttons in the status bar or by pressing the keys, F9 ( Snap Mode ), F7 (Grid
Display ) and F3 ( Object Snap ).
Object Snaps (
Object Snaps ( Osnaps ).
Object Snaps allow objects to be added to a drawing at precise positions in
relation to other objects already on screen. With Object Snaps , objects can be
added to the endpoints and midpoints, to intersections of objects, to centres and
quadrants of circles and so on. Object Snaps also override snap points even
when snap is set on.

To set Object Snaps – at the command line:

Command: enter os
and the Drafting Settings dialog appears. Click the Object Snap tab in the
upper part of the dialog and click the check boxes to the right of the Object
Snap names to set them on (or off in on).

It is sometimes advisable not to have Object Snaps set on in the Drafting

Settings dialog, but to set Object Snap off and use Object Snap abbreviations
at the command line when using tools. The following examples show the use of
some of these abbreviations.

First example – Object Snap abbreviations

Call the Polyline tool:
Command: _pline
Specify start point: 50,230
[prompts]: w (Width)
Specify starting width: 1
Specify ending width _ 1 _ : right­click
Specify next point: 260,230
Specify next point: right­click
Command: right­click
PLINE
Specify start point: end of pick the right­hand
end of the pline
Specify next point: 50,120
Specify next point: right­click
Command: right­click
PLINE
Specify start point: mid of pick near the middle
of first pline
Specify next point: 155,120
Specify next point: right­click
Command: right­click
PLINE
Specify start point: int of pick the plines at
their intersection
Specify start point: right­click
Command:

Second example – Object Snap abbreviations

Call the Circle tool:
Command: _circle
Specify center point for circle: 180,170
Specify radius of circle: 60
Command: enter l (Line) right­click
Specify first point: enter qua right­click
of pick near the upper quadrant of the circle
Specify next point: enter cen right­click
of pick near the center of the circle
Specify next point: enter qua right­click
of pick near right­hand side of circle
Specify next point: right­click
Command:

Note
With Object Snaps off, the following abbreviations can be used:
end – endpoint
mid – midpoint
int – intersection
cen – center
qua – quadrant
nea – nearest
ext – extension