The Snap Settings form can be opened from the Snap Settings toolbox, from the Master Tool Settings or from Draw - Snap - User Settings.
These settings allow you to set standards to control the operation of snap tools:
Name
Specify a unique name for the settings.
Description
Enter a description for these settings.
There are three tabs on this page - Snapping, Nudging and Grid.
Snap Settings - Snapping
Snap Method
From the pulldown list choose the method required.
- Remember Snaps - this method remembers the snap mode that was used the last time you used a snap mode for a tool, and this snap mode will be the default mode the next time a tool is activated that requires a snap mode.
- Return to global snap - if you select this method and select a snap mode from the Snap mode pulldown list, whichever tool you use, your preferred snap mode will be used. If you select another snap mode, this will be used for one pick and then the system will return to using your preferred snap mode.
- Smart tool snaps - if you select this method, whichever tool you select will use the snap mode which was last used when this tool was running.
Snap mode
If Return to global snap has been selected, select from the pulldown list the snap mode to be defined as the global snap.
Snap radius
Set the radius in pixels that the cursor will look within for the chosen snap mode.
Snap respecting ordered draw
If this option and the option Enable ordered drawing in Design Options - Palettes - Drawing Order are both switched on then snapping to an entity will respect the order in which the entities are drawn. This means that an entity drawn on top of another will be given priority.
Offset snap radius
This is the setting which is applied to the Snap Offset tool and corresponds to the radius of the circle displayed around the cursor when this tool is activated.
From end snap distance
This is the offset from the end distance, which is applied to the Snap From End tool.
Arc segments
This is the value which is applied to the Snap Quadrant tool and corresponds to the number of points on a circle that can be snapped to.
Using snapping cursors
If this option is switched on then drawing tools will indicate which point they are going to snap to as they approach it.
Extend mode
This option will display a temporary construction line when your snapping cursor has identified a snap point and your cursor hovers over an existing entity. The construction entity can then be used to snap to an intersection point it creates with an existing entity.
Delay on
Specify the required delay time before the construction entity appears.
Delay off
Specify the required duration that the construction entity will be displayed.
Show hint windows
Switch this option on to display a help window describing the snapped point whilst the cursor hovers over it.
Snap Settings - Nudging
Nudge
Using the nudge keys (default keys are the arrow keys) on the keyboard, selected geometry can be moved across a layer in specified increments (default is 1.00mm).
Alternatively, the nudge keys can be used to incrementally alter the length of the lines being created in many of the draw tools. These tools are:
- Draw > Line > Horizontal
- Draw > Line > Vertical
- Draw > Line > Axes
- Draw > Line > Bisect 2 points
- Draw > Line > Angle point
- Draw > Line > Through point
- Draw > Line > Bisect angle
- Draw > Line > Perpendicular offset
Also
SHIFT+Nudge
Holding the Shift key in conjunction with the nudge keys allows different increments to be used (default is 10.00mm)
CTRL+Nudge
Holding the Ctrl key in conjunction with the nudge keys allows different increments to be used (default is 0.10mm)
Snap Settings - Grid
This tab is used to configure the grid snapping parameters, which define a reference grid to help you enter geometry. The grid can be displayed using View - Visibility. There are three different interval sizes that can be defined for a Cartesian grid.
Small Interval
Enter the required size for the small interval.
Interval
Enter the required size for the standard interval.
Large Interval
Enter the required size for the large interval.
Angle Interval
Enter the required angular interval to be used with a polar grid.
Active Interval Size
Choose the required interval size - Small, Normal or Large.
Grid Co-ordinates
Choose the required coordinate system - Absolute or Relative.
Grid Type
Choose the required type - Cartesian or Polar.
The interval sizes, and which one to use, can also be set from the Grid Settings floating toolbox.
The coordinate system and grid type can also be chosen from the Layer Status Bar at the bottom of the drawing window. The examples below show two possible settings:-
Layer Status Bar showing Absolute - Cartesian
Layer Status Bar showing Relative - Polar