Snap mode limits pointer movements to user-defined intervals. When this mode is enabled, the cursor appears to adhere to an invisible rectangular grid. Snapping is particularly useful for specifying precise points using the pointing device.
The visible grid and snap modes are independent, but are often activated simultaneously.
The snap grid settings are defined in the document in the coordinate classes and can be selected in the Bar of the coordinate system. Use this dialog to temporarily enable or disable Snap mode or to change the range of the snap grid.
Grid Snap
To improve the speed and efficiency of your drawing, you can view and snap to a rectangular grid. The grid is a rectangular dot or line pattern that extends over the specified area as the grid boundary. Using grid mode is like placing a sheet of graph paper under a drawing because it makes it easier to align objects and display the distance between them.
The grid display mode can be set in the Visible Grid dialog box. The grid is not printed.
This section allows you to set the range of the rectangular snap grid. You can temporarily enable or disable Grid Snap mode using the checkbox.
 Tip: |
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During a drawing operation, you can temporarily deactivate the Grid Snap mode by pressing the F8 key. |
- Step X
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Set the interval between the vertical lines of the grid.
- Step Y
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Set the interval between the horizontal lines of the grid.
Angle Snap
The angle snap limits cursor movements to certain angle increments. Once the snap angle is set, the cursor snaps at 0 degrees and moves in increments of the specified angle. For example, if the value of the snap angle is 15 degrees, the cursor snaps to 0°, 15°, 30°, 45° and so on.
This section allows you to set the interval for the angle snap. You can temporarily enable or disable the Angle Snap mode using the checkbox.
The Grid snap takes precedence over the Angle snap. If the Grid snap is active, to use the Angle snap press the F8 key to temporarily disable the Grid snap.
| Tip: |
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During a drawing operation it is possible to temporarily deactivate the angle snap mode by pressing the F9 key. |
Length Snap
The Length Snap acts in conjunction with the Angle Snap and limits the cursor's movements to certain distances from the center of the angle.
This section allows you to set the range for the length snap. You can temporarily enable or disable the Length Snap mode using the checkbox.
Coordinates origin
The origin of the reference system is normally located in the lower left vertex of the page (coordinate point 0.0). This section allows you to redefine the origin point of the rectangular grid. You can temporarily enable or disable the relative coordinates using the checkbox.
- X origin
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Set the horizontal coordinate of the origin point of the rectangular grid that defines the new system of relative coordinates. The value must refer to the absolute origin at the bottom left vertex of the page.
- Y origin
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Set the vertical coordinate of the origin point of the rectangular grid that defines the new system of relative coordinates. The value must refer to the absolute origin at the bottom left vertex of the page.
Object Snap
The object snap function allows to lock the inserted points, through the pointing device, on certain coordinates corresponding to the remarkable points of the graphic objects and to the pins and nodes of the electric objects.
The options in this section allow you to specify additional object snap modes. Select one or more options. When inserting points, the most appropriate mode will be used. The type of snap found is displayed with a character added to the mouse cursor.
You can temporarily enable or disable the object snap using the checkbox.
| Tip: |
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During a drawing operation, you can temporarily deactivate the Object Snap mode by pressing the F10 key. |
Objects
- Graphs
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You can enable or disable snap to graphic objects using this checkbox.
- Electric
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You can enable or disable snap to electrical objects using this checkbox.
- PCB
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You can enable or disable snap to PCB objects using this checkbox.
- Only selected objects
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If this check box is checked, the object snap operation is performed only on the selected objects.
- Exclude selected objects
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If this check box is checked, the object snap operation is not performed on the selected objects.
Type of Snap
- Points
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You can enable or disable the snap at the notable points of objects.
- Tangent
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You can enable or disable the snap to the tangent of an arc, circle, ellipse, or elliptical arc.
- Perpendicular
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You can turn snap on or off at a point perpendicular to an arc, circle, ellipse, elliptical arc, line, or curve.
- Intersection
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You can enable or disable snap at the intersection of an arc, circle, ellipse, elliptical arc, or line.
- Near
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You can activate or deactivate the snap at the nearest point of an arc, circle, ellipse, elliptical arc, line, or curve. Snap is performed at the point belonging to the object that is closest to the cursor position.
PCB
This section includes PCB-specific snap options.
- Drags tracks when components are moved
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Enable this option to enable automatic trace recalculation when moving objects on the PCB to maintain existing connections between objects.
SCH
This section includes schema-specific snap options.
- Automatically reconnect electrical components when moved
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Enable this option to automatically reconnect electrical components when they are moved.