Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
In this exercise, you were able to use osnaps in a Running Osnap mode. You'll find that you'll
use osnaps constantly as you create your drawings. For this reason, you may want Running
Osnaps on all the time. Even so, at times Running Osnaps can get in the way. For example, they
may be a nuisance in a crowded drawing when you want to use a zoom window. The osnaps
can cause you to select an inappropriate window area by automatically selecting osnap points.
Fortunately, you can toggle Running Osnaps on and off easily by clicking the Object Snap tool
in the status bar. If you don't have any Running Osnaps set, clicking the Object Snap tool opens the
Object Snap settings in the Drafting Settings dialog box, enabling you to select your osnaps. Or you
can right-click the Object Snap tool and select Settings from the shortcut menu that appears.
THE OSNAP OPTIONS
Earlier, you made several of the osnap settings automatic so they're available without having to
select them from the Osnap shor tcut menu. Another way to invoke the osnap options is to t ype their
keyboard equivalents while selecting points or to A-right-click (or A-two-finger-tap on a trackpad)
and select the osnap option you want to use from the Snap Overrides menu.
The following is a summary (in alphabetic order) of all the available osnap options, including their
keyboard aliases. You've already used many of these options in this chapter and in the previous
chapter. Pay special attention to those options you haven't yet used in the exercises but may find
useful to your style of work. The full name of each option is followed by its keyboard shortcut name
in parentheses. To use these options, you can enter either the full name or the abbreviation at any
point prompt. You can also select these options from the pop-up menu obtained by A-clicking
the right mouse button.
3D Osnaps
Offers additional osnaps for 3D modeling. With these osnap options, you can
select a vector that is perpendicular to a surface or find the midpoint of an edge of a 3D
object.
Apparent Intersection (app)
Selects the apparent intersection of two objects. This is use-
ful when you want to select the intersection of two objects that don't actually intersect.
You'll be prompted to select the two objects.
Center (cen)
Selects the center of an arc or a circle. You must click the arc or circle itself,
not its apparent center.
Endpoint (endp or end)
Selects the endpoints of lines, polylines, arcs, curves, and 3D Face
vertices.
Extension (ext)
Selects a point that is aligned with an imagined extension of a line. For
example, you can pick a point in space that is aligned with an existing line but isn't on that
line. To use that point, type
ExT
↵ during point selection or select Extension from the Osnap
pop-up menu. Then move the cursor to the line whose extension you want to use and hold it
there until you see a small, cross-shaped marker on the line. The cursor also displays a tooltip
with the word
extension
, letting you know that the Extension osnap is active.
From (fro)
Selects a point relative to a picked point. For example, you can select a point
that is 2 units to the left and 4 units above a circle's center. This option is usually used in con-
junction with another osnap option, such as From Endpoint or From Midpoint.
