Grid & Snap

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

  • Select View > Grid & Snap > Grid & Snap from the menu bar, and then select the required option. This method gives you control over all the grid and snap options.

  • Click the MMB+RMBMMB+RMB(Middle Mouse Button + Right Mouse Button) the graphics area, and then select the required option. This is a quick method to enable you to hide/show the grid and activate/deactivate the snap.

Turn Grid & Snap ON or OFF (for use in the Sketcher). Grid & Snap enables more precision in sketching and positioning elements in the graphics area.

The grid enables you to sketch items with specific dimensions and locations in a straight forward, easy way. The grid can be used simply as a visual aid, or you can choose to sketch based along its lines using various snap options (eg. snap to grid).

You also have full control over the grid and can set the distance between lines as well as change its appearance.

The grid is a network of evenly spaced, visible lines or points that are displayed in the graphics area. The grid helps you align objects and visualize the distances between them.

Snap mode creates evenly spaced, invisible "hot spots" at the intersection of grid lines. These constrain the mouse by making the cursor move in increments and adhere, or "snap", to these points. A snap point is highlighted by a green cross-hair next to the cursor icon and a label is displayed showing the XY coordinates of the snap point. Snap is useful for specifying precise points using the mouse.

Grid mode and Snap mode are independent but are usually turned on at the same time. The grid and snap spacing can be set to different distances.

See Grid and Snap Use.

The following Grid & Snap options are available:

Grid

Select this option to show the grid (Grid mode = ON).

Snap

Select this option to activate the snap (Snap mode = ON).

Automatic Scaling

Select this option to automatically adjust the display of the grid when you zoom in and out.

Snap=Grid

Select this option to match the snap spacing to the grid spacing.

Settings

Select this option to define the grid and snap parameters in the Grid Settings dialog. These include the grid display type (lines or points), color, spacing and snap point locations.

The images below show the Grid mode and Snap mode turned on.

Grid as lines:
The grid displayed as lines and the snap point highlighted in green.

The grid consists of major and minor lines. Major grid lines separate the grid into major units and are displayed as darker lines. Minor grid lines separate the units delineated by the major grid lines.

The number of grid lines displayed depends on the major and minor grid spacing defined in the Grid Settings dialog.

Grid as points:
The grid displayed as points and the snap point highlighted in green.

You can control the grid display type (lines or points), color, spacing and snap point locations from the Grid Settings dialog.

To activate the Grid and Snap modes:

  1. InvokeInvoke (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic) the Grid & Snap tool.

  2. Select the required options.

To change the Grid and Snap mode settings:

  1. InvokeInvoke (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic) the Grid & Snap tool.

  2. Select the Settings option.

  3. In the displayed Grid Settings dialog, change the settings as required.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.