Snap

The Snap options in Settle3 allow you to quickly and easily "snap" exactly to any point or line segment in the Plan View. Snapping is applicable for all options which use graphical data input, such as adding or editing loads, queries, drawing tools etc.

There are 3 different Snap options available:

• Snap
• Ortho Snap (Ortho)
• Object Snap (OSnap)

The Snap options in Settle3 operate as described below.

There are several different ways of toggling the Snap options on or off. They can be accessed through the right-click menu, the Status Bar, the function keys or the Snap dialog. See below for details.

Snap

If the Snap option is enabled, this allows you to snap exactly to:

1. Any vertex of any model entity (Vertex Snap).

If you hover the mouse over any vertex, the cursor will change to a circle, indicating that you may snap exactly to the vertex location. Note that this includes vertices of all modelling and graphical entities (e.g. loads, queries, drawing tools, etc).

2. Any line segment of any model entity (Line Snap).

When the cursor is hovered over any line segment in the view, the cursor will change to an X. If you click the mouse when the X is displayed, the point will be snapped exactly to the line segment. Note that this includes line segments of all modelling and graphical entities (e.g. loads, queries, drawing tools, etc).

3. Any grid point (if the grid is displayed) (Grid Snap).

If the Grid is displayed, you can snap exactly to grid points when the mouse is hovered over a grid point. The cursor will change to a small circle when placed over a grid point, to indicate that you may snap to the grid point.

4. Any extension line displayed by the OSnap option (see below for details).

Ortho Snap

The Ortho Snap option allows you to snap exactly to the X or Y directions in the Plan View.

If the line you are currently drawing is nearly horizontal or nearly vertical (in the Plan View), a small "right-angle"

(i.e. "orthogonal") symbol will be displayed beside the cursor, and the line will snap exactly to the X or Y direction.

TIP: the Ortho Snap option can be useful in conjunction with Line Snap, since it allows you to simultaneously draw an exactly horizontal or vertical line, and also snap the point exactly to a line segment.

Object Snap (OSnap)

The Object Snap option (OSnap) allows you to create temporary extension lines which are aligned with vertices or line segments. If the Snap option is also enabled, these extension lines can be snapped to, in the same manner as described above for the Line Snap. To use Object Snap:

1. Select OSnap from the right-click menu, the Status Bar, the Snap dialog, or use the F3 function key.
2. While in this mode:
• If you place the cursor over any vertex of any modelling entity, red dotted "extension lines" will be automatically drawn from the vertex, in the X and Y directions.
• If you place the cursor over any line segment of any modelling entity, a red dotted extension line will automatically be drawn, extending from the line segment, in both directions.
3. While these red dotted lines are displayed on the screen, you may snap exactly to these extension lines, if the Snap option is also enabled, as described above for the Line Snap.

These extension lines can be useful as guides while creating or editing your model. Note that these lines disappear when the current action is completed, they do not remain on the model.

Toggling the Snap Options

There are numerous ways of toggling the Snap options on/off:

• While adding or editing model entities, a right-click will bring up a context menu with the Snap options. You may find this the quickest way to toggle the Snap options.
• Click the left mouse button on the SNAP, ORTHO or OSNAP options on the Status Bar.
• The F9 function key will toggle the SNAP option.
• The F8 function key will toggle the ORTHO option.
• The F3 function key will toggle the OSNAP option.
• Select the Snap option in the View menu, to display the Snap dialog.
• If you right-click the mouse on the SNAP, ORTHO or OSNAP options on the Status Bar, this will display the Snap dialog.