AutoCAD Tip – Snapping tips to improve productivity

By Dennis Collin

Object snaps are a key feature in AutoCAD in producing accurate technical drawings. Not only are they used in conjunction with referencing existing geometry when drawing but also when placing symbolic elements like blocks.

Most users are aware of running object snap (Osnap) features enabled by the OSNAP toggle, but many users are unaware of the osnap overrides feature. Overrides are useful on busy drawings where the automatic snap acquisition feature can be a hinderance rather than an asset. Rather than repeatedly turning snaps off and then back on, a temporary disable ‘none’ snap can be applied. This will disable snaps for just one mouse click. There are useful unique snaps that are not otherwise available including the snap ‘From’ and ‘Midway between 2 points’. The override menu typical be accessed using a shift+right mouse button click.

Occasionally it is necessary to snap to other elements like hatch pattern fill reference lines. With the current 2023 release this capability is disabled. However, snapping behaviour can be configured with the AutoCAD options dialogue, within the drafting settings tab.

To enable snapping to hatch elements, untick the ignore hatch objects option. There are also options to ignore dimension line elements as well as ignoring z values on 3d elements. These settings will be stored within the registry and persist across multiple drawing sessions.

For more information on AutoCAD’s extensive snap capabilities check out the posts here on:

Accessing Snap Overrides.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/4408430539921-AutoCAD-Tip-Giving-your-AutoCAD-productivity-a-lift-with-Shift-

From snap.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/7096311224605-AutoCAD-Object-Snap-FROM-Drawing-or-copying-elements-at-set-intervals-

Midway between 2 Points snap.

https://www.cadlinecommunity.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/360002736297-AutoCAD-Object-Snaps-Overrides