Draft Snap

Description
In the Draft Workbench and the  Arch Workbench you can create geometry by picking points in the 3D view or by entering coordinates in the task panel of commands. Another way of selecting points is by snapping. Snapping allows to select exact geometric points on, or defined by, existing objects. You can for example snap to the endpoint of a line, to the center of a circle, or to the intersection of two edges.

Snapping is available with most Draft and Arch commands.



Snap tools
These tools are available in the Draft Snap toolbar and in the Draft snap widget.

Note that circular edges do not have to be full circles.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Lock.svg|32px]] Snap Lock: enables or disables snapping globally.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Endpoint.svg|32px]] Snap Endpoint: snaps to the endpoints of edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Midpoint.svg|32px]] Snap Midpoint: snaps to the midpoint of straight and circular edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Center.svg|32px]] Snap Center: snaps to the center point of faces and circular edges, and to the point of Draft WorkingPlaneProxies and Arch BuildingParts.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Angle.svg|32px]] Snap Angle: snaps to the special cardinal points on circular edges, at multiples of 30° and 45°.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Intersection.svg|32px]] Snap Intersection: snaps to the intersection of two edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Perpendicular.svg|32px]] Snap Perpendicular: snaps to the perpendicular point on edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Extension.svg|32px]] Snap Extension: snaps to an imaginary line that extends beyond the endpoints of straight edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Parallel.svg|32px]] Snap Parallel: snaps to an imaginary line parallel to straight edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Special.svg|32px]] Snap Special: snaps to special points defined by the object.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Near.svg|32px]] Snap Near: snaps to the nearest point on faces or edges.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Ortho.svg|32px]] Snap Ortho: snaps to imaginary lines that cross the previous point at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135°.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Grid.svg|32px]] Snap Grid: snaps to the intersections of grid lines.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_WorkingPlane.svg|32px]] Snap Working Plane: projects the snap point onto the current working plane.


 * [[Image:Draft_Snap_Dimensions.svg|32px]] Snap Dimensions: shows temporary X and Y dimensions.


 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleGrid.svg|32px]] Toggle Grid: switches the grid on or off.

Advanced snapping

 * Press one or more times to snap to an object that is obscured by other geometry. This is called "snap cycling". Note that you must move the cursor by a small amount in the 3D view after pressing the key. See images.
 * Additional snap points can be obtained by combining two snap options. For example combining Draft Snap Ortho and Draft Snap Extension will give you a snap point at the intersection of their imaginary lines.
 * Other snap points can be obtained by using Draft Constraints: by holding, or pressing , or.
 * Press to insert a "hold point" at the current location of the cursor. You can snap to the orthogonal axes of hold points, and to the intersections of these axes. If the Draft Snap Midpoint option is active, you can also snap to the midpoint between two hold points.





Preferences
See also: Preferences Editor and Draft Preferences.

Note that after changing some preferences you must restart FreeCAD.


 * When a Draft or Arch command requiring point input is active, the maximum distance at which Draft Snap Grid detects the intersections of grid lines can be changed on-the-fly by pressing (increase key) or  (decrease key). This setting is stored: . It can also be changed in the task panel of the Draft SelectPlane command.
 * To only snap when the key is held down:
 * Deselect:.
 * The default key,, can be changed:.
 * To only show the Draft Snap toolbar when a command is active:
 * Select:.
 * Select:.
 * The snap symbols can be changed:.
 * The color of the snap symbols and the dimensions of Draft Snap Dimensions can be changed:.
 * The mentioned single character keyboard shortcuts can be changed:.