About Using Object Snaps

Object snaps provide a way to specify precise locations on objects whenever you are prompted for a point within a command.

For example, you can use object snaps to create a line from the center of a circle to the midpoint of another line.

You can specify an object snap whenever you are prompted for a point. By default, a marker and a tooltip are displayed when you move the cursor over an object snap location on an object. This feature, called AutoSnap ^™ , provides visual confirmation that indicates which object snap is in effect.

Specify an Object Snap

To specify an object snap at a prompt for a point, you can do one of the following:

• Press Shift and right-click to display the Object Snap shortcut menu
• Right-click and choose an object snap from the Snap Overrides submenu
• Click an object snap button on the Object Snap toolbar
• Enter the name of an object snap

When you specify an object snap at a prompt for a point, the object snap stays in effect only for the next point that you specify. Object snaps work only when you are prompted for a point.

Note: If you want object snaps to ignore hatch objects, use the OSOPTIONS system variable.

Use Running Object Snaps

If you need to use one or more object snaps repeatedly, you can turn on running object snaps, which persist through all subsequent commands. For example, you might set Endpoint, Midpoint, and Center as running object snaps.

• On the status bar, click the Object Snap button or press F3 to turn running object snaps on and off.
• On the status bar, click the down-arrow next to the Object Snap button, and then click the object snaps that you want to persist.

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Tip: If several running object snaps are turned on, more than one object snap may be eligible at a given location. You can press Tab to cycle through the possibilities before you specify the point.