Using Snap and Grid

Commands: SNAP, GRID and LIMITS

Grid and snap help you to draw fast and accurately.

A grid is a set of evenly spaced lines or dots  that serve as a visual distance reference.

The GRIDSTYLE system variable controls whether grid lines or dots display.

The GRIDDISPLAY system variable controls the display of the grid. The grid can also indicate how far the drawing limits extend.

The snap feature creates a set of evenly spaced, invisible magnetic points, which make the crosshairs move in even increments. Both grid and snap are like the intersection points of the lines on a piece of grid paper. Grid points are for visual reference only and they do not print. Snap constrains the points that you can pick with the mouse.

• Click the Grid tool () on the Settings toolbar or the Grid field in the Status Bar, or press Ctrl+G to toggle grid display on/off.

• Click the Snap tool () on the Settings toolbar or the Snap field in the Status Bar, or press Ctrl+B to toggle snap on/off.

• Both snap and grid can be set differently in each viewport.

• The Snap option of the Grid command equals the grid spacing to the current snap spacing.

• Grid lines or dots do not print.

Display the Snap and Grid settings

Do one of the following:

• In the Status Bar, right click on the Snap field, then choose Settings in the context menu.
  
  

• Open the Settings dialog, then click the Drawings button.
  Under Drafting, expand Coordinate Input and Snap/Grid.

To synchronize snap and grid spacing

1. Type Grid  in the command bar, then press Enter.
   The command bar reads: Grid is on:  OFF/Aspect/<Grid spacing (synced with snap)>:

2. Type s, then press Enter.

3. Type Snap in the command bar, then press Enter.
   The command bar reads: Snap is on, x and y = 0.2000:  OFF/Rotate/Style/Aspect/<Snap spacing>:

4. Type a new value for the snap spacing, then press Enter.
   The value is applied to both snap and grid.

To set the Drawing Limits

See the LIMITS command.

To toggle the Drawing Limits

1. The appearance of the Drawing Limits tool button reflects the current status of the Drawing Limits:

3.   = Limits are ON

4. = Limits are OFF

2. Click the  Drawing Limits tool button to toggle the  Drawing Limits on/off.

Using Isometric Snap

You can use the Isometric snap and grid option to create two-dimensional isometric drawings. With the isometric option, you can draw a simulated three-dimensional view on a two-dimensional plane, much the same as you might draw on a piece of paper. Do not confuse isometric drawings with three-dimensional drawings.

The isometric option always uses one of three preset planes, which are denoted as Left, Right  and Top. You cannot alter the arrangement of these planes. If the Snap Angle is 0, the three isometric axes are 30 degrees, 90 degrees, and 150 degrees.

When you set the Snap Style setting to Isoometric Snap and then set the Snap Isometric Pair setting to Left, Top or Right, the snap intervals, grid, and crosshairs align with the selected plane. The grid is always shown as isometric and uses y-coordinates to calculate the grid spacing. If the Orthogonal Mode is active, the movement of the crosshairs is constrained to the current isometric plane. Press the F5 function key to toggle  the Snap Isometric Pair setting.

1. Display the Snap/Grid settings in the Settings dialog:
   
   

2. Turn on the Orthogonal Mode.

3. Use the SNAP command to set the Snap Style setting to Isometric Snap.

4. Press the F5 function key to set the appropriate drawing plane: Top, Left or Right.
   

Draw isometric: Learn how to draw an isometric perspective using Polar Tracking and Entity Snap Tracking.

Setting the Snap Angle

You can rotate a dotted grid using the Snap Angle setting (if Snap Angle is different from zero, grid lines do not display).

1. Display the Snap/Grid settings in the Settings dialog:

2. Select the Snap Angle setting.

3. Type a new value in the Snap Angle setting field.

4. Close the Settings dialog.