Snap

Function

When creating nodes or elements or assigning attributes with the mouse cursor and if the mouse is moved to the vicinity of a desired grid, node or element, Snap allows the mouse cursor to automatically snap to the relevant position.

Call

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > Point.

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > Line.

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > Node.

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > Element.

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > All.

From the Main Menu select View > Snap > Free.

Click Point Grid Snap in the Icon Menu.

Click Line Grid Snap in the Icon Menu.

Click Node Snap in the Icon Menu.

Click Element Snap in the Icon Menu.

Click Snap All in the Icon Menu.

Click Snap Free in the Icon Menu.

Usage

Point Grid Snap

Snap the mouse cursor to the contiguous Grid Point.

Point Grid is set by Set Point Grid.

Line Grid Snap

Snap the mouse cursor to the contiguous Grid Line intersection.

Line Grid is set by Set Line Grid.

Node Snap

Snap the mouse cursor to the contiguous node.

Element Snap

Snap the mouse cursor to the center of the contiguous element.

In the case of line grid, use Snap Point ( ) to the right of the Status Bar at the bottom of the screen to control particular snap positions. For example, if the trisection of an element is snapped, click and assign 1/3.

This function can be extremely useful, for example, when generating sub-beams connected to existing girders.

Snap All

Set all the above functions effective.

Snap Free

Undo all the snap functions.

Click the above icons separately to release certain snap functions (Toggle On/Off).