Objectively looking at Object Snaps

No one topic seems to cause more consternation than Object Snaps. Here is the what and why of why we do what we do:

We need to have object snaps set for a certain number of commands to ensure that the drawing is connected properly. Many users feel that we willy-nilly overwrite their osnaps, i.e. - don't put them back the way we found them. This is not true. The following rules should explain how you can keep your osnaps:

1. ALL HydraCAD commands are intended to return your default osnaps to you after you complete the command. The only exceptions are the Line and Main commands because these two commands are 'endless' commands (we don't know when they are done). If you find any exceptions, please let us know and we will lock it down.

1A. Right now, the Rapid Pipe commands will not reset your osnaps if you use the Escape key to exit these commands instead of using Enter to exit them. We are working to change this behavior.

2. The Sprinkler, Piping and Hanger toolbars contain their own osnap buttons to be used for the commands found in those toolbars. These effectively give you a second set of osnaps, preserving your basic AutoCAD osnap for when those commands are done. These only need to be set once per drawing.

3. We have been reducing the number of default osnap settings for non-critical commands. These will be entirely up to you to set.

4. We have added two buttons to help make using your default osnaps easier. On the HydraCAD Utilities toolbar there are two commands: Save Osnap (OSS) and Restore Osnap (OSR). These allow you to set a default osnap and bring it back whenever you want.

I realize this is a sensitive topic for some of you but we do need to set some sort of base osnaps so that users (new ones, especially) can 'just draw' and have a reasonable chance of getting a calc or list out without all kinds of drawing errors. Believe me, we've tried it the other way and it hasn't worked.

Comments

[James Litvak]

I've had trouble with my osnaps getting overridden since I started using HydraCAD 6 years ago. At first I would go into the Drawing Settings (DS) and reselect the osnaps I use every time. I eventually learned of a command to set osnaps without having to open the Drawing Settings dialog. It is called OSMODE. The command is entered followed by a number that determines which osnaps are selected. The individual indentifier for each osnap is available in the help file. The number for each desired osnap is added and the sum is entered after OSMODE. To further this solution, I made a shortcut key with the macro "OSMODE ##". For my own purposes, I use endpoint, midpoint, insertion, center, and node, which is OSMODE 47. I've mapped it to the shortcut key combination CTRL+R. So now, whenever I find that my osnaps have been turned off, or changed, I type CTRL+R and they all come right back. I've actually made the macro "^POSMODE 47" so that way it cancels out of any active command and then resets my osnaps. I've found this to be incredibly helpful.

[Fprandy]

I have created a very similar routine using OSMODE, for my purposes, I mapped osnaps to the number keypad using transparent modifiers. Using this method I'm able to change or cancel osnaps on the fly without canceling my durrent command.

[James Litvak]

Would you mind explaining how to use a transparent modifier? I used to have a lsp file that would make '' (apostrophe apostrophe) be my mid-command command for "mid between two points" but for some reason it doesn't work anymore on AutoCAD 2011.

[Fprandy]

I created this a while back with an earlier version of Autocad, with the use of the .mns file, which are no longer in use, but can ?? be brought into newer versions of Autocad.

I did a search on my computer and found the .mns file that contained text for these commands.

***ACCELERATORS
["NUMPAD5"]'_osmode;4;
["NUMPAD1"]'_osmode;1;
["NUMPAD0"]'_osmode;0;
["NUMPAD2"]'_osmode;2048;
["NUMPAD7"]'_osmode;32;
["NUMPAD4"]'_osmode;2;
["NUMPAD3"]'_osmode;512;
["NUMPAD6"]'_osmode;16;
["NUMPAD8"]'_osmode;65;
["NUMPAD9"]'_osmode;128;

I hope this information in some way helps you. I'm not knowledgeable in programming or .lisp and it's entirely possible this will not work in 2011.

[Art]

Randy - Yes that will work. You can also bring it in as a partial CUI and transfer the keyboard shortcut to our full menu!