Snaps not Snapping Correctly

[Bruce Kieffer]

I'm having a lot of trouble getting objects to snap exactly to points of other objects. My screen hint says it's snapped, but at max zoom they are not aligned. Is there a setting I need to change? Seems like this is a bug (possibly) since 2010 SP3.

[Ride]

I have the same problem. It's very frustrating. Also, I occasionally see when zoomed back out that certain lines are not straight but appear jagged, but then zooming in, or checking the properties in the OIP it actually IS straight. I wonder if it's a video card issue. I have a 256MB card, which I thought would be enough for VW.....

VW2010 SP3 Architect/InteriorCAD

Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz, OSX 10.6.4

3GB Ram, 256MB GeForce Video

Edited June 23, 2010 by Ride

[StaticDOS]

Happens to me sometimes when I drag an object, just use move by points command.

[Jim Smith]

Coincidentally, this frustration was just getting the better of me & I was about to post an inquiry if others were seeing the same thing. So it's not me!

Well it may still be me, but it seems others are seeing the same thing.

[bc]

I am on 2009 but have similar issues.

I have noticed that my clues say I am on a handle but my curser is actually a bit away from the handle. I continue to drag and am still a bit away and get to my snap to point and it says I am on it but my curser is just a bit away. I let go and as with Bruce I am not snapped to the object.

When I am more careful or deliberate and hover a bit closer before grabbing it works. Could it be snap distance related?

For me it is an issue of where the curser actually is when I grab and where it actually is when I let go...regardless of the cues.

Edited June 23, 2010 by bc

[michaelk]

I have the same issue when using one particular inexpensive and dodgy mouse in my office at home. When I click it sometimes thinks I also mean "move a little down and to the right". Just enough to break the snap.

...or it could be the pitted and scarred surface of the old table in my office.

...or it could be all the caffeine I drink at home...

Either way, it doesn't seem to happen with other mice or the track pad.

It might be worth trying another mouse to see if the problem goes away.

[Jim Smith]

Donald,

Thanks for the tips but this is not my first Rodeo. The problems I have seen since the 2009 version (VW 12 did not have this issue - for me) and my crit stands your considered comments notwithstanding.

[Bruce Kieffer]

Donald,

Thanks for adding your comments. I will test different snap settings to see if I can resolve this problem. I'll report back in a few days.

[Bruce Kieffer]

I've messed around with the settings. I cannot use VW without snap to grid for the work I do. Whatever's going wrong is still happening. I just updated to SP4. Don't know if that will fix the problem. I think the problem is that VW doesn't know how to align to the grid an object that is not exactly some increment of the grid setting, or a complex 3d object.

Edited June 28, 2010 by Bruce Kieffer

[Bruce Kieffer]

I'm not sure what the solution is to this. I'll bet most folks just give up. I think it's best to never change the grid origin, be very careful what point of an object is selected prior to moving that object, and be very careful not to move an object prior to releasing once the snap to a point is made. And maybe not use the align to grid command when in any view other than top/plan.

[Bruce Kieffer]

Donald,

When I'm drawing, I need to draw in 1/8" or 1/16" increments. The easiest way for me to do that is using snap to grid. Also, I have my edit pref set to "Click drag drawing". Using the Floating Data Display bar is not so great with that setting. I may need to learn the other non Click drag drawing way. Old habits are hard to change!

Can you elaborate on the smart cue settings and how changing them would affect how a person draws? Maybe this is a good topic for a movie, or webinar.

[Bruce Kieffer]

I have my boxing gloves on again today. Start the grid battle! I have 3d objects that are accurately drawn and set at Bot Z -47 1/2". I'm in right view. When I select them, and align them to the grid they move to -47.500. My layer z is set to 0. I give up.

[Bruce Kieffer]

I spoke with tech support. I'm testing some different settings and I will report back in a few days.

[Bruce Kieffer]

Solution found... GIVE UP! I just have to forget about aligning to the grid, and only align objects to each other.

[go2greece]

bruce,

why don't you create from >>>toolset >>> rect. grid and than you align your objects to this grid

peter

[Bruce Kieffer]

Just as easy to align the objects to each other.

[Roman]

We just upgraded from 12.5 and snapping has become painfully difficult. I don't know what has changed, but snapping, moving and the little tick marks are not an improvement.

Can the little tick marks be turned off?

10.6.4

VW 2010 SP4

[Benson Shaw]

Dbl click on any box in the snaps palette to reveal the snap prefs dialog. Experiment with those and post back if it does not help. I think the tick marks are bisectors between acquired smart points. You can turn that off and fiddle the acquisition time, too.

You might be snagging the grid when you don't want to, so try turning those off in the Grid snap pref.

See also the VW prefs Interactive tab for snap box and highlighting options. I turned off the Animation option.

Hope this helps.

-B

[Bruce Kieffer]

My problem remains. I definitely want to snap to the grid, but I have yet to figure out the grid. It does not make any sense. It's so sensitive. If I want to keep the object on the snap grid, I have to make sure to grab it on a point that's on the grid. Sometimes that's hard to do with very complex objects. My battle with the grid continues. Unfortunately, I rarely win!

Edited August 12, 2010 by Bruce Kieffer

[Assemblage]

when moving objects in 3D use the 3D selection tool instead of the 2D selection tool

Yes. I've been still pushing things around in orthogonal views..a 2D draughting hangover. This is much better.

Donald, does it work if you use Move by Points?

[MHBrown]

This thread is listed as happening in 2010, but obviously it is more recent than that since it is discussing VW2016. Please let me know if this is wrong. If I am speaking from five years in the future (2015) let me warn you that the snapping ability between VW2010 and VW2016 is night and day: as in VW2016 has horrible snapping. VW2016 will snap on the imaginary rectangle that encloses a shape, for example. That's right, the same annoying flaw as Adobe Illustrator. If something is on top of something in VW2016 it is almost impossible to select the lower object...even if it is "sticking out." Yes, just like Illustrator. I'm very disappointed because I used to complain to Adobe how they should look at VW as to how object selection should work. Well, I can't do that anymore. Trying to snap two objects together is equally flawed. I've never had to zoom in super close just to put a couple of corners together. It is slooooowwwwing me down. This has to be fixed. I appreciate Donald's list of solutions above, but these are all things a seasoned VW user will have already tried. I fear this is a software bug and I hope it gets fixed soon. VW has plenty of information to go on from this thread alone that something is not right.

Thanks,

MHBrown

VW2016 SP1

iMac El Capitan

[SamIWas]

This thread is listed as happening in 2010, but obviously it is more recent than that since it is discussing VW2016. Please let me know if this is wrong. If I am speaking from five years in the future (2015) let me warn you that the snapping ability between VW2010 and VW2016 is night and day: as in VW2016 has horrible snapping. VW2016 will snap on the imaginary rectangle that encloses a shape, for example. That's right, the same annoying flaw as Adobe Illustrator. If something is on top of something in VW2016 it is almost impossible to select the lower object...even if it is "sticking out." Yes, just like Illustrator. I'm very disappointed because I used to complain to Adobe how they should look at VW as to how object selection should work. Well, I can't do that anymore. Trying to snap two objects together is equally flawed. I've never had to zoom in super close just to put a couple of corners together. It is slooooowwwwing me down. This has to be fixed. I appreciate Donald's list of solutions above, but these are all things a seasoned VW user will have already tried. I fear this is a software bug and I hope it gets fixed soon. VW has plenty of information to go on from this thread alone that something is not right.

Thanks,

MHBrown

VW2016 SP1

iMac El Capitan

I do not have these issues, at least in 2D. Are you talking about 3D? I have no problems snapping shapes of all different kinds together. Is it possible you have some weird settings in your Selection Box or Snap Box sizes?

[rDesign]

MHBrown said:

This thread is listed as happening in 2010, but obviously it is more recent than that since it is discussing VW2016. Please let me know if this is wrong.

@MHBrown: Your impression that this thread dating from 2010 is discussing Vw2016 is incorrect.

All Forum User's signatures reflect their current signature, even on old threads. You have to read in the body text to see which version is being discussed, as you cannot rely on only the signature.

[This is why it is good forum etiquette to mention the Vectorworks version in either the body text or in the subject line].

Edited September 9, 2016 by rDesign

[Bruce Kieffer]

Snapping has improved greatly since VW 2010. I don't have problems with snapping in VW 2016.

[bcd]

as in VW2016 has horrible snapping.

VW2016 SP1

iMac El Capitan

Could it be an El Capitan issue?