Snaps lock your cursor to useful points on existing geometry while you draw and edit, so objects line up precisely without typing every value. This article explains the snap types in Snaptrude, how to control them in Settings, and how to switch snapping off for a moment when you need to place a point freely.

When a draw or edit tool is active and your cursor nears existing geometry, Snaptrude snaps the point to it. Click while the snap is active and the point lands exactly there. Snapping works with the draw tools as well as editing tools such as Move and Copy, and with the Angle Measurement tool.

Object snaps pick up points and directions from existing objects, including:

The Parallel and Perpendicular snaps are independent, so turning off Parallel snap leaves Perpendicular snap working.

Note: Snaptrude has no Orthogonal or Nearest snap. If you are looking for a snap called "Normal", use Perpendicular.

Magnetic snaps make objects snap to nearby objects, so they sit against each other without exact cursor placement. Magnetic snaps also work with the Move and Copy tools. Turn them on or off with Magnetic under Settings > All Snaps.

When you move an object, the movement snaps to an axis as your cursor lines up with it, much like axis inference in SketchUp. Move ignores geometry hidden behind the object you are moving, so the object does not jump to points you cannot see.

Dimension snap steps lengths in a fixed increment as you draw. Set the increment (for example 0.10 m), or turn the snap off, under Settings > All Snaps > Dimension. The value can't be negative.

Angle snap steps directions in a fixed angle increment as you draw. Set the increment (for example 5°), or turn the snap off, under Settings > All Snaps > Angle.

The Topography setting under Settings > All Snaps controls snapping to topography in your project.

Snapping returns as soon as you release the key. Your snap settings stay unchanged.

You can snap to the vertices of furniture and direct shapes, for example to start a wall at the corner of a desk or to measure between two pieces of furniture.

Note: This does not apply while you place furniture for the first time, because the furniture's centre is attached to your cursor. Place it first, then use Move and snap to a vertex.

When you show a lower or upper story as an underlay in a plan view, you can snap to the underlay's geometry. Use this to line up walls, cores and columns with the story below or above. Underlays can be snapped to but not selected.