To Locate a Structural Snaps Target on a Structural Member

Access the

(Preferences) dialog.

Alternatively, you can key In: MDL LOAD USERPREF to open the dialog.

Select Building Structural from the Category list, and turn on the Enable Structural keypoint snaps setting.

(Optional) Toggling the

(Structural Snaps) tool activates/deactivates the setting. When enabled, the tool icon turns highlighted. Selecting it again deactivates the Structural Snaps setting.

Move your pointer over Structural elements and watch:

When each snap point is in snapping range, the Structural Snap icon appears attached to the pointer. The structural member is highlighted, the Structural Snap flyover hint appears (as enabled in the Preferences dialog, Building Structural category settings).

(Optional) At any time while the member is identified, use the four arrow keys to scroll through the available section placement points. For instance, move the snap point from Center Center justification to Top Center by pressing the up arrow key once.

(Optional) Apply a Global Offset. Repeating step 5 to scroll through placement points.

The Global Offset values are added or subtracted to depending upon which placement point the snap is located on.

The highlighted snapped to member has a 10 inch section. The up arrow key nudges the snap point from Center to Top justification. The Z value shown indicates a value equal to the global offset (2 feet) plus half the section height (5 inches).

To Locate a Structural Snaps Target on a Structural Member

The highlighted snapped to member has a 10 inch section. The up arrow key nudges the snap point from Center to Top justification. The Z value shown indicates a value equal to the global offset (2 feet) plus half the section height (5 inches).

The highlighted snapped to member has a 10 inch section. The up arrow key nudges the snap point from Center to Top justification. The Z value shown indicates a value equal to the global offset (2 feet) plus half the section height (5 inches).