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  2. Tekla Structures
  3. Create models
  4. Get to know Tekla Structures basic working methods
  5. Snap to positions
  6. Snapping methods to help to set the snapping direction

Snapping methods to help to set the snapping direction

Tekla Structures
Modificado: 10 Mar 2025
2025
Tekla Structures

Snapping methods to help to set the snapping direction

In addition to the snap switches and the numeric snapping, you can use some additional methods that help you to pick the correct points when snapping.

Lock the modeling direction with the Shift key

You can temporarily lock the modeling direction with the Shift key when hovering over a snapping point on a line or on a point. When you release the Shift key, the direction locking is released.

  1. Run a command that requires you to pick points.

    For example, start creating a beam.

  2. To lock the direction for the first point to be picked, ensure that the Snap to nearest points (points on line) snap switch is active.
  3. Hover over a snap position on a line, such as part edge line, part reference line, or grid line.
  4. Hold down the Shift key to lock the modeling direction.

    As long as you hold down Shift, the direction is locked, and any point that can be snapped is projected to the locked line.

    You can snap either to a line or a point:

    • if you snap to a line (for example, using the Snap to nearest points (points on line) snap switch), the direction locking extends the line to the intersection of the first locked line.
    • if you snap to a point (for example, using Snap to end points or Snap to mid points snap switch), the point is projected perpendicular to the locked line.

    A perpendicular symbol is displayed when the snapped point is projected perpendicularly to the locked line.

  5. Pick the first point.
  6. To lock the direction for the second point to be picked, ensure that a snap switch that enables snapping either to lines (such as Snap to nearest points (points on line)) or to points (such as Snap to end points or Snap to mid points) is active.
  7. When the snap symbol is visible, hold down the Shift key to lock the direction.
  8. Pick the second point by snapping either to a point or a line, similarly as when picking the first point.
  9. Continue to pick more points, if needed.

Note that the direction locking works on only in modeling mode, not in drawings. Direction locking does not work with numeric snapping.

Set a temporary reference point

You can set a temporary reference point to be used as a local origin when snapping in models and drawings. Typically the Ortho tool and the Snap to perpendicular points snap switch use the reference point information.

The reference point information is automatically set to the last picked point, and shown as a black cross. When you interrupt a command, the reference point information, meaning the last picked point, is cleared. If you need to use the reference point, set the temporary reference point manually.

  1. Run a command that requires you to pick points.

    For example, start creating a beam.

  2. Pick the start point.

  3. Hold down the Ctrl key and pick a point.

    Alternatively, right-click and select Define temporary snap reference point and pick a point.

    A black cross indicates that this point is now a temporary reference point. You can continue snapping from the temporary reference point.

  4. Repeat step 3 to create as many reference points as needed.

    If you use the Define temporary snap reference point command, you need to activate it for every reference point you pick.

  5. Release the Ctrl key and pick the end point.

    Tekla Structures creates the object between the start point and the end point. For example:

Lock X, Y, or Z coordinate on a line

You can lock the x, y, and z coordinates on a line. The coordinate locks work both in modeling mode and in drawing mode.

Locking the coordinates is useful when you need to determine a point to pick and the needed point does not exist on the line. When a coordinate is locked, you can only snap to points in that direction.

In drawing mode the locking is useful, for example, if you need to drag a view along x or y axis only.

  1. Run a command that requires you to pick points.

    For example, start creating a beam.

  2. Lock a coordinate:

    • To lock the x coordinate, press X.

    • To lock the y coordinate, press Y.

    • To lock the z coordinate, press Z.

    Now you can only snap to points in the chosen direction.

    Tekla Structures indicates the locked coordinate with the letters X, Y, or Z in the status bar at the bottom of the Tekla Structures main window.

  3. To unlock the coordinate, press the same letter (X, Y, or Z) again.

Alternatively, you can control the coordinate locks with Quick Launch. Start typing toggle coordinate lock, and click the name of the coordinate lock in the search results list to activate the switch.

Align objects using a snap grid

A snap grid makes it easier to align objects in a model, because it allows you to snap to points only at set intervals. Use a snap grid when you pick points using the Snap to any position snap switch.

  1. On the File menu, click Settings > Snap settings.
  2. Define the grid spacing intervals in the Spacing boxes.

    For example, if the spacing of the x coordinate is 500, you can snap to points at intervals of 500 units in the x direction.

  3. If needed, define offsets for the snap grid origin in the Origin boxes.
  4. To activate the snap grid, select the Active (when free snap is on) checkbox.
  5. Click OK.

    Now when you pick points using the Snap to any position snap switch, you can only snap to points at set intervals. The snap grid itself is invisible in the model.

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