Toggle snap to xref?

[gccdesign]

Is there a way to toggle snapping to a layer or xref?

When using object snap and you are drawing with a busy survey xref in the background, the mouse cursor really hunts around a lot on the contour lines and stuff instead of on what I am drawing. But, I would like to see the contour lines as I go, rather than hide the layer.

GChapp

[pendean · Accepted solution]

No.

If possible, try to limit the types of running osnaps or better yet explore only activating the osnap you need when you need it by either typing in the Osnap shortcut or using the Temp Overrides keyboard keys combo for that osnap.

[gccdesign]

Yeah, I think that is as good as I can get it.

But I do like my osnaps.

Thanks,

GChapp

[braudpat]

Hello

Toggle OFF Osnap on XREF, would be in nice feature (maybe for a next release) !?

With a "real" AutoCAD (not LT) : technically it could be possible...

BUT with a very high level programming with ARX or DotNet

Bye, Patrice

[Charles_Shade]

I don't know, you might be able to Macro yourself into a different OSMODE when inserting an XREF even with "fake" LT.

[pendean]

F3 on your keyboard, fake or real AutoCAD 🙂

[braudpat]

Hello Mr Pendean

I like your Humour ...

Bye, Patrice from France

[matthellfish]

If you really want to do this then:

Put your XREF on layer DEFPOINTS

FREEZE layer 0

This will make the layer unselectable and you won't be able to snap to it. Once you are done, thaw the layer, and move everything back to where it should be.
Credit goes to CAD64 @
https://www.cadtutor.net/forum/topic/64187-turn-off-xref-snapping/

[luis-pl]

Has this been fixed? it's been 10 years and I still can't turn off snapping to xref layers. F3 is no use because it disables all snaps, I basically want to have an xref drawing as a reference and the snapping messes up.

[pendean]

@luis-pl There is nothing to fix, nothing is broken: this is how the program works and has done for 40-years.
Explore the workarounds posted above your post for things to try.

Best wishes.

[hwalker]

@luis-pl It's still what matthellfish posted. However in the link below someone has written an app which will make the xref not snappable

How to exclude Xref geometry from objects snap (OSNAP) in AutoCAD (autodesk.com)

[luis-pl]

It's still a wonky workaround. Maybe autodesk has reviewed this feature and has decided that it is not important and useful, so it did not allocate budget.

Hopefully they could improve on this part in the future, with $5B in revenue this year i'm sure it would be no big effort from their part.

[pendean]

@luis-pl Feel free to tell Autodesk all of your wishes and desires here where they look for it all
https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

[luis-pl]

Thank you for the link pendant, but I have actually asked for this fix a few years ago already, that's why I was wondering when it will be implemented or improved.

[pendean]

@luis-pl 99.99% of publicly traded companies like Autodesk never pre-announce future abilities in forums like these or anywhere else unless it's already been implemented and available to use.

Keep asking for what you want over and over again, the concept of one-and-done is something that's not been a reality since the mass-production and the industrial revolution kicked into high gear several centuries ago.

[MaemN9Z7R]

I disagree. Yes, this is how the program works, but it is a definite limitation to functionality. Microstation has been able to achieve this functionality for years with a simple toggle in the references dialog that allows you to select whether certain reference files are snappable or not. Seems like a simple addition to the program which will save a lot of time and headache. 

[pendean]

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@MaemN9Z7R wrote:

I disagree. Yes, this is how the program works, but it is a definite limitation to functionality.... 

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Your opinion always matters, but there is nothing we end users just like you can do about it in these end-user forums.

But you can tell Autodesk about it where they look for such excellent feedback, here at this other website 

https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

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@MaemN9Z7R wrote:

...Microstation has been able to achieve this functionality for years with a simple toggle...

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I recommend you do you 100% of the time: looks like you need to switch to MS if this is a dire business workflow need for you all.

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@MaemN9Z7R wrote:

...Seems like a simple addition to the program which will save a lot of time and headache. 

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If it was simple, we would not be here writing about it. So there is that reality staring us all in the face.

Best wishes.

[matthellfish]

To see that Autodesk posted a support solution to their website, 4 years after the one I put here, and it is the EXACT SAME work around I provided back then, should tell you all you need to know about where this one is going...

[jmacpherson]

Microstation can do it 🤔

[pendean]

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@jmacpherson wrote:

Microstation can do it 🤔

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Sadly that means nothing to anyone not using MS: but you can always switch to that if it is a require business tool.

you do you 100% of the time!

You can also offer up a detailed suggestion to Autodesk to add this ability over there where they look for feedback https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback