How to locate and keep center point of circle or arc visible

[Anonymous]

This one has been frustrating me for some time. I need to find and pick the center point of an arc or circle so I hover the cursor over the object. The center point X pops up and is briefly visible but when I move the cursor to select that point it disappears. If I click on the arc or circle the same thing happens. So is there a setting that can be turned on so I can keep that center point visible to use to draw from?

[gotphish001]

Turn on the center point snap. You can do this permanently on the bottom tool bar or by typing command OSNAP.  You can also right mouse click+shift and pick a snap that is one time use. 

[Anonymous]

Yes, that OSNAP is always turned on. It pops up when I select or hover over the object, but the exact location disappears when I move my cursor to select the point.

[WarrenGeissler]

You don't necessarily need to move over the exact point to acquire a center osnap. As soon as you see it you can select (left click) and the command will use the center osnap point. If you ZOOM or PAN it will go away:

[gotphish001]

As suggested are you panning or zooming to make the center point go away? Once I pause over the circle with my mouse long enough to make the center point appear, I can move the mouse all over the place and the center point still stays there. This is what my drafting settings look like. Maybe compare them to yours. Just in case you are not sure where the pic is from you can run command options and on the drafting tab. 

[Kent1Cooper]

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@gotphish001 wrote:

.... Once I pause over the circle with my mouse long enough to make the center point appear, I can move the mouse all over the place and the center point still stays there. .... 

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That's a function of having Object Snap Tracking turned on -- the F11 key, or this icon in the Status Bar:

[imadHabash]

Hi,

>> The center point X pops up and is briefly visible but when I move the cursor to select that point it disappears.  <<

This is how AutoCAD behave ... it's normal . when you see this X pops up this is mean that AutoCAD is ready for catching center point.

>> So is there a setting that can be turned on so I can keep that center point visible to use to draw from?<<

from AutoCAD 2017 and later versions there is a new tools for creating and editing centerlines and center marks. i suggest to learn about this great new feature here . >> Click <<

all the best..

[tramber]

This is my answer :

• Turning APBOX to 1 for some time is good to learn the exact behavior of all this
• if you TAB while being over an object, it goes around snaps that are in your settings
• if you CEN on keyboard (with an enter), it is equivalent to SHIFT or CTRL + Right-clic to CENter
• if CENter has been detected once (with one of these), it should be a little mark that persists until you choose a point.

The question is then : we did you zoom* ? No need. Because it is what you did, isn't it ? A reason why the mark disapeared.

* edit : not when you pan

[deke01 · Accepted solution]

If you always want to see the center point of the circle, use the DIMCENTER command to place a center mark (depending upon how your DIMSTYLE is set).

[tramber]

Easy to set with a click but giving lines ... and possibly wrong objsnaping

Good idea but I would recommend the POINT command instead.

[Anonymous]

This would seem to be the best solution. The problem happens sporadically, usually when I am under a deadline and focused on just getting the job done. I have been trying to recreate the issue and of course, like when you take your car to a mechanic because it's making a funny noise, the problem is  not happening.

[BillW435]

This is more a command prompt question.

After I start to draw a circle, I get the prompt:  "Specify center point of circle or..." , then what looks like a tiny arrow pointing down. I have never known what the options are meant this "arrow" symbol.

Thanks

Bill

[Kent1Cooper]

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@BillW435 wrote:

... I get the prompt:  "Specify center point of circle or..." , then what looks like a tiny arrow pointing down. I have never known what the options are meant this "arrow" symbol. ….

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Pick on the little arrow, and see what it's offering.  If you don't understand what the options mean, read about them in Help for the CIRCLE command.

[JamaL9722060]

I couldn’t manage how to PERMANENTLY display the center of circles!

[Kent1Cooper]

Read about the DIMCENTER command [which can put either a little cross at the center or also lines extending past its circumference, but they are not associative, so the resulting Lines are not "tied to" the Circle] and the CENTERMARK command [which makes associative ones, but apparently with the extending Lines -- it won't do only the cross in the middle].

[BillW435]

I have the same issue, seeing center point of circle. Just having center osnap activated won't do it. But with center osnap on, if you click any of the Draw commands and approach the circle, center crosshairs appear and stay visible. This may be an awkward workaround, but works for me!

[JamaL9722060]

Thank you Kent1Coope

I observed that the center is added as two crossing lines but not as a point. Also, the command doesn’t select multiple circles in one go

[Kent1Cooper]

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@JamaL9722060 wrote:

.... I observed that the center is added as two crossing lines but not as a point. Also, the command doesn’t select multiple circles in one go

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Yes -- that's just how that command works.  A routine could easily be written that would use Points instead, and allow multiple selection, if you like.  The results, as with DIMCENTER, would not be associative the way the CENTERMARK's results are [i.e. if you Move the Circles, the center Points wouldn't go with them].  Something like this [in simplest terms, untested]:

(defun C:CenterPoint (/ ss n)
  (prompt "\nTo draw Points at Circle/Arc centers,")
  (if (setq ss '((0 . "CIRCLE,ARC")))
    (repeat (setq n (sslength ss))
      (command "_.point" "_non" (cdr (assoc 10 (entget (ssname ss (setq n (1- n)))))))
    ); repeat
  ); if
  (princ)
); defun

[JamaL9722060]

Thank you Kent1Cooper.

It appears not to work with me

[Kent1Cooper]

Whoops -- this line:

(if (setq ss '((0 . "CIRCLE,ARC")))

should be this instead:

(if (setq ss (ssget '((0 . "CIRCLE,ARC"))))