topic Snap reference circle problems in Libraries & objects

Snap reference circle problems

D_BRANDT — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:12:03 GMT

Hi,

I've been working in Archicad for a year now, but still find it difficult getting used to the snap reference circle that appears when using a point as a snap reference.
Sometimes the snap reference circle (sometimes multiply circles) is so close to the point where you actually want to move a object to, making it difficult seeing what you're actually snapping to, unless you zoom in a lot.
Can you somehow deactivate the snap reference circle?

Re: Snap reference circle problems

Barry Kelly — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 02:17:57 GMT

D.BRANDT wrote:
Can you somehow deactivate the snap reference circle?

In the VIEW menu you can turn of the 'Snap Guides'.
If you have the 'Control Box' palette active, you will find some buttons there to turn them on/off as well.

Or in the Work Environment you can delay the time that the snap guides appear.
Set it to a higher value, then if you want a guide and don't want to wait, you hover over the point and activate the shortcut key for the snap guides (check your shortcut key settings in the Work Environment).

Barry.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

D_BRANDT — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:39:49 GMT

Thanks Berry!

Actually it's not the snap reference itself there's a "problem" but rather the big circle that occurs at the end of the reference line: Sometimes it's difficult to see whether you snap to the circle or the reference line.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

jowig — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:15:13 GMT

I'm having this same issue. Did you figure out anything?

Re: Snap reference circle problems

Barry Kelly — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 01:30:46 GMT

Watch how the cursor changes.

If it shows as a pen with a line on it, then you are snapping to a guide line or circle, but just a random point on that line or circle.

An empty pen means any point (not on the line or circle).

A solid black pen means snapping to a node.

An 'X' means snapping to the intersection of lines/circles.

Then there is perpendicular, parallel, tangent as well.

The cursor should guide you in what you are doing.

Don't forget to zoom in for more accuracy/clarity.

In the Work Environment, you can also set a cursor snap range in pixels.

No matter what the zoom, when you are within that pixel range, it will snap to what you are near.

The smaller the number the more accurate you have to be positioning your cursor.

The larger the number, it will snap easier to close by elements and guide lines, but you may have to zoom in more to differentiate between close elements/lines.

Barry.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

D_BRANDT — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:55:27 GMT

Hi jowig,

No, and I don't think it's possible to change.

The solution seems to be in the answer from Barry below 🙂

Re: Snap reference circle problems

DGSketcher — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:06:24 GMT

Personally I would like to see a an option to turn off the "Circle" snap creation. Too often they create intersections that are close to, but not at the desired location and the only solution is to zoom in to make sure you click the correct point.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

D_BRANDT — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:36:51 GMT

Couldn't agree more!

But maybe I feel that way because I come from AutoCAD where the circle doesn't exist, and it's a matter of getting used to the new workflow/interface?!

But to be able to turn the circle off would be great 🙂

Re: Snap reference circle problems

jowig — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:02:57 GMT

Thank you for the response. These are good advice as of how to, as far as I can gather, circumvent a fixed setting that should be in the hands of the user. So I'm not so sure it should be marked as "solved" (I don't know who marks posts as such), as it will frustrate or confuse users struggling with the same problem more than it will inform them, because the core problem is not solvable as of now. I will post it as a wish in the correct forum.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

jowig — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:06:43 GMT

The question is, when is it ever useful? How often do you want to draw in a circle around your project origin? This should absolutely be a non-default option. I'm sure there is some sort of rationale behind the desicion, but I cannot understand what that rationale is,

Re: Snap reference circle problems

D_BRANDT — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:21:46 GMT

Yes, well I partly agree with you.

The reason I marked is as solved, is that you don't get any closer to a solution, even the solution is adjusting your workflow and get to know the software even better.

You cannot blame the software for being different from others.

But even though, a setting to deactivate the circle would be handy, especially for users migrating from other softwares.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

DGSketcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:16:30 GMT

Here's a classic example of the problem. I want the centre point of a rectangle so I tag the mid points on the edges and move to the centre point but then end up with an arc which creates a new intersection just off centre.

Perhaps @Minh Nguyen could get a toggle option for the circle snaps added to the Wishlist?

Re: Snap reference circle problems

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 11:55:10 GMT

In such a case, I usually place a Guide Circle at the lower-left corner of the Rectangle, another one at the upper-right corner of the Rectangle, then move my cursor to the middle of the Rectangle. A Guide Line will connect the two Guide Circles and its Half Point will be marked, which I can then click.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

DGSketcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:16:37 GMT

@Laszlo Nagy Thanks for that suggestion it will help. I would still like the hide option, the case above is a simple example, in other situations the needed intersection can get drowned out with multiple snap guides, many of which are unwanted circles.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:27:25 GMT

Yes, I understand. My suggestion was for the specific case you mentioned, not to try to imply that the "Hide Guide Circles" option would not be helpful.

Re: Snap reference circle problems

bethd — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:49:58 GMT

My cursor is not showing the black check or snapping to points while working on interior elevations. I am not able to dimension to nodes or grab corners of objects with the select tool (it only works as a marquee). It works fine in plan view. Help, please! This is very frustrating.