AutoCAD OSnap "from" in ArchiCAD?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to make the switch from AutoCAD LT to ArchiCAD, but I find myself looking for the most simple feature in AutoCAD. That is proper object snaps.

In AutoCAD if I want to place an wall (existing) 1800mm from a point A: I select the wall, click move, select the basepoint, select "from", click on the point A, enter the distance and the wall is there.

In ArchiCAD I select the wall, select move, select the basepoint, move the wall to the point A, select move, select the basepoint, enter the distance and the wall is in correct location.

Am I mistaken or is there not an snap equal to the object snap from in ArchiCAD?

With Stretch or when creating a new wall it is even more obvious where the problem is. I know I can emulate this feature with "User origo", but that is hardly a viable solution in being even more complicated feature...

[Anonymous]

Found it!

Just typing 1800- or 1800+ will do it! Clever and very simple, but this doesn't work when creating a new object or doest it?

[David Maudlin]

jukkar:

This will work for new objects. Place the cursor where you want to start from, don't click. Type "x" or "y", the distance, and "+" or "-", the cursor will move this distance. Now hit the return or enter key to place an object, or start drawing a wall or polygonal element, and proceed as you would for creating this element. This will place or start this element a given distance from a known point.

David

[Laszlo Nagy]

Another way of doing it:
With pressing ALT-SHIFT, relocated the User Origin to a point of an element. Then press A, type the angle, press R, type the distance, then press ENTER.

[Link]

David wrote:
jukkar:

This will work for new objects. Place the cursor where you want to start from, don't click. Type "x" or "y", the distance, and "+" or "-", the cursor will move this distance. Now hit the return or enter key to place an object, or start drawing a wall or polygonal element, and proceed as you would for creating this element. This will place or start this element a given distance from a known point.

David

David's wording is a little confusing

The - needs to go before the distance, otherwise it will be relative to the user origin in the positive direction. The + at the end is the same as saying 'relative to where my cursor is currently positioned'.

I push the method that Laszlo describes, but then again I'm a big fan of maximizing the use of the user origin. Just use alt+shift to relocate the origin, hit x/y, enter the +/- distance, enter.

Just my 2 cents...

Cheers,
Link.

[David Maudlin]

Link wrote:
David's wording is a little confusing

The - needs to go before the distance, otherwise it will be relative to the user origin in the positive direction. The + at the end is the same as saying 'relative to where my cursor is currently positioned'.

I push the method that Laszlo describes, but then again I'm a big fan of maximizing the use of the user origin. Just use alt+shift to relocate the origin, hit x/y, enter the +/- distance, enter.

Just my 2 cents...

Cheers,
Link.

Actually my method works exactly as I described. The difference is that if the “+” or “-“ is put before the distance, then the measurement is taken from the user origin, which needs to be moved around for that method. If the “+” or “-“ is put after the distance, the measurement is taken from the current cursor position (as Link mentioned), so the location of the user origin is irrelevant. I just find that not needing to relocate the user origin to be more efficient, but to each their own. I know there are different ways to achieve the same result, so whatever makes sense for a particular user: great.

Note for those using the English measurement system: if you are moving the cursor in the negative direction, and are inputting whole feet only, you need to press “-“ twice, as the first “-“ will be for the inch portion of the distance, the second “-“ will then move the cursor (inputting no number between the two “-“ inputs tells ArchiCAD there are no inches).

Happy New Year

David

[Djordje]

jukkar wrote:
Found it!

Just typing 1800- or 1800+ will do it! Clever and very simple, but this doesn't work when creating a new object or doest it?

Yes it does, and it does work when doing a new thing also - it works from the current cursor position.

I beleieve that the origin should stay where it is 😉

All the best in 2007!