Entity snap tracking

Entity Snap Tracking (STRACK) assists you in drawing entities with respect to other entities.

When Entity Snap Tracking is active, BricsCAD® displays temporary tracking lines from entity snap points. At least one Entity Snap mode must be on if you want to use Entity Snap Tracking.

Click the STRACK field in the Status bar to enable/disable Entity Snap Tracking.

Entity Snap Tracking lines are parallel to the X- and Y-axis of the current UCS.

If bitcode 2 of the POLARMODE system variable is checked, the polar angles used in Polar Tracking (interval and additional angles) are also used in Entity Snap Tracking.

Alignment points are acquired when you hover over a point, using entity snaps. Acquired points display a small plus sign (+). To remove an acquired point, hover over the point again. The small plus sign (+) is then removed. If bitcode 8 of the POLARMODE is checked, press and hold the Shift key to acquire entity tracking points. Alignments relative to an acquired point are displayed as you move the cursor over their tracking paths. You can then define points either on the alignments or at the intersection of two alignments.

Note: The ANGBASE system variable defines the base angle of the tracking lines with respect to the current coordinate system.

Locking a tracking line

Press the Shift key when a tracking line displays to lock the tracking line. Locked tracking lines display in the color defined by the SnapMarkerColor user preference (1). Entity snaps (2) or specified points are projected perpendicularly onto a locked tracking line (3). Press the Shift key again to unlock a tracking line.

More options with locked tracking lines are:
  • If the Intersection entity snap is active, it is possible to snap to the intersections of a locked tracking line and entities in the drawing.
  • Acquire additional tracking lines and snap to the locations where these intersect with the locked tracking line.

Using Entity Snap Tracking

  1. Launch a drawing command, for example LINE.

    Prompts you: Start of line or [Follow] <Last point>:

  2. Hover the cursor over the first tracking point (1).

    A small plus sign (+) displays to indicate the tracking point is active.

  3. Hover the cursor over the second tracking point (2).

    A small plus sign (+) displays to indicate the tracking point is active.

  4. Move the cursor close to position 4.
    • Tracking lines display from both tracking points (3).
    • A cross marker (x) indicates the intersection of the tracking lines.
    • Snap markers display at the tracking points.
    • An Entity Snap Tracking tooltip at the intersection of the tracking lines shows the angles and distances from the tracking points.
  5. Click to accept the Entity Snap Tracking point.