Engineering specialist Allen Jessup sends us a tip on using Osnaps.
"I often have to draw lines — especially random lines and plines based on nodes — using Osnaps. One source of problems with this method is that AutoCAD will let you pick a point in the drawing that is not a node. Even with the running Osnap set to Node, you can still miss a pick and end up with an invalid vertex.
"This can be solved by setting Osnapoverride to 1. Once it is set to 1, you can only select a point that matches your Osnap. This can save a lot of zooming and make you more confident about the lines you've created.
"One thing to remember is that you want to set Osnapoverride back to 0 (zero) as soon as you're done. That's because it will affect every pick. If you leave it set to 1 and try to copy, move, offset, etc., you will only be able to pick an entity at a point that matches your running Osnap."
Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: Accurate drawing practices are an essential part of using AutoCAD. Osnaps and running Osnaps give us the tools to make sure we are drawing accurately and correctly. Osnaps ensure that the objects we draw are placed on exact points of another object. Imagine not having Osnaps! Without them, we would have to insert our objects by entering coordinates every time. When Osnapoverride is set to 1, you cannot insert a point, line, or any other object in a random place. It will only let you insert to a snap point. You can turn your running Osnaps off, but that won't change anything. You will still have to snap to an object. Set Osnapoverride to 0 (zero), and you can draw anywhere.