Parent page: Schematic Commands
The following pre-packaged resources, derived from this base command, are available:
Cycle Snap Grid
Applied Parameters: None
Summary
This command is used to cycle forward through your predefined snap grid settings, to easily place or adjust components, wiring, designators, and more. The Snap grid is the grid that the cursor is locked to when placing or moving schematic design objects. It is important to select a Snap grid that suits both your company requirements, and also the components used in your designs. All Altium components are designed with their pins on a 100 mil grid.
Access
This command is accessed in the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:
- Choosing the View » Grids » Cycle Snap Grid command from the main menus.
- Choosing the Cycle Snap Grid entry on the Grids drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
- Using the G keyboard shortcut.
Use
After launching the command, the next (larger) predefined snap grid setting will be used for the workspace. The new snap grid value is reflected at the left-hand side of the Status Bar.
Tips
- Values for the snap grid can be defined at the preferences-level, on the Schematic - Grids page of the Preferences dialog. You can configure any number of Grid Presets, with each preset defining a Snap grid setting, and a Snap Distance (the range of attraction by which a placed/moved object will snap to another object's electrical hotspot - think electrical grid in old money). There are also a number of Altium-defined grid presets, to get you going quickly. Both Imperial and Metric grid presets can be configured - the set used will be determined by the measurement units employed for the document, specified in the General section of the Properties panel, when no objects are currently selected in the design workspace.
- You can set a new value for the snap grid, on-the-fly, by using the Choose a snap grid size dialog (View » Grids » Set Snap Grid). Bear in mind that if you change the grid size using the Cycle Snap Grid command detailed here, your entered setting will be lost, as cycling only involves the currently chosen preset interval settings.