Microstation Fence Won’t Snap? | TutoCAD

Understanding Fence Snapping in MicroStation

When working on design projects within MicroStation, you may encounter issues with fence snapping. This feature is essential for selecting specific areas for editing or manipulating your drawings accurately. Below are detailed steps and solutions to address when your fence snaps are not functioning as expected.

1. Enable AccuSnap for Fence Tools

AccuSnap is a snapping tool designed to assist in selecting precise points in your drawings. However, it might not function properly when placing fences. To ensure that it works effectively:

• Activate the Shortcut: While trying to place a fence, press the “CTRL” + “SHIFT” keys simultaneously. This combination might prompt the AccuSnap to engage correctly.
• Check Settings: Navigate to the Settings menu, then to Snaps, and ensure AccuSnap is enabled.

2. Adjusting Snapping Features

If snapping still fails, consider the following adjustments:

• Access Snap Settings: Locate Settings in the menu, go to Snaps, and review the AccuSnap configuration. Make sure it’s activated in the General tab.
• Modify Other Snap Options: Ensure other snapping options complement AccuSnap settings by exploring all features available under the Snaps section.

3. Utilizing the Fence Tool Effectively

The Fence tool is critical for outlining specific areas within your project. Here’s how to efficiently use it:

• Open the Fence Toolbox: Click and hold the Place Fence icon in the Main toolbox from the Tasks section. A drop-down menu will appear; select the ‘Open Fence as Toolbox’ option to access all related tools.
• Select and Adjust the Shape: Use the tools available to create, modify, or reposition your fence according to your project requirements.

4. Changing Tentative Snap Settings

If you need to modify how tentative snaps function, follow these steps:

• Mouse Settings Configuration: Open your Operating System’s Control Panel and adjust the Mouse settings so that the wheel button is set to “wheel/middle”.
• MicroStation Adjustments: Open MicroStation, navigate to Workspace and select Button Assignments. Find the Tentative option, hover the mouse over the ‘Button Definition Area’, then click the wheel and save the changes.

5. Turning Off Grid and Snap Features

Sometimes, grid and snap settings overlap, making it difficult to use fences accurately. Here’s how to turn them off:

• Disabling Grid Snap:

  • Go to Settings, choose View Attributes, or press .
  • Select the view number you want to modify.
  • Toggle the Grid setting off and click Apply to finalize the changes.
• Disabling AccuSnap:
  • Access Settings, then Snaps, and select AccuSnap.
  • In the General tab, uncheck the box that says “Enable AccuSnap” before closing the settings window.

6. Locating Snap Tools

If you’re struggling to find the snap tools in MicroStation, here’s how to display them:

• Using the Status Bar: In MicroStation CONNECT, locate the Snap icon on the status bar. Click it to see the various Snap Mode options appear in a pop-up ribbon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why is my enclosure not snapping correctly in place?
Sometimes, if AccuSnap is not functioning, it can be due to multiple factors, including overlapping snap settings or grid interference. Ensure that only the necessary snaps are enabled.

Q2: How can I ensure accuracy when creating or moving fence boundaries?
Adjust your snap settings to emphasize points of interest and utilize the Tentative snapping option for precise placement. This allows you to preview selections before finalizing them.

Q3: What should I do if my fence tool isn’t appearing in the toolbox?
If the fence tool is unresponsive, try restarting MicroStation or resetting your workspace settings. Additionally, confirm that the Fence feature is included in the toolbox by default.