How can I get XDP to snap to grid? (even when "Snap to grid" is on, it keep failing)

[shiphen]

Hello

Why is it in XDP (v20) that when I am changing the size of a shape by dragging the handles, SOMETIMES it won't snap to the grid, even when I have "Snap to grid" switched on?

e.g. Sometimes it will snap to a shape in the X direction, but not in the Y direction!
And then after I have done that, it 'remembers' how to snape in the Y direction.

==> How can I get XARA to remember how to snap in either direction?

J

[Acorn]

Is your Grid visible and orthogonal?
Is the snap to the shape or its line centre? Try with Outlines view.

The are other Snaps that I find better. Snap to Objects, for one.

Acorn

[shiphen]

Is your Grid visible and orthogonal?
Is the snap to the shape or its line centre? Try with Outlines view.

The are other Snaps that I find better. Snap to Objects, for one.

Acorn

Yes the grid is visible and forms a square pattern of dots.
I am well aware of Snap to Object, which is occasionally very useful, I agree - just not in this case.
The snapping that is failing is to the edge of a shape.
Scale Line Widths is set off. Some shapes are semi-transparent.
I need to see colours - that's the whole point of using Xara!

J

[Acorn]

All I can suggest is to zoom in to the part about to Snap, other snap points might be close and winning.

Not every point in a shape is snappable, especially concave parts.

Acorn

[shiphen]

All I can suggest is to zoom in to the part about to Snap, other snap points might be close and winning.

Not every point in a shape is snappable, especially concave parts.

Acorn

OK try this:
1. Open a new file, make the grid visible & set snapping on
2. Create a rectangle by left-clicking and dragging.


Now if I drag by the top or left or right border, it snaps to the grid.
However if I drag by the bottom border it fails to snap.

Weirdly if as soon as I have got it to snap once - by any means, including dragging the entire object around the screen - the bottom boundary will now start to snap to the grid.

This exact same problem applies to rectangles, circles, quickshape tool shapes, freehand tool shapes. However it doesn't apply if I have drawn a rectangle using the Shape Tool (F4).

I am starting to think that it's a deliberate feature.... (??) But all I can tell you is that I find it both surprising and irritating!

J

[Acorn]

Bear with. I'll give it a try in a while.

Acorn

[Acorn]

I'll try and describe how I understand things.

Toggle off Snap to Grid with NUM DECIMAL.
Draw a random box that has not snapped.
Toggle on Snap to Grid.
Move the box so its top left corner snaps.
All edges then snap.

Random box again.
Drag the bottom control up and beyond the top of the box (a flip) and all at once the bottom edge snaps.
Drag below and it no longer snaps.
You, and Xara, can readily see the Bug.

Once you get any edge to snap (bar the Bug above), all edges will snap.

I have also found if you click-hold then drag or drag the bottom edge over three major marks, it kicks in.

I far prefer the Guides layer approach as I hate all the jumping to the next snap point when dragging.
It is far more sedate.

Acorn

[handrawn]

thanks from me for that acorn; don't use snap to grid but useful to know

[shiphen]

I must say it IS a pretty odd bug.

e.g. New file ==> set snap to grid on ==> then create a new rectangle ==> and drag to resize by either the bottom or the left hand side (as many times as you like) and it won't snap to the grid. Even "Convert to Editable Shape" doesn't help.

BUT as soon as you get it to snap once, either by dragging the whole thing or by dragging the top or right hand side and then it starts snapping properly. The change seems to be permanent for that shape. Except it seems that very occasionally it reverts to not snapping properly!

J

[Acorn]

It is quite likely that this has been a Forever Bug.
Most use Snap to Grid fleetingly unless there is a specific need so Xara may never have spotted it.

Acorn