Can I snap to the intersection of two virtual lines in BricsCAD?
Short Answer
Yes — in BricsCAD, you can snap to the intersection of two virtual lines by using the apparent/intersection object snap during a command such as LINE. The most common professional method is to hold Shift + right-click and choose Intersection, then pick the two implied paths. Limitation: this only works when BricsCAD can clearly infer both objects.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: virtual intersection snapping can fail if one or both objects are not in the same plane, or if you are actually trying to find a 3D apparent crossing rather than a true 2D intersection. It also commonly fails when running object snaps are filtering out the needed snap type.
How to Do It
Command: LINE
Shortcut: L
Quick Steps:
- Start LINE from the Ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, or type
Land press Enter. - At the point prompt, hold Shift + right-click and choose Intersection from the Object Snap menu.
- Hover/select the first object, then the second object to let BricsCAD calculate the virtual intersection point, and click to place the point.
- Start LINE from the Ribbon, Home tab, Draw panel, or type
Use the fastest common method: temporary Osnap override via Shift + right-click instead of changing global snap settings.
Real setting to check: make sure Object Snap is turned On on the status bar.
Variables & Settings
Key Setting: Object Snap toggle on the status bar
Expert Setting: If Object Snap is off, temporary Intersection overrides may not register as expected during point selection. In professional workflows, keep Osnap on, but use temporary overrides to avoid snapping to the wrong point type.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): the two objects do not truly intersect in the current UCS or are not coplanar, so BricsCAD cannot resolve a valid virtual intersection.
- Cause 2 (layers/Locks): one object is on a locked, faded, or hard-to-pick reference layer, making selection of the second object unreliable.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): running object snaps such as Endpoint or Nearest override your intended pick, or you selected the objects too far from the implied crossing.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: turn on Object Snap, then use Shift + right-click > Intersection as a temporary override while zoomed close to the target area.
- Manager’s Verdict: use virtual intersection snapping for fast construction and detailing, but avoid relying on it in messy drawings; if the geometry is critical, create actual construction lines first.
FAQ
Can I use Intersection snap on extended lines in BricsCAD?
Yes, if BricsCAD can infer both object paths clearly during point selection.
Why does bricscad snap to an endpoint instead of the intersection?
Because another running Osnap is taking priority or you are picking too close to a real endpoint.
Does this work with polylines as well as lines?
Yes, as long as the relevant polyline segments can produce a valid intersection.
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