You can fine tune the position of model objects within your project using the Snap tool on the toolbar including Conductors, Insulators, Poles, and Stays/Guys.
Snap tool controls
There are standard snapping controls available in the Properties panel, regardless of the asset type you are repositioning using the snap tool.
Modes allows you to control the Point selection as follows:
Single point: snap to a single point
Multiple points: snap to the average of multiple points or to minimise error to points, depending on the object being snapped. Selected points will be added to the table and positioning, or proposed positioning, will dynamically update as you add or remove selected points.
To remove points left-click the point a second time or left-click the red icon at the end of the row in the table on the Properties panel
Snap to allows you to control what can be snapped to which may be helpful if your model has dense point cloud, feature points and/or objects.
3D Objects: controls snapping to objects imported via DXF
Vertices only: restricts snapping to discreet points within the imported objects
Full: allows snapping to any point on the imported object
Feature Points: controls snapping to feature points that have been added to the model to identify various features including ground, road, vegetation and fences
Point Cloud: controls snapping to LiDAR data, also known as point cloud, available in the project
View options provides a quick and easy way to control visibility of point cloud Point size. To increase the size of points drag the slider to the right or enter a number in the box on the right hand side.
Looking for more information about the options above? See the following articles:
Snapping poles
Pole snapping options
You have three Snapping Options for snapping poles:
Pole location: alters location of the pole and it’s attachments, as a unit. It does not alter the pole height or sink depth and vertical offset
Pole height: alters height the pole and it’s attachments, as a unit. This will alter the sink depth and vertical offset of the pole
Attachment: moves the height of an attachment on the pole. If your attachment includes crossarms and insulators these are moved as a unit
You can use Pole height and Pole location at the same time. Poles with multiple attachments will need to be moved separately, you cannot snap multiple attachments at the same time.
How to snap a pole
To snap a pole, ensure the Snap tool is selected. This will be shown as the Tool in use in the Properties panel. Left-click on the pole you want to move.
In the Properties panel will display the Pole identifier, Snapping options and snapping controls. Select the appropriate settings and then hover your mouse over the point you want to snap to.
If valid, the point will be highlighted green and a teal line will appear between the pole’s current location and where the pole will snap to. You may also see a blue line showing the distance between the top of the pole and point selected. This is most common where you are snapping pole location to a point taller than the pole, or moving the pole based on multiple points.
Left-click to to select the point and move the pole.
Snapping conductors
Conductor snapping options
You have seven Snapping Options for snapping conductors:
Cable sag: alters sag or catenary of the conductor cables within the span
Assembly height: alters height of the assembly on the pole such that the conductor passes through the selected point, or average of multiple points
Insulator offset: alters one conductor cable and insulator position such that the start of the insulator aligns with the selected point, or average of multiple points
You can manually alter or revert the insulator offset. See Insulator interactions
Fit cable to points: alters cable sag and insulators or assemblies based on multiple points selected. Apply appears below the Snapping options and single point selection mode is not available
Sag & insulators: moves the single conductor cable selected and offsets the attached insulators relative to their assembly
Sag & assembly height: moves all conductors within a span and the attached assemblies on the structures, without applying an offset to insulators
Swap phases: swaps connection position of cable in closest assembly with another so phase order is altered. You can only select cables in the same span and cannot use this to snap to objects or points so multiple points selection mode is not available
Reparent assembly: alters parent assembly of (child) assembly the selected conductor is attached to. You will no longer be able to move (child) assembly independently of parent assembly. You cannot use this to snap to objects or points so multiple points selection mode is not available
You could use this to connect an ad-hoc single conductor to a crossarm, for example where there is a low voltage service drop to a low voltage cross arm
Structure position: alters position of structure the conductor is attached to so that conductor aligns with points or objects selected
Location: moves the structure, as a unit, by location only. It does not alter the height or sink depth and vertical offset
Location & vert offset: moves the location and relative height (i.e. sink depth and vertical offset) of the structure, as a unit.
Refer to the below table for a summary of elements relating to a conductor that are altered by each of the available snapping options:
Snapping option | cable sag | insulator offset (relative to assembly) | assembly height (on structure) | structure vertical offset | structure location |
Cable sag | ✔️ |
|
|
|
|
Assembly height |
|
| ✔️ |
|
|
Insulator offset |
| ✔️ |
|
|
|
Fit cable to points (sag & insulators) | ✔️ | ✔️ |
|
|
|
Fit cable to points (sag & assembly height) | ✔️ |
| ✔️ |
|
|
Structure position (location) |
|
|
|
| ✔️ |
Structure position (location & vertical offset |
|
|
| ✔️ | ✔️ |
Swap phases does not alter cable sag, insulator offset, assembly height or structure's vertical offset or location.
Reparent assembly alters the assembly height in terms of the 3D offset for child assemblies only.
How to snap a conductor
To snap a conductor, ensure the Snap tool is selected. This will be shown as the Tool in use in the Properties panel. Left-click on the conductor you want to move.
In the Properties panel will display the Conductor identifier, Snapping options and snapping controls. Select the appropriate option and adjust the controls, as required.
For Cable sag, Assembly height and Insulator offset, hovering your mouse over the point you want to snap to will highlight it green. A teal line will appear between the current location and where the conductor will snap to, you will see a dashed line denoting the position the conductor will move to. Left-click to select the point.
If using multiple points the the conductor’s position will dynamically update as you add or remove selected points. You can remove points by left-clicking the point a second time or left-clicking the red icon at the end of the row of the multiple point selection table.
For Fit cable to points, hovering your mouse over the point you want to snap to will highlight it green, left-click to add it to the multiple point selection table. As you add multiple points to this table it will show a dashed horizontal line indicating the average position based on points selected, and Apply, which appears below the Snapping options, will turn blue. If the average position of the points selected cannot be snapped to, Apply will not turn blue. You must left-click Apply to snap the cable and insulator.
You can return a cable and insulator to its original position in the assembly by using Undo within the Edit menu or manually amend the insulator’s Offset using the Move and Select tool. You can find more information about this in insulator interactions[link].
For Swap phases, hovering your mouse over the cable you want to swap phases with will highlight it green. Ensure this is within the same span and then left-click to swap phases. The cables will swap positions within the assembly and you will see the cables appear twisted.
For Reparent assembly, hover your mouse over the assembly you want to make the parent of the conductor's (child) assembly. Move your mouse along the assembly until you have the correct position and then right-click, or press Esc on your keyboard, to exit the snap selection and affix the assembly.
You can check that the assembly has been reparented by using the Move and select tool. Click on the structure the assembly is attached to and attempt to adjust the Height of the conductor under Attach points. The conductor will only move in the Perspective view when the parent assembly moves.
For Structure position, hovering your mouse over the point you want to snap to will highlight it green. Left-click to select the point and move the structure so that the selected conductor goes through the point. If using multiple points, where possible, the structure’s position will dynamically update as you add or remove selected points.
Snapping insulators
Insulator snapping options
You have three Snapping options for snapping insulators:
Snap to insulator start: alters position of the insulator and attached conductor using the start of the conductor (the part attached to the structure or crossarm) as the reference point
Snap to insulator end: alters position of the insulator and attached conductor using the end of the conductor (the part attached to the conductor) as the reference point
Structure position: alters position of structure the insulator is attached to so that insulator start aligns with points or objects selected
Location: moves the structure, as a unit, by location only. It does not alter the height or sink depth and vertical offset
Location & vert offset: moves the location and relative height (i.e. sink depth and vertical offset) of the structure, as a unit
How to snap an insulator
To snap an insulator, ensure the Snap tool is selected. This will be shown as the Tool in use in the Properties panel. Left-click on the insulator you want to move.
If your insulator is 100mm or less a blue sphere will appear to make selection easier.
In the Properties panel will display the Snapping options and snapping controls. Select the appropriate option and adjust the controls, as required.
Hover your mouse over the point you want to snap to. If valid, the point will be highlighted green and a teal line will appear between the insulator’s current location and future location if the point is selected.
Left-click to to select the point and move the insulator and, if applicable, attached structure.
If using multiple point selection, the position will dynamically update with each point added and you can remove points by left-clicking the point a second time or left-clicking the red icon at the end of the row in the multiple point selection table.
You can return an insulator to its original position in the assembly by using Undo within the Edit menu or manually amend the insulator’s Offset using the Move and Select tool. You can find more information about this in Select and view insulator information.
Snapping stays/guys
Stay/guy snapping options
You have three Snapping options for snapping stays/guys:
Stay support: alters position on the structure the stay/guy attaches to
Stay anchor: alters position on the ground the stay/guy attaches to
Line from point selection: alters entire stay based on multiple points selected. Apply appears below the Snap to table and single point selection mode is not available.
How to snap a stay/guy
To snap a stay/guy, ensure the Snap tool is selected. This will be shown as the Tool in use in the Properties panel. Left-click on the stay/guy you want to move.
In the Properties panel will display the Snapping options and snapping controls. Select the appropriate option and adjust the controls, as required. Hover your mouse over the point you want to snap to and, if the point is valid, it will be highlighted green.
For Stay support and Stay anchor, a teal line will appear between the stay’s/guy’s current ground or attachment location and future location if the point is selected. A dashed line will also appear, denoting the position the stay/guy will move to. Left-click to select the point.
If using multiple point selection, the position will dynamically update with each point added and you can remove points by left-clicking the point a second time or left-clicking the red icon at the end of the row in the multiple point selection table.
For Line from point selection, left-click to select the desired points. Once you have selected sufficient points a dashed line will appear denoting the position the stay/guy will move to and Apply will turn blue. The dashed line will dynamically update with each point added. To move the stay/guy left-click Apply.