About Probes

With a probe you can pinpoint a location on a sheet to which a tool or a shape must be snapped. Each type of probe snaps to a different object on a sheet. For example, a line can be snapped to a grid intersection using the Grid Probe, or to the intersection of two other lines using the Intersection Probe.

The Auto Probe is the default probe. To change the default, click Design, click the arrow next to Default Probe and click a probe.

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Grid Probe—Snaps to the nearest grid intersection, even if the grid is inactive.

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Auto Probe—Snaps to a point on the sheet by automatically selecting one of six probes, in the following order: Near Probe, Intersection Probe, Perpendicular Probe, Tangent Probe, Segment Probe, and Free Probe. For example, if a point exists within the radius of the pointer, a Near Probe is used. If no points exist within the radius, the next type of probe is selected. If the first five probe types cannot be used, a Free Probe is used.

The Auto Probe can produce incorrect results when the pointer is in a densely populated area. Ensure the use of the correct type of probe by zooming in on the area.

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Free Probe—Snaps to a point at the current pointer location on the sheet. If the grid is active, the Free probe snaps to the closest grid intersection.

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Intersection Probe—Snaps to the nearest intersection of two lines.

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Near Probe—Snaps to the nearest point on a graphic element.

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Segment Probe—Snaps to the closest point on a selected graphic element.

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Perpendicular Probe—Snaps to the nearest line segment at a 90° angle. It can be used when creating or editing a line.

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Center Probe—Snaps to the center of the nearest circle. For arcs, a center point is defined as the intersection of the two perpendiculars from the tangents at the ends of the arc. No position is located if the perpendiculars do not intersect inside the arc.

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Mid Probe—Snaps to the middle of the straight or curved line segment nearest to the pointer.

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Tangent Probe—Creates a point on the nearest arc or circle. The line segment that joins the new point to the previous point is tangential to the arc or circle. It can be used only when creating or editing a line.