Do you need to snap to linework in a hatch? Shawn Evjen shares a tip for controlling your snap settings in hatches.

"We were working on some older drawings, and needed to snap to lines in a hatch pattern. In our case, this linework was a reflected ceiling grid, and we needed to place the light fixtures appropriately. Where to turn? The OSOptions command allows you to ignore linework in hatches, ignore negative Z values (also handy), or to snap to anything in a hatch exactly where it is. The command works by adding the values: 1 ignores snapping to linework; 2 ignores negative Z coordinates; and the default, being 3, ignores both. For our project, we changed it to 2, and off we went. If you would rather not snap to hatch linework in concrete and sand patterns, just remember to change it back!"

Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: The OSOptions system variable automatically suppresses object snaps on hatch objects and geometry with negative Z values. Turn it off (by setting it to zero), and you will be able to snap to these types of objects. OSOptions is a bitcode value; that means it uses bits to turn certain functions on and off. Zero is off; a value of 1 ignores hatch objects; and a value of 2 ignores negative Z values. Add them up (you get the value of 3) to get both functions. There are several settings in AutoCAD that function this way.