The effect is rather like holding a paper clip close to a strong magnet it snaps onto it every time. As long as this function is active it will be impossible to place a shape between the gridlines, as Visio will automatically snap it to the next one available. With the snap to function switched on, any shape that is dragged onto the grid will move in small stages as it is automatically snapped to the gridlines. The ruler subdivisions and grid boxes are checked by default, as are those of shape geometry, guides and connection points, although these last three are slightly different from the guides and gridlines we are dealing with here. In the 'Currently Active' column check the snap box and this will activate the 'Snap To' menu. This will open a dialog box in which you should select the general tab. To activate this feature, go to tools and select 'Snap & Glue' from the list. This handy feature takes all of the guesswork out of aligning shapes as they snap into place with a rather satisfying jump. One application that often relies on perfect alignment is Microsoft Visio, but again help is at hand in the form of the snap to function. Once again artificial aids have come to the rescue, as holding down the Shift key while pulling out such shapes will keep them in proportion. Pulling out a perfect square or circle using grab handles is no easy task as, what might look like a perfectly round disc is actually some way out.
A ruler and a pair of compasses will let us draw straight lines and perfectly round circles, while a spirit level and pencil would see that picture hung on a perfect horizontal.Įven with computer technology the human eye cannot be relied upon to be precise. The man who makes repeated slight adjustments to a picture hanging on a wall is an ideal illustration of the fact that we need artificial aids to help us to be precise. As sharp as the human eye is, it has no built-in guides to transmit information to the brain precise details, such as when something is exactly level, a drawn line is perfectly straight, or a circle perfectly round.
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