Object snaps and tracking

When a command asks for a point and you move the cursor near an object, a marker shows the exact point AutoCAD will use — a square at an endpoint, a triangle at a midpoint, a circle at a centre, an X at an intersection. Click, and the point is exact to the last decimal place. Without snaps, a point that looks right is usually a fraction off, and those fractions cause gaps, failed trims and wrong areas.

Running snaps are on all the time (toggle with F3). Right-click the Object Snap button on the status bar to choose them. A good everyday set: Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Intersection, Perpendicular, Extension. Avoid leaving Nearest on permanently — it snaps anywhere on a line and hides the precise points you meant.

Hold Shift and right-click during a command to choose a single snap for the next pick — it overrides the running snaps. You can also type the snap name: MID, END, CEN, INT, PER.

From (FRO) finds a point offset from a reference point. Example: start a window 900 from a wall corner: at the point prompt type FRO, snap to the corner, then type @900,0.

Tracking combined with direct distance entry is powerful: acquire a corner, track along the dotted line, type 600, and your point is exactly 600 from the corner in that direction.