Status Bar¶
The status bar is located at the bottom of the VektorCAD drawing window. It provides real-time coordinate feedback and quick toggles for precision drafting aids. Click any toggle to switch it on or off during a command — changes take effect immediately.
Quick reference
| Icon | Toggle | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | Shows current cursor position | |
 |
Grid | Show/hide background grid |
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Snap | Snap cursor to grid intervals |
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Ortho | Constrain to horizontal/vertical |
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Isometric | Switch to isometric drawing mode |
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Otrack | Track alignment from snap points |
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Osnap | Snap to entity geometry |
Mouse Position (Coordinates)¶
Displays the current cursor position in sheet coordinates (X, Y). The values update dynamically as you move the mouse or finger across the drawing canvas.
- Useful for verifying locations before clicking
- Coordinates reflect the active User Coordinate System if one is defined
Grid¶
Toggles the visibility of the background grid overlay.
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ON | Grid lines are displayed at the configured spacing |
| OFF | Grid lines are hidden; drawing area is blank |
The grid serves as a visual reference for alignment and proportions. Grid spacing can be configured in the Format Panel.
Tip
The grid does not affect cursor movement unless Snap is also enabled.
Snap¶
Controls whether the cursor snaps to grid points at defined intervals.
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ON | Cursor jumps to the nearest grid intersection when drawing or editing |
| OFF | Cursor moves freely without grid constraint |
When to use
Enable Snap when you need consistent spacing (e.g., placing holes at regular intervals). Disable it for freehand placement or when using Osnap instead.
Ortho¶
Restricts cursor movement to orthogonal directions (horizontal and vertical only).
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ON | Lines and movements constrained to 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° |
| OFF | Cursor moves at any angle |
Drawing straight lines
Enable Ortho when drawing horizontal/vertical lines to ensure they are perfectly straight without needing to type exact coordinates.
Isometric Mode¶
Enables isometric drawing mode for creating pseudo-3D representations on a 2D sheet. When active:
- Grid and crosshairs align to isometric axes (30°, 90°, 150°)
- Ortho mode constrains to isometric directions instead of horizontal/vertical
- Ideal for isometric projections in engineering drawing
Learn more about isometric drawing in the Isometric Projection tutorial.
Entity Tracking (Otrack)¶
Activates Object Tracking to display temporary alignment paths based on existing geometry. When hovering over a snap point, Otrack extends guide lines along horizontal, vertical, or isometric directions from that point.
| State | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ON | Alignment paths appear when you hover over snap-eligible points |
| OFF | No tracking paths displayed |
Combine with Osnap
Otrack works best when Osnap is also enabled. Hover over an endpoint or midpoint to establish a tracking reference, then move away — VektorCAD draws a guide line you can snap to.
Entity Snap (Osnap)¶
Turns Object Snap on or off. When active, the cursor automatically snaps to key geometric points on existing entities.
Supported snap modes:
| Snap Point | Description |
|---|---|
| Endpoint | Start or end of a line, arc, or spline segment |
| Midpoint | Center of a line or arc |
| Center | Center of a circle, arc, or ellipse |
| Intersection | Where two entities cross |
| Perpendicular | Nearest point forming a 90° angle |
| Tangent | Point of tangency on a circle or arc |
| Nearest | Closest point on any entity |
Essential for precision
Osnap is the most important drafting aid for accurate drawings. Keep it enabled to ensure your geometry connects precisely at intended points.
Custom snap modes can be configured in the Format Panel settings.