Extend - Wrong End Of Line

As Brent writes the behavior is depending what settings are active for the tool. Actually that is true for any tool. It is crucial to check the settings for the tool you use. Almost all functions allow several methods and settings that change the behavior of he tool.
To find out more about the tool that you have currently activated - click in the ToolSettings dialog (the one with the wrench icon) and then press F1 - this opens the Help page for the particular command.

Hi David,

Next to the above suggestions, I was wondering if the element that you want to extend really is a line. In case your element looks like a line, but in fact is a line string (smartline), it could well be that the end you are clicking close to, in fact contains more than one vertex point (or several short close to each other). In such case, the element could also extend in the unexpected direction of the closest open end. Depending on the version of MicroStation you have, this effect may be stronger.

hth.

Henk

Maybe I'm misinterpreting what you're trying to do, but if you're trying to extend a line from one end - snap to that endpoint. I don't know why you're not "snapping to anything," but it sounds like this is the crux of your problem. Please advise if I'm missing the point and what you want MS to do in this scenario.

And pay attention to your snap toggles too, you may not THINK you're snapping to anything - but it sounds like it's very possible that you're inadvertently snapping to the midpoint of your line.

DavidF.,

thanks again, you are a mstn god.

that is exactly what is happening - snaps were turned on (I usually do have them on), and I was zoomed in close to the end I wanted to manipulate so that I knew it was ending exactly where I have to end it. so I never saw it grab the midpoint. well, actually the _center_ - according to what icon flashes on when the snap grabbs the midpoint of the line.

which brings up another point - why, when I was 0.5 units away from an end point, and I had snaps set to Intersection/Keypoint/Center, does it grab the midpoint 249.5 units away? how can I force it to choose whatever is closest to snap to? I don't want to have to toggle snaps on/off (unless I have to), interrupting a good work pace by having to go click a toggle is counterproductive.

or is there a way to turn snaps off for certain commands? like extend - why would a person need to use a snap here when we are already given a selection tool to use when the command is invoked? I'd rather have it be off (automatically).

that multisnap (II) is bound to catch the "center" if you are not in snapping distance to the snaps set. So as there is no 1. "intersection" and 2. also no "keypoint" near the cursor it snaps to the center of the element. Very good for e.g. circles. I recommend you to use multisnap I (intersect,keypoint, nearest). The centersnap I rather would use only explicitly. Mostly pressing the AccuSnap shortcut "C" just when I need to catch the center. If you are not in the snapping distance set in the accusnap settings and still want to "jump" to the nearest keypoint you require to left/right mouseclick (tentative)

90% of the  time I just have  keypoint snap double click locked as my default and I stopped using the multisnaps as it caused me the same issues..

and for Center or intersection  I use  keyboard C or i , for tangents etc  I just  choose the snap tool needed.... this makes me  more productive and less complex options..

sure multisnaps are great feature  but  for me I found them to be more trouble than they  were  worth...

90% of the  time I just have  keypoint snap double click locked as my default and I stopped using the multisnaps as it caused me the same issues..

and for Center or intersection  I use  keyboard C or i , for tangents etc  I just  choose the snap tool needed.... this makes me  more productive and less complex options..

sure multisnaps are great feature  but  for me I found them to be more trouble than they  were  worth...

Something else to add. I like using Multisnaps. The ones I have set on are Keypoint, Nearest and Intersection. I don't use Center but instead have my Snap Divisor set to 2. That way I can easily snap the center or midpoint of a line. Another tip that was posted several years ago is to set Keypoint Sensitivity to it's highest setting, or all the way to the + sign on the right. This can be found under Settings>Snaps>Accusnap. Look under the Feel tab. hth, Eric