How to align docking ports in the VAB?

[OOZ662]

I feel like there's something extremely simple I'm missing here. So simple that I apparently can't get Google or the forum search to figure out what I want.

I can't get docking ports to snap to anything in the VAB. No matter what, they wander around in a "free placement" sort of style.

I'm trying to build "fuel rods" to dock to a simple refueling station; essentially a probe body, two fuel tanks, an RCS tank and blocks, basic electrics, and a docking port. I want to place this on the general lifting engine stack that I've been using for all my launches thus far.

In my mind, the stack would go like this:

Probe Body

Battery

RCS Tank (radial RCS Blocks)

Fuel Tank (Radial simple solar panels)

Fuel Tank

Docking Port

Decoupler

Top fuel tank of generic launch stack

But, no matter what I do, I can't seem to get the docking port lined up (as it won't snap to anything), resulting in a slight wonk in a really tall stack and thus a rocket that constantly wants to fly a bit sideways. That can't be intentional and I swear I've seen videos of people using in-line docking ports like that before.

Edited October 18, 2013 by OOZ662

[KatzOhki]

I was thinking you wanted it on the side of something. Ok so the trick is to first have snap angle turned on. Then get your view so that you're looking at the craft straight on from the side. Pull the docking port up underneath where you want it slowly and it should snap into position. Click to place

[MassiveEffectz]

Make sure the green circles align with the part you are placing and the part you are attaching to.

Some parts can be radialy attached and that is whats happening.

Change your camera angle as well in the VAB (using your mouse) and try to clicp the 2 green orbs together and they should lock in place.

Make sure you have the setting to snap at angles.

[OOZ662]

Yup, that's about as simple as I figured it'd be. I didn't think of looking at something side-on in order to place it; I was rotating the view to be looking up from underneath, and apparently it won't snap down there.

Thanks for your time, regardless.

[lajoswinkler]

I was thinking you wanted it on the side of something. Ok so the trick is to first have snap angle turned on. Then get your view so that you're looking at the craft straight on from the side. Pull the docking port up underneath where you want it slowly and it should snap into position. Click to place

^^this. That's all you need to know, OP.