Relative Coordinates is a feature that allows you to define an alternative reference point for the coordinate information displayed on the Status Bar. A normal mode of working would be in Absolute (mode) where the coordinates are referenced from the System Origin. You switch between Absolute to Relative modes by double-clicking on the word Abs (or Rel once toggled) on the Status Bar.
By positioning a Relative Coordinate Origin and enabling Relative Coordinates you are able to have the coordinate information shown relative to your chosen point.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: Shift+R
Command: Relative Coords
Default Keys: Shift+X
Command: Set Relative Origin
Default Keys: None
Command: Place Relative Origin
Default Keys: None
Command: Reset Delta Coords
Locating this option
Available from: Setup menu > Design Settings > Coordinate System tab
How to Switch between Absolute/Relative Coordinates
Simply press the assigned shortcut key, by default Shift+R, to toggle between the display of absolute and relative coordinates.
You can also double-click on the word Abs (or Rel once toggled) on the Status Bar.
Note: The coordinates will only appear different if the relative coordinate origin has been positioned at a different point to the design coordinate system origin.
Setting the Relative Origin interactively
There are two commands for setting the origin position interactively, both of which also switch to using relative coordinates.
- Place Relative Origin allows you to place the origin, invoking this command will put the origin symbol dynamically on the cursor. You click to place the origin as required.
- Set Relative Origin will set the origin position. If you have an single item selected, the origin is set to the position of that selected item. If you have two crossing construction lines selected, the origin is set to their intersection. Otherwise the origin is set to the current cursor position.
Delta Coordinates
If the moving item was originally in the design, “dx” and “dy” are shown on the status bar to give the offset from the original position of the item. You can use the command Reset Delta Coords to reset the “dx” and “dy” values on the status bar to be (0,0) at the current moving item position. This command will need to be put on a key using the Customise dialog on the Tools menu in order to use it.
Related Topics
Construction Lines | Design Settings | Relative Coordinate Origin | Reset Delta Coords | Find Relative Origin | General Options - Apply Relative Coordinates | Status Bar