Coordinates Palette

Note: The Coordinates Palette is not visible by default. To show it, choose its name from the Window > Palettes menu.

Use the context menu to display this palette in horizontal/vertical or extended/compact form.

From left to right, the Coordinates Palette contains the following controls:

  • User Origin: Resets the zero point to a user-defined location. Click this button and place the Origin anywhere on the Floor Plan.
    Note: To return the User Origin to the Project Origin, double-click the User Origin button.

    For more information, see Origins.

  • Set Rotated Grid: Click Rotated Grid button, then draw a vector on the Floor Plan to specify the angle of the rotated grid. Note: To return to the ‘normal’ grid, use the Grid Switch button.
  • Switch Orthogonal/Rotated Grid: Select the Rotated Grid option to switch to the rotated grid or the Normal Grid option to switch to the horizontal/vertical grid.
  • Grid Snap: Select one of these three options to control Grid Snapping:
    • Grid Snapping OFF
    • Snapping to the Snap Grid
    • Snapping to the Construction Grid

      For more information, see Snap to Grid.

  • Absolute/Relative: Switch the delta button ON to display and enter relative X and Y coordinates (for Cartesian coordinates) and radial/angle coordinates (for polar coordinates).

    Absolute values show the horizontal, vertical, radial and angular distance of the cursor from the Project Origin or a User Origin but never from an Edit Origin.

    Relative values show the horizontal, vertical, radial and angular position of the cursor relative either to the Project Origin, to a User Origin before any element is begun, or to an Edit Origin once a drafting or editing process is under way.

In general, viewing Absolute Cartesian and Relative Polar coordinates provides the most information, and is the most useful under normal circumstances.

  • Gravity: Optionally, choose to place elements atop Slabs, Meshes, Shells and Roofs.

    Gravity.png

    See Gravity.

  • Elevation: The “z” field in the Coordinates Palette displays the elevation at which elements will be placed. The pop-up lets you define the reference level from which this value should be measured: the Project Zero, the current Story (or in 3D, the User Origin), or one of the optional Reference Levels defined in Options > Project Preferences > Reference Levels.

    See Reference Levels Preferences.


    ZElevation.png