Alan Cullen
10-10-2008, 09:21 AM
Seeing as how this issue came up this week, I decided to place here the FAQ I wrote on this topic.......
How do I enter coordinates in AutoCAD?
Coordinates can be entered as Absolute, Relative, Polar, or as Direct Entry.
Absolute coordinates are the X, Y and Z values of a point based on the Origin point (0,0,0) in the current UCS.
Relative coordinates are the X, Y and Z value of a point relative to the last point entered.
Polar coordinates are input as Distance and Angle, and can be either Absolute or Relative, as explained for Absolute and Relative above.
The default for AutoCAD is to input coordinates as Absolute, and Relative coordinates need to be preceded by a "@" sign.
Absolute coordinates are entered as X,Y
Relative coordinates are entered as @X,Y
Absolute Polar coordinates are entered as DIST<ANGLE
Relative Polar coordinates are entered as @DIST<ANGLE
In AutoCAD Release 2006 Dynamic Input was introduce, which gives the possibility to change the default way to enter coordinates. By having Dynamic Input activated and the variable DYNPICOORDS set to 0, the default way to enter coordinates is Relative, and Absolute coordinates need to be preceded by a "#" sign. The method used to enter coordinates is then as follows:
Absolute coordinates are entered as #X,Y
Relative coordinates are entered as X,Y
Absolute Polar coordinates are entered as #DIST<ANGLE
Relative Polar coordinates are entered as DIST<ANGLE
For more information on the system variables DYNMODE and DYNPICOORDS, refer AutoCAD help.
Direct Entry is input as Angle and Distance. However, instead of entering a value for the Angle, the cursor is dragged in the direction of the required Angle, and the Distance is simply typed in at the command line, the Distance entered is always a Relative value, as explained above.
It is recommended to use Polar Tracking or Ortho to get the exact angle required.
COORDINATE INPUT USING RELATIVE COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:@2.5,5
321
COORDINATE INPUT USING ABSOLUTE COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:-5,8
322
COORDINATE INPUT USING RELATIVE POLAR COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:@10<306D34’45”
323
COORDINATE INPUT USING ABSOLUTE POLAR COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:10<210D30’00”
324
How do I enter coordinates in AutoCAD?
Coordinates can be entered as Absolute, Relative, Polar, or as Direct Entry.
Absolute coordinates are the X, Y and Z values of a point based on the Origin point (0,0,0) in the current UCS.
Relative coordinates are the X, Y and Z value of a point relative to the last point entered.
Polar coordinates are input as Distance and Angle, and can be either Absolute or Relative, as explained for Absolute and Relative above.
The default for AutoCAD is to input coordinates as Absolute, and Relative coordinates need to be preceded by a "@" sign.
Absolute coordinates are entered as X,Y
Relative coordinates are entered as @X,Y
Absolute Polar coordinates are entered as DIST<ANGLE
Relative Polar coordinates are entered as @DIST<ANGLE
In AutoCAD Release 2006 Dynamic Input was introduce, which gives the possibility to change the default way to enter coordinates. By having Dynamic Input activated and the variable DYNPICOORDS set to 0, the default way to enter coordinates is Relative, and Absolute coordinates need to be preceded by a "#" sign. The method used to enter coordinates is then as follows:
Absolute coordinates are entered as #X,Y
Relative coordinates are entered as X,Y
Absolute Polar coordinates are entered as #DIST<ANGLE
Relative Polar coordinates are entered as DIST<ANGLE
For more information on the system variables DYNMODE and DYNPICOORDS, refer AutoCAD help.
Direct Entry is input as Angle and Distance. However, instead of entering a value for the Angle, the cursor is dragged in the direction of the required Angle, and the Distance is simply typed in at the command line, the Distance entered is always a Relative value, as explained above.
It is recommended to use Polar Tracking or Ortho to get the exact angle required.
COORDINATE INPUT USING RELATIVE COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:@2.5,5
321
COORDINATE INPUT USING ABSOLUTE COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:-5,8
322
COORDINATE INPUT USING RELATIVE POLAR COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:@10<306D34’45”
323
COORDINATE INPUT USING ABSOLUTE POLAR COORDINATES
Command: line
Specify first point: (PICK BASE POINT 3,4)
Specify next point or [Undo]:10<210D30’00”
324