Coordinate system and origin

When working in CAD, you are working in a 3D environment (even in WYSIWYG Report). Objects are drawn as 3D objects, with width, depth, and height values using the Cartesian coordinate system of 3 working axes X, Y, and Z. The point where the 3 axes meet is called the origin and the value of X, Y, and Z is 0 respectively (0,0,0).

By default, the origin is set at the center point of the WYSIWYG venue that you insert. Inserting venues is discussed in Drawing a venue. You can set the origin to another point in your drawing; this point becomes the User Origin and assumes the (0,0,0) coordinate value until it is reset, and the default Document Origin assumes the (0,0,0) coordinate once more.

To set the user origin
  1. From the Tools menu, choose Set User Origin.

Tip: You can also use the Set User Origin tool on the Tools toolbar.

inset_63.jpgThe Set User Origin button.

  1. Click a point on your drawing or type in the coordinates (X,Y,Z) that will assume the values 0,0,0. This point will remain 0,0,0 until you change it again.
To reset the user origin
  1. From the Tools menu, choose Reset User Origin.

Result: This resets the origin back to the WYSIWYG default.

Coordinate notation

When entering coordinates in WYSIWYG, you can specify a location or distance in either inch fractions (to the sixteenth of an inch) or millimeters. For example, you can specify a measurement of 1’6”3/16, which translates to 1 foot, 6 and 3/16 inches.

To set default options
  1. From the Options menu, choose Document Options.
  2. Click the Draw Defaults tab.

DocumentOptionsDraw.png 

  1. Based on your choice for measurement in the Units section, you can choose to display the drawing resolution in whole numbers, fractions, centimeters, or millimeters.
  1. Click OK.