Coordinates
Moves, rotates and scales the selected objects or the whole project by numbers, or fits them to the right place from pairs of control points.
Coordinates
Opens the Coordinates window. You choose which objects change and how, check a preview of where points go, and apply the change in one undo step.
Where to find it
Tools tab → Calculate group → Coordinates (Coordinates).
Before you start
- Select the objects to change, or choose The whole project in the window. When something is selected the window starts on Selected objects, otherwise on The whole project.
- Objects on locked layers are never changed; they are counted and skipped.
How to
- Click Coordinates.
- In section 1, choose Objects and the Kind of change: Move, Rotate, Scale or Fit by control points.
- Fill in the parameters of section 2 (see below).
- Check section 3, Preview. The window follows the selection and the project, so the preview and the hint at the bottom update as you type.
- When the hint reads "Ready: N object(s) change.", click Apply. Ctrl+Z puts the objects back.
The summary then shows Changed: N, skipped on locked layers: M.
1. What to change
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Objects | Selected objects or The whole project |
| Kind of change | Move, Rotate, Scale, Fit by control points |
2. Parameters
Move
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shift by X, m / Y, m / Z, m | Shift along each axis, in metres. Default 0 |
Rotate
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| About the point X, Y, Z (m) | The centre of the turn. Default 0 |
| Centre of the objects | Puts the point at the centre of the box round the objects |
| Angle | In degrees, counter-clockwise seen from the end of the axis. Default 0 |
| Axis | Vertical (Z), X or Y |
Scale
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| About the point X, Y, Z (m) | The fixed point of the scaling; Centre of the objects fills it in |
| Scale | Uniform or Per axis. Per axis moves the points of the objects only; their sizes stay |
| Factor | One factor for a uniform scale (X field), three factors X, Y, Z for per axis. Default 1 |
A uniform factor must be positive. A per-axis factor must not be zero.
Fit by control points
Use it to move objects to a known position when you know where some points are now and where they must be.
Type one pair per line in the text box: x y z X Y Z (where the point is now, then where it must be), or x y X Y for plan only. Separate numbers with spaces, tabs, commas or semicolons; the decimal mark is a dot. A line starting with # is skipped.
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fit | In plan: a turn about the vertical axis and a shift. In space: a rigid motion, which needs three points not on one line |
At least two pairs are needed. With two pairs, or when the points lie on a line, the fit is made in plan. In plan the height shift is the mean difference of heights. The preview lists each control point, where it goes, and how far it is off, then the mean square error and the largest error in metres.
Preview
For Move, Rotate and Scale the list shows up to five sample points of the objects as old → new. For a fit it shows the control points.
If something goes wrong
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| A field does not hold a number. | Correct the field |
| A uniform scale factor must be positive. | Use a positive factor or switch to Per axis |
| A scale factor must not be zero. | Change the factor |
| Line N: a number cannot be read. | Fix the line in the control points |
| Line N: expected 6 numbers (x y z, then X Y Z) or 4 (x y, then X Y). | Give 6 or 4 numbers per line |
| Give at least two pairs of control points. | Add a pair |
| The control points coincide; they cannot give a direction. | Use points that are apart |
| Select objects first, or choose the whole project. | Select objects or change Objects |
| The project has no objects. | Nothing to change |
| All the objects are on locked layers. | Unlock the layer |
| The values leave the objects as they are. | Enter a non-trivial change |