Coordinate Entry (F8) (Extra Menu)

Using this command, specific numeric coordinates can be entered, instead of using the mouse.

The coordinates are entered in a dialog window. Direct coordinate entry can also be called by clicking the left mouse button in the status window, by pressing the F8 key, or (if using the standard keyboard assignments) by pressing ENTER.

During entry, the input focus can be moved using the TAB key. The value or value pair that is active when confirming the input will be used to calculate the final coordinates.

When the cursor is inside an edit control, you can press the "Arrow Up" key to invoke a term evaluation of what is currently entered into the edit control. If a partial text is marked at that moment only this text is evaluated. Press the "Arrow Down" key to display a list of the most recently entered texts. These functions are also available in any other numerical entry field!

The following values are usable during the input:

x

Absolute X-coordinate

y

Absolute Y-coordinate

l

Length, amount of a polar coordinate

r

Radius (same as l)

a

Angle (also accessible as w for German "Winkel")

Examples

The following examples illustrate the most important input variants. Not all variants shown are always available. Relative angles and relative lengths can only be entered if there is an obvious reference. If need be, attention is drawn to this in the description of the relevant command in this manual.

Standard Coordinate Entry

How can I access information on this dialog?

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 100

A point is inserted at the coordinates (150;100) with reference to the current coordinate system.

- Absolute -

x= 100+30/4

y= 7*18

A point is inserted at the coordinates (107.5;126) with reference to the current coordinate system.

- Absolute -

x= x+150

y= y+100

A point is inserted 150 Units to the right of the reference point and 100 units above the reference point.

- Relative -

w= 0

h= 100

A point is inserted 100 Units to the right of the reference point.

If the current view is rotated, the results of x=x+value and w=value are not identical! While x=x+value denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=value always creates an offset that goes to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+value and h=value vertically.

Angle= 45

Length= 2*50

A point is inserted 100 units at an angle of 45° from the reference point.

- Absolute -

x= 15cm

y= 10cm

A point with the coordinates (15 cm;10 cm) with reference to the current coordinate system is inserted - independent of the current unit.

Radius Entry

Radius= 15

The object to be entered is given a radius of 15 units.

Radius= r+10

The object to be entered is given a radius 10 units larger than the reference object.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 100

A point is inserted at coordinates (150;100) with reference to the current coordinate system.

- Relative -

w= 150

h= 100

A point is inserted 150 units to the right of the reference point and 100 units above the reference point. The reference point is the center point of the previously entered object.

Length Entry

How can I access information on this dialog?

An arrow is shown at the bottom of the dialog window. This arrow shows the current direction for length measurements. Positive lengths run in the direction of the arrow, negative lengths in the opposite direction.

Offset= 30

The object to be entered is given a length of 30 units. The length is entered in the direction which the arrow in the dialog shows.

Offset= -50mm

The object to be entered is given a length of 50 mm - regardless of the current unit. The length is entered in the opposite direction to that in which the arrow in the dialog shows.

Arc Length Entry

Arc Length= 30

The circle arc will have an arc length of 30 units. The arc length will be calculated in positive (counterclockwise) direction, even if this is opposite to the current arc direction - in this case, the circle arc will have a gap with an arc length of 30 units.

Arc Length= -50mm

The circle arc is given an arc length of 50 mm - regardless of the current unit. The arc length will be calculated in negative (clockwise) direction, even if this is opposite to the current arc direction - in this case, the circle arc will have a gap with an arc length of 50 mm.

Angle and Length Entry

Angle= 30

Length= 120

The object has an angle of 30° and a length of 120 units.

Term Evaluation

In any numerical entry field, such as the coordinate entry or the entry of a rotation angle, you can state a mathematical term instead of an explicit number. Please refer to Mathematical Terms for details.

Case-Specific Examples

Start Point at Line > Standard:

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

These entries both describe the point with an X-coordinate of 150 and a Y-coordinate of 200.

Angle= 45

Length= 60

This entry describes the location of a point 60 units at a direction of 45° from the origin. The polar coordinates are calculated relative to the origin because there is no reference point.

End Point at Line > Standard:

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

These entries both describe the point with an X-coordinate of 150 and a Y-coordinate of 200.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

or

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

These entries describe a point whose position is 50 units to the right of and 100 units above the lines start point. The relative coordinates are calculated relative to the start point of the line.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.

Angle= 45

Length= 60

This entry describes the location of a point 60 units at a direction of 45° from the start point of the line. The polar coordinates are calculated relative to the start point of the line.

End Point at a Polyline:

At least the start point and end point have already been entered.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

These entries describe a point with an X-coordinate of 150 and a Y-coordinate of 200.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

These entries describe the position of a point 50 units to the right of the current part line's start point and 100 units above it. The relative coordinates are calculated relative to the current line's start point.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.

Angle= 45

Length= 60

This entry describes the location of a point 60 units at a direction of 45° from the start point of the part line. The polar coordinates are calculated relative to the start point of the part line.

Angle= a+45

Length= l

This entry describes the end point of a part line with an angle of 45° relative to the previous part line and whose length is the same as the preceding part line. Angles and lengths are calculated relative to the preceding part line.

Length entered with Trim Object > Length to Point:

A line is selected as the object to be trimmed. An arrow is shown at the bottom of dialog window. This arrow shows the current direction for length measurements. Positive lengths run in the direction of the arrow, negative lengths in the opposite direction.

Length= 80

The selected end of the line is moved so that the line has a length of 80 units. The length is measured from the other end of the line in the direction indicated by the arrow in the dialog.

Length= l+20

The selected end of the line is moved so that the line is lengthened by 20 units.

Length= 2*l

The selected end of the line is moved so that the length of the line doubles.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

The line ends at the foot of a perpendicular dropped from a point with the X-coordinate 150 and the Y-coordinate 200 on to the reference straight line.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

or

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

The line ends at the foot of a perpendicular dropped onto the reference straight line from a point 50 units to the right and 100 units above its start point. The relative coordinates are relative to the start point of the line.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.

Radius entered with Circle > Concentric:

A circle is selected as a reference object.

Radius= 50

The circle is given a radius of 50 units.

Radius= r+20

The circle is given a radius, 20 units larger than the reference circle.

Radius= 2*r

The circle is given a radius twice as large as that of the reference circle.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

The circle runs through the point at the X-coordinate 150 and the Y-coordinate 200.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

or

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

The circle runs through a point 50 units to the right and 100 units above the center of the reference circle.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.

Angle entered with Trim Object > Angle to Point:

A circle arc is selected as the object to be trimmed.

Angle= 45

The selected end of the circle arc is lengthened or shortened to an angle of 45°.

Angle= a+10

The selected end of the circle arc is moved by 10° counterclockwise.

Angle= a-15

The selected end of the circle arc is moved by 15° clockwise.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

The selected end of the circle arc has its position determined by the X-coordinate 150 and the Y-coordinate 200.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

or

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

The selected end of the circle arc has its position determined by a point 50 units to the right of and 100 units above the center of the reference circle.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.

Combined Angle and Length entry with Line > Perpendicular:

A circle is selected as the reference object.

Angle= 30

Length= 100

The perpendicular runs 100 units from the circle at an angle of 30°.

- Absolute -

x= 150

y= 200

The perpendicular ends at the point with the X-coordinate 150 and the Y-coordinate 200.

- Absolute -

x= x+50

y= y+100

or

- Relative -

w= 50

h= 100

The perpendicular ends at a point 50 units to the right of and 100 units above the center of the reference circle.

If the current view is rotated, the result is not identical in these two cases! While x=x+50 denotes an offset in the direction of the X axis (which does not necessarily run horizontally to the right when the view is rotated), w=50 always creates an offset that goes 50 units to the right (regardless of the rotation of the view). The same applies to y=y+100 and h=100 vertically.