Origin and Co-ordinate Box
The origin (0,0) is the point shown with a small circle on the lower-left
corner of the program. The co-ordinates defined with respect to this point are the
global co-coordinates. The horizontal axis passing from the origin is the X
axis, and the vertical axis passing from
the origin is the Y axis.
The co-ordinate system is used by the parameters X(abscissa), Y(ordinate),
A(angle), L(length). The tool that these parameters are located is the co-ordinate
box. As the mouse cursor moves on the drawing area, the values in the
co-ordinate box change. The co-ordinate data of the cursor position can be observed
from the co-ordinate box.
X on the co-ordinate box is used in the definition of X axis coordinate info,
Y in the definition of Y axis co-ordinate info, L in the definition of length
info and A in the definition of angle info.
The values of the parameters X, Y, L can be used in meters or centimeters. To
access m and cm commands, the related command icons should be activated. For
this;
Click Tools/Customize/Customize.
Open the Category(Toolst/Customize/Customize/Commands) list.
Select Assist.
Drag and leave the command icons cm and m on an appropriate toolbar.
Click Ok to exit the Customize dialog. The m icon is in pressed state. For
this reason the values in the co-ordinate box are in meters. The values to be
entered in the co-ordinate box will be perceived in meters.
To change the unit to cm, click the cm icon. Now, the values in the
co-ordinate box will be displayed in centimeters. The values to be entered in the
co-ordinate box will be perceived in meters.
The parameter A is angle, and its unit is degrees.
To enter values in the co-ordinate box, click the keys X, Y, L or A from the
keyboard, or left-click the related boxes by the mouse. Enter the value when
the cursor is in the box and press enter from the keyboard. The related box will
turn in red color. That means that it is locked in the entered value. If you
move the mouse cursor on the drawing area the unlocked values will change but the
locked value will remain constant. The parameters X and Y or L and A can be
used together by this logic.
Objects like column and single footing does not require length info. When
defining such objects, a single point is clicked. Besides, objects like line, wall
and beam can be defined by two points because they have two points. Every point
to be defined on the working area can be defined by the co-ordinate system. To
define an object having a length either “the initial and the end point
co-ordinate values” or “one point co-ordinate, length and angle values” must be
known.
respectively, L1 the length and A1 the angle of the object.
Click the object command to enter object drawing mode.
When you are in the object drawing mode press the X key, enter the X1 value
and press enter.
Press the Y key, enter the Y1 value and press enter.
Left-click any point on the drawing area. The cursor will snap on the locked
point.
The program will now wait you to enter the location of the second point. As
the cursor moves on the drawing area, the virtual image of the object will also
change depending on the motion of the cursor.
Press the X key, enter the X2 value and press enter.
Press the Y key, enter the Y2 value and press enter.
Click any point on the drawing area.
The object will be generated on the given co-ordinates.
Press Esc to exit the mode. The object drawing will be completed.
If you want you can use the parameters A and L instead of X and Y, when
defining the second point.
Press the A key and enter the A1 value.
Press enter to lock on the entered value.
Press the L key and enter the L1 value.
Press enter to lock on the entered value.
Click any point on the drawing area to complete the procedure. Press Esc to
exit the object drawing mode.
In the figure above, (X1,Y1) are the co-ordinates of the object.
Click first the object from the Draw menu to enter the object mode.
Press X from the keyboard, enter the value X1 and press enter.
Press Y, enter the value X1 and press enter.
Left-click on the drawing area. The cursor will snap on the point locked in
the co-ordinate box. Left-click or press enter to end object drawing. Click Esc
to exit the object drawing mode.
You can define such an object on the plane with the angle you want as well.
First click the related object command. The cursor will get in the object
mode.
Click X from the keyboard, enter the X1 value and press enter.
Click Y from the keyboard, enter the Y1 value and press enter.
Left-click on the drawing area. The cursor will snap on the point locked in
the co-ordinate box.
Click A from the keyboard at this stage. Enter the angle value in degrees and
press enter. Left-click once again on the drawing area. The object will be
placed in thedrawing area with the entered angle.
Click Esc to exit the mode.
The co-ordinate values entered in the co-ordinate box are with respect to the
global origin unless the opposite is stated. The user may work according to
local co-ordinates in any step of the project. Working according to local
co-ordinates means, to carry the origin at any point on the drawing area. By means of
this process, the user does not have to deal with large co-ordinate values. i.e.
the co-ordinate values X and Y entered in the co-ordinate box can be with
respect to any point desired on the drawing area.
To define a local origin, the Set New Origin command is used. Click Tools/Snap/Set New Origin before entering co-ordinate data and, click an appropriate point. Then enter
co-ordinate data with respect to the set local origin.
When local origin is defined, the program checks the check-boxes in front of X
and Y in the co-ordinate box. These signs show that you work in local
co-ordinates. As far as the signs exist, the entered co-ordinate values are local
values. If the check-boxes are not checked you work in global co-ordinates. The user
can check or uncheck these boxes anytime. To check or uncheck the boxes, the G
key from the keyboard can be pressed as well.