UCS (Command)¶

Moves the User Coordinate System (UCS) to any position on the sheet and optionally rotates the X-axis. All coordinate input, grid display, and Ortho directions follow the active UCS.

Quick start

Toolbar > Tools > UCS, or type UCS in the Command Panel

Why Use UCS?¶

Scenario	Benefit
Drawing at an angle (e.g., rotated building wing)	Align UCS to the angled geometry so Ortho and grid follow the local axis
Working far from the sheet origin	Move UCS origin closer to the work area for simpler coordinates
Returning to default orientation	Reset to World to restore standard X/Y directions

Prompts¶

Prompt	Description
Specify origin point [World/Rotate]	Pick a new origin for the UCS, or choose an option

Options¶

Option	Description
Specify point (default)	Move the UCS origin to the clicked or typed location
World	Reset the UCS to the default position (lower-left corner of the sheet, standard X/Y orientation)
Rotate	Rotate the UCS X-axis by a specified angle

Move UCS Origin¶

Pick a new origin point to relocate the UCS:

Command: UCS
Specify origin point [World/Rotate]: 100,50    --> UCS origin moves to (100, 50)

After moving, all coordinate input is relative to the new origin. For example, typing 0,0 now refers to the point (100, 50) in World coordinates.

Input method	Example
Mouse click	Click the new origin position
Coordinates	`100,50` -- moves UCS origin to that World location
Snap to geometry	Snap to a corner, center, or intersection for precise placement

World (Reset)¶

Resets the UCS to the default World Coordinate System:

Command: UCS
Specify origin point [World/Rotate]: World      --> UCS returns to sheet origin (0,0)

The origin returns to the lower-left corner of the sheet with standard horizontal X-axis and vertical Y-axis.

Tip

Use World when you finish working in a local coordinate system and want to return to the default orientation.

Rotate¶

Rotates the UCS X-axis by a specified angle. The origin stays in its current position:

Command: UCS
Specify origin point [World/Rotate]: Rotate
Specify rotation: 45                      --> X-axis now points at 45 degrees

Angle	Result
`0`	Standard horizontal X-axis
`45`	X-axis rotated 45 degrees CCW
`90`	X-axis points upward (swaps X and Y behavior)
`-30`	X-axis rotated 30 degrees clockwise

Note

After rotating, Ortho constrains to the rotated axes, Grid aligns to the rotated system, and coordinate input follows the new X/Y directions.

What UCS Affects¶

Feature	Effect of UCS change
Coordinate input	`0,0` refers to the UCS origin; relative coords follow UCS axes
Ortho mode	Constrains to UCS X and Y directions
Grid display	Grid aligns to the UCS origin and rotation
Polar tracking	Angles measured from the UCS X-axis
Drawing commands	New entities created in UCS orientation
Cursor crosshairs	Rotate to match the UCS axes

Examples¶

Draw Along a 30-Degree Wall¶

Type UCS, choose Rotate, enter 30
Enable Ortho in the Status Bar
Draw lines -- Ortho now follows the 30-degree and 120-degree directions
When done, type UCS > W to reset

Move Origin to a Building Corner¶

Type UCS
Snap to the corner of the building -- UCS origin moves there
All coordinates are now relative to that corner (e.g., 10,5 = 10 units right and 5 units up from the corner)

Combine Move and Rotate¶

Type UCS, click a new origin point
Type UCS again, choose Rotate, enter the desired angle
The UCS is now both relocated and rotated

Best Practices¶

Practice	Benefit
Move UCS close to the work area	Simpler coordinates and fewer large numbers
Rotate UCS to match angled geometry	Ortho and grid align to local axes
Reset to World when finished	Avoid confusion on subsequent tasks
Snap the origin to existing geometry	Precise UCS placement
Use UCS with Ortho for angled drafting	Straight lines along non-standard angles

Quick Reference¶

Task	Input
Start UCS command	`UCS` or Toolbar > Tools > UCS
Move UCS origin	Click or type new origin coordinates
Reset to World	`UCS` > `W`
Rotate UCS	`UCS` > `R` > enter angle
Snap origin to geometry	Enable Osnap, click on entity

See also: Point Input | Angle Input | Status Bar | Format Panel