What are Current Axes?

When viewing and manipulating map data, the axes origin is usually left at the coordinate system origin.

However for greater flexibility when editing graphics, you can use SIS 9 Desktop to re-locate the Cartesian axes origin to any position in 3-dimensional space.

You can also rotate it to any angle.

Note: The ability to move the origin of your coordinate system enables the input of data ( for instance from a measured survey) in coordinates relative to a known benchmark position.

  1. Select Move (View > Axes) and either snap a position on the map or type a coordinate in the current axes for the location of the new origin.
  2. You will now notice the axes symbol placed at that position; it rotates as you move the cursor.
  3. Unless you want to align the axes with a certain map feature, press Enter to release the cursor.
  4. The axes symbol will be displayed on the map. (This is a non-printing symbol).
  5. You may choose whether or not to display the axes by selecting Show (View > Axes).
  6. Any absolute coordinates entered from now on will be relative to this position and orientation.
  7. Generally you will only move the axes origin temporarily to simplify the coordinates for a particular operation. Reset (View > Axes) will return the axes to the normal origin.
  8. The axes may be rotated using Rotate (View > Axes) which enables you to set any angle from -360° to 360°. The orientation of the Axes affects some construction commands (e.g. Rectangle (Create > Advanced) and LineString (Create > Simple) with the Ortho option).