The center of a new Vectorworks drawing has fixed coordinates of (0,0); this location is called the internal origin. A user origin also exists; drawing coordinates display relative to the user origin. In a new drawing, the internal origin, the user origin, and the page center are all coincident at (0,0). While the internal origin cannot move, the user origin and page center can be moved.
Depending on the design needs, and for some imported files (to maintain the imported file’s coordinates), the user origin needs to shift so that the user origin and the internal origin are in different locations.
One reason to change the origin is to make it easier to work with coordinates, measurements, and distance values. For example, the Swiss use a reference point system for architectural measurements, where everything is in relation to a point in Europe. When a building is located at a site, that site is referenced to be a certain distance and direction from this point. Using this system creates large numbers on the ruler and in the Object Info palette, unless you shift the user origin. You can move the user origin close to the building site so that the system does not display large coordinates. In Vectorworks Architect and Landmark, the internal origin can be easily aligned with the correct georeferenced location by Geolocating the drawing.
When the user origin is in a different location from the internal origin, the drawing coordinates display relative to the user origin. The coordinates that display on the rulers (if shown) consider the user origin to be (0, 0).
Changing the user origin can have far-reaching consequences. Use caution when changing the user origin.
Commands allow you to locate the internal origin and center the drawing on it, and to set the user origin.
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