topic Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders in AutoCAD Forum

Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

RalphPaulozzo — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:46:29 GMT

Is there a single command I can use to move an object from a basepoint between two separate objects? I'm currently designing a product on a large scale, and need to move an object _' from West wall, and _' feet from North wall.

I heard things about polar tracking and object snapping. Is there a particular command sequence I can use, or perhaps explain the polar tracking method? I can always use the 'move' command, select basepoint, type 'from', select the object to measure from and do it that way. I'm just wondering if you can do that in one command, from X AND Y.

Please and thank you.

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

imadHabash — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:13:09 GMT

Hi and Welcome to AutoCAD Forum,
@RalphPaulozzo

would you please show us a screenshot image for your case or attach a CAD dwg sample for more elaboration?

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

h_s_walker — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:49:26 GMT

The @ symbol before a set of x,y coordinates will move the object relative to the point you select.

eg if your object is at 10,10

selecting the grip and then just typing 5,5 will move the object to 5,5, but typing @5,5 will move it to 15,15

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

leeminardi — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:23:03 GMT

Perhaps something like the following will work for you.

Let's say that you want to move a circle such that its center will be located at a point 2 units in x and -3 units in y from the top left corner of a rectangle.

Try the following:

Command: MOVE (Enter)
Select objects: 1 found (pick circle)
Select objects: (Enter)
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: _cen of (use CEN osnap)
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: 'cal
>>>> Expression: end + [2,-3,0] (Enter)
>>>> Select entity for END snap: (pick top left corner of rectangle)
Resuming MOVE command.

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

TheCADnoob — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:51:46 GMT

I'm having a hard time understanding the problem. One thing for certain is there is a lot of way to move things.

If i don understand the ask, the from command override can take X and Y coordinates. It default prompts to polar, but you can just enter a comma after your X value and it will revert to cartesian and then enter a Y.

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

parkr4st — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:02:18 GMT

rectangle, set NW corner as origin, copy to a point located from NW corner i.e 5,-3 is the target. this is based on x units from w and n sides. Could paste a block?

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

RalphPaulozzo — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:20:11 GMT

Hi @imadHabash, I would love to share a screenshot, but unfortunately I cannot do that. I am asking this question from my phone. I guess the best way to ask is this:

I have a room, inside the room is a rectangular object. I need the rectangular object, from the northwest corner, to be 10' off the west wall, and 10' off the north wall.

I wanted to try a move command that fulfilled both moves. So instead of typing 'm' selecting the NW corner of the object, then typing 'from' and clicking one of the walls to measure from, I wanted to select both distances from both walls, in one command. I'm not sure if there is a command like that, where I can do a "move, from, select where from, 10', enter" for both walls at the same time.

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

RalphPaulozzo — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:18:42 GMT

@h_s_walker for visibility

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

RalphPaulozzo — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:22:21 GMT

@TheCADnoob for visibility

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

imadHabash — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:43:50 GMT

Thank you for this clarification. @RalphPaulozzo

>> I wanted to select both distances from both walls, in one command.

One of the fastest available way is to use "@" Relative Coordinates symbol as showed below.

Command: MOVE
Select objects: 1 found

Select objects:
Specify base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>:
Specify second point or <use first point as displacement>: @1,-1

Another way also is by using Tracking option (TK) while your Move command is active. >>Tutorial Video<<

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

leeminardi — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:26:38 GMT

@RalphPaulozzo it is not clear if you know the current location of the rectangle you want to move. If you do not you can use the method I outline in post #4.

If the rectangle is positioned before the move such that its NW corner is coincident with the NW corner of the room then all you need to do is specify the displacement and no "from" point (or @ prefix). If you give a random "from" point then the @ is necessary.

If you do not know the current location of the rectangle then an easy two step process would be to move the rectangle to the corner using END snap then give a second move with just the displacment values.

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

TheCADnoob — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:08:19 GMT

@RalphPaulozzo wrote:

.... do a "move, from, select where from, 10', enter" for both walls at the same time.

this can be done with from as is, assuming the walls come to a corner. this is also with the caveat that you have to type 10,10

There are a lot of good solutions on this thread. Which ones have you tried?

When you say type "from", i would start using the shortcut menu. with the move command engaged you can hold shft (or ctrl) and right click to get to from which could be quicker. In the example below i only touch the keyboard to press M, then ctrl, then i enter -10,-10.

If you don't have square walls or don't have walls that meet at a corner it could take some more but can be handled with object snap tracking. this can be seen in the second example.

Initiate the move command

Select the base point (NW corer... or what ever point needs to be 10 off the walls)

hold down shift (or cntrl) and right click and select from.

Select the corner where the wall meet

type in 10,10 and then enter. (in my example below i use -10,-10)

No corner wall

added this image since its hard to see in video

Re: Moving an object both X and Y distance from two borders

pkomatlapalli — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:12:39 GMT

Hi @RalphPaulozzo ,

It appears that you have already received several helpful responses in this thread. Did any of the suggestions provided by ImadHabash, Leeminardi and TheCADnoob address your question?

If you still require further assistance, please feel free to share an update here. The community will be glad to continue helping and suggest additional steps to guide you toward a solution.