topic Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view in AutoCAD Forum

0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

lbellino4 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:32:14 GMT

Hello.

Hope someone can help with this. I have a drawing where I checked my UCSICON setting to make sure it was at the origin and I also make sure the UCS icon was at the 0,0,0 coordinates. But for some reason in the front view only, it moves up which you'll see if the first image below. This is the only view that it moves up. All the rest of the views, it is at it's correct location and height. How do I fix this in the front view where this icon should be at the same height as the rest of the views? Thanks in advance.

Note: I'm using AutoCAD 2022

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

pendean — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:22:41 GMT

Share your DWG file here please.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

lbellino4 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:50:56 GMT

"test" is the drawing I'm referring to. The other drawing is the Xref that is in that drawing. Thanks for your help.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

paullimapa — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 22:01:41 GMT

For Front View, did you try selected that from View Manager (VIEW command)

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

Valentin_CAD — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:07:41 GMT

@lbellino4 ,

Click on the UCS and Reset to World.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

pendean — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:36:01 GMT

As noted here https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/0-0-0-coordinates-moving-in-view/m-p/11896008#M1103481

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

lbellino4 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:25:36 GMT

I've done this and it does move it to the 0,0,0 coordinates, but will not stay. So for example, if I move between views and go back to front, it's no longer at world. Is normal that when you go between views (front, back, side, etc) it takes it out of "world" and I have to reset it every time? It gets very annoying if that's the case?

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

lbellino4 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:26:35 GMT

In the image attached, this is how I change between views in the drawing.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

pendean — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:42:12 GMT

If I insert your TEST file into a new blank file, that UCS icon remains where it needs to be too. See attached.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

dmfrazier — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:47:19 GMT

I don't know if this duplicates any previous response, but try this:

When I opened your DWG, this was set to "Yes".

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

lbellino4 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 21:01:39 GMT

Thanks...that worked!

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

ChicagoLooper — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 14:44:38 GMT

Hello @lbellino4

You're confusing WCS and UCS or World Coordinate System and User Coordinate System. The latter is, as the title suggests, is a coordinate system determined entirely by you, the user (red, green and blue axes), whereas the former is permanent (white with a small square at the intersection of the x- and y-axis) and is invisible unless you're at TOP view in 2D wireframe mode.

UCS icon.

World Coordinate System (WCS) icon is visible from top view, 2D wireframe. mode.

<<HINT: the small white square at the x/y intersection is a dead giveaway when making sure you're viewing a WCS icon.>>

You can't delete, move or rotate the WCS. You can, however, create another coordinate system called a UCS where you can pick the origin, rotate it, move it, and apply to different views. You typically create a UCS to establish your working plane. You can establish, more than one UCS in your drawing. You can even apply a different UCS to each individual viewport regardless of how many VPs you have on a layout tab. To keep track of multiple UCS's, AutoCAD allows you to name each UCS.

You can switch back at forth between WCS and UCS at will.

The UCS can be temporary or permanent. If it's permanent, you can still choose to delete it at a later time. The UCS allows you, the user, to control your working plane.

The icons you've circled in your opening post is not the WCS icon, its your 'working plane' icon or your UCS. Don't be alarmed, your WCS, the global coordinate system in your drawing, is not moving.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

jhall6Z3NG — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:22:31 GMT

Hello All,

I have a similar issue happening as "lbellino4". I have over 20 years experience with Autocad. I usually do not have issues such as this in my own drawings. I am working at a company with other drafters and starting to experience this issue. I have tried to encourage the other drafters, who are newer to the program, to try and avoid if necessary moving the UCS. In my modeling, I rarely need to shift the UCS. As I look at the example of "dmfrazier" and checked my "View Manager" my setting are all set the same as the example. I even tried the UCSFOLLOW switch. to no avail. is there another possible solution to try and remedy this solution. I knew the WCS was not going to move, and switching between views in a new drawing file stays in place. We here are using UCS/WCS as a basis in modeling at zero+6 to mark our Ordinate dimensions in Paperspace, we are modeling from that point. What I do not know for certain is whether the ORDINATE dimensions in Paperspace are generated from UCS or WCS?

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

ChicagoLooper — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:35:22 GMT

Hi @jhall6Z3NG

Have you ever rolled up a hose after you've washed your car? If you have, you'll know rolling up that the hose can be unwieldly. It's alive. It's awkward. Same goes for your UCS. Frustrating.

Be careful. The UCS and WCS are NOT the same. They're NOT interchangeable.......and AutoCAD doesn't care how many years of experience you've got.

You might, or might not, be able to SEE the issue using multiple viewports. Go to Visualize Tab=>Model Viewport Panel=>Viewport Configuration icon

For example, choose Three: Left

Three: Left configuration will provide 3 views (3 separate modelspace drawing areas) and look like the image below, e.g. Ortho, Top, and Front. If you move an object in one view, the object will also move in another, simultaneously.

You also have control over your 'Drawing Planes' where you can give an object a UCS (user coordinate system). This means a custom x,y, and z axes (directions) given to an object to make operations like modifications easier and more intuitive. Then after modifying, you can cancel that UCS and easily return to WCS.

I can't diagnose your issue without your drawing, or a video showing your monitor and corresponding keystrokes, but I'm sure it has something to do with a garden hose. If you're up to it, (1) upload your drawing and (2) explain what you're trying to do and what's happening when you try to do it.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

jhall6Z3NG — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:04:46 GMT

I'm sorry, I was not trying to offend with the years of experience, all I was trying to say, thou it probably didn't come across that way, was that I know the difference between the two coordinate systems. I have moved the UCS upon occasion, I don't ever remember if the the UCS remained where I moved it? I Personally like to work with the UCS and the WCS are locked in the same position regardless of the views I'm in. What that does for me individually is know my distance from origin. You mentioned in you remarks to "lbellino4" that "The UCS can be temporary or permanent. If it's permanent, you can still choose to delete it at a later time." In my attempts to move the UCS back to origin, like "lbellino4" it doesn't stay lock to the WCS. I should also mention that I have never preset a NEW UCS position until 2 weeks ago. I assume what you mean by "cancelling" is deleting the NEW position, please correct me if I am wrong? I suspect that there is a switch that somehow flipped. I always move objects to set at (0,0,0) all the time. Unless I switch to WCS before I move objects the objects moved to the UCS. in the file I sent. WCS is bottom right ISO. I moved the objects in the upper right to that (0,0,0) and all objects moved to that UCS. this is why I would like to lock the UCS back to WCS. This also helps me when I drop the object as XREF into another drawing. I have made modifications to the individual drawings and changed the position in the XREF. another reason I wish to lock the UCS to the WCS if possible?

In the file I sent, you can see that the UCS is in different locations as it is represented by the intersection of red and green lines.

This file also has a separate issue happening. I believe up until this point, the grid orientation has followed (showed) me from view to view (I can see where the grid is in the various orientations), this one does not! I had to go to each viewport and toggle the grid to show the grid. I change my views with the top left switch in the workspace, and I change the grid orientation using the "coordinates" Panel on the home ribbon. I do not know why all of a sudden I have to go through the extra step in order to see the grid when I switch views?

If I confused anyone I am sorry, I hoped I had explained well enough to follow but I am not so sure? It sounds right in my brain, I hope I am not lost in translation! thank You in advance!

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

jhall6Z3NG — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:38:14 GMT

I wish to further clarify, I just opened a new drawing and checked the "UCS Details" for each view, under the "Orthographic UCSs". I noticed the Origin value is all zero's. In my file the origins have values. How do I reset the origins to zero's? I should have probably used the reset term instead of the lock term in my previous reply!

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:27:41 GMT

@jhall6Z3NG

<<...In my file the origins have values....>>

Have values? The numbers don't lie.

If they have values then you moved the origin. (Or someone moved them for you.)

Upload screenshots of modelspace. Don't by shy, the more screenshots, the better! Also, upload different 'views' of your objects, top front, left, etc., etc. Then, upload more screenshots, e.g. SW Isometric, SE Isometric, etc.

Better yet, upload a copy of your drawing.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

jhall6Z3NG — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:31:24 GMT

There should be an attached file did it not show up? Labeled "UCS-WCS Test" in my previous reply. This is an example of files I have run across, after other hands have worked on them in my office. My goal was to try and reset the origins as I come across them.

I know this is only one shot, it is the screenshot of the file I attached for your reference this should show where the UCS origins lie in the top two views.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

jhall6Z3NG — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:17:51 GMT

I know you're a busy man, or woman, forgive me. You made a comment about "me or somebody else moved the UCS". After thinking things through last night I dawned on me that if someone moved the UCS, logic dictates that the UCS can be moved back. I know I said I have been working with AUTOCAD a long time, and I find myself at a loss as how the UCS got permanently move? If I knew how it moved, I should be able to figure out how to move it back to (0,0,0). That process escapes me at the moment, for reasons I do not know! I been looking through some of my Autocad references materials to try and figure this out, and nothing is triggering in my brain. I suspect the process is simple, and I will probably kick myself when it finally clicks. Your help is gratefully appreciated.

Re: 0,0,0 coordinates moving in view

ChicagoLooper — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:10:17 GMT

@jhall6Z3NG

1. Command line: UCS=>W

2. Next, go back to command line: DDUCSP=>Enter

3. Right click TOP then follow instructions as shown below.

4. Click DETAILS and review results.