The XY coordinates are skewed and the dimensions are offsetting themselves by 6" lower and to the right HELP!

[Anonymous]

I have been struggling with this set of project drawings for months. I keep resetting the UCS to world and nothing changes.  I keep flattening all my elevations because otherwise my lines don't connect and I can't accurate trim anything.  I am at my wits end.  I don't know how to reset this drawing so it will stop making these errors when I make new elevation (it doesn't even do it consistently).  It will be fine for several drawings and then start acting up again.Dimensions are offsetting themselvesYX are skewed???

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi @Anonymous ,

Have you tried PLAN command to display an orthographic view of the XY plane in your drawing?

Can you share your drawing here? Screenshots do not provide enough information.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick reply. I just tried the PLAN and that did reset the dimensions from being offset, but didn't address why the UCS seems to be skewed I will upload the file (its very messy, please don't judge, lol)

[maxim_k]

>>>>>but didn't address why the UCS seems to be skewed I will upload the file (its very messy, please don't judge, lol)

Your drawing is not flat. If you will look at it from FRONT view, you will see:

So you need to flatten it with FLATTEN command, but I'm afraid this could take a lot of time because there are a lot of objects in the drawing. You can try to use FLATTEN command not at once for the whole drawing, but in parts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I have flattened the parts of the drawing multiple times and it does not seem to solve the problem. How do I solve the overall problem of the UCS being off?

[maxim_k]

Here is your drawing flattened with FLATTEN command.

[maxim_k]

Can you specify the exact place in your drawing where you have problems with UCS?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi Maxim, thanks so much!  I tried to write you back yesterday but had lost use of my mouse (just got it back).  I downloaded and opening the file that you flattened and it did seem to solve the problem of the axis being skewed.  is there anything I need to do to keep future elevations from needing to be "flattened"?  I have never had to flatten drawings repeatedly before and am wondering what is different about this one.  When you looked at the drawing from the front--it was obvious that some setting had been "off" in order for that to occur.  Is there anything I need to do to the file further to make sure it all remains flat?  Thanks again!

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi Meredith,

>>>>>>is there anything I need to do to keep future elevations from needing to be "flattened"?

This is a "classic" issue with AutoCAD drawing: sometimes you accidentally draw with elevation in your 2D drawing. The probable cause is because you snap to an existing object with elevation. But we never know, why the objects have Z value in the first place anyway.

So you need:

- always check drawings you get from others for potential elevation problems - use FRONT view to check if they are not flat,

- review all your existing drawings for elevation issues, if they are not flat - use FLATTEN command to flatten them,

- always check UCS icon, it should look like this:

to ensure that view direction is perpendicular to XY plan of the drawing. If you see Z letter and crosshair has different colours for X and Y axis:

then use PLAN command to set view perpendicular to XY plane.

- avoid using SHIFT+Scroll wheel - this turn on 3DORBIT command and you can accidentally change view direction,

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

And - avoid using blocks with 3D objects in 2D drawings. I found at least 3 of such blocks in your drawing:

[Anonymous]

thanks Maxim, I do often bring in other drawings from past projects to reuse elements that I have already made.  I will make sure I don't mess the coordinates by doing so, by flattening the objects as i bring them in, I guess?

[maxim_k]

>>>>I will make sure I don't mess the coordinates by doing so, by flattening the objects as i bring them in, I guess?
Yes, sure