Move project to origin point

Move project to origin point

Anonymous
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Message 1 of 99

Move project to origin point

Anonymous
Not applicable

I am having issues with my template for few months and I can't find the cause of the problem.

 

I am coming from the thread below

 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/template-corrupted-with-graphic-issues/td-p/...

 

Today, I have learn that apart of the project base point, and survey point, the revit files have also a origin point hidden. I thought that the 20km rule was between the model and the project base point, but apparently it is between the origin point of the revit file, and the model (I don't know if it is different rule, I had just misunderstood the rule at the beginning).


I have seen the issue with the hatch contour is resolved once you move the hatch close to the origin point (It was already in the project base point, but the project base point was like 12km away of the origin point), so in order to make another test and see if that is the cause of all the problems in the template, I want to move the whole project, model, details, everything, close to the origin.

Does anybody know how to do it? how to move a model close the origin point??

 

Regards

 

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Message 21 of 99

ToanDN
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Since the dialog between @barthbradley and me can be distracting from answering @Anonymous question, I am asking again:

 

"There are no easy ways to physically move the model closer to the Origin Point without some headaches.  How far is your project?  Design?  Documentation?"

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Message 22 of 99

barthbradley
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We ARE on different wavelengths, @ToanDN

 

What I said was : “You can move the Revit Project "WCS" Origin and later find it by Linking a CAD Origin to Origin.”

 

Your come back to that was: “You can move the Project Base Point (UCS) and Survey Point (also another UCS), not Origin Point (WCS).”

 

That’s not entirely correct, Sir. The attached Revit file shows 0,0,0 coordinates for both the PBP and SP – and yet the “Origin to Origin” point (marked by a CAD Link) is located a mile away from the PBP and SP.  

 

 

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Message 23 of 99

barthbradley
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@ToanDN wrote:

Since the dialog between @barthbradley and me can be distracting...


The only thing that is distracting, @ToanDN, is the misinformation your are spouting from your pie hole. 

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Message 24 of 99

ToanDN
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@Anonymous wrote:

We ARE on different wavelengths, @ToanDN

 

What I said was : “You can move the Revit Project "WCS" Origin and later find it by Linking a CAD Origin to Origin.”

 

Your come back to that was: “You can move the Project Base Point (UCS) and Survey Point (also another UCS), not Origin Point (WCS).”

 

That’s not entirely correct, Sir. The attached Revit file shows 0,0,0 coordinates for both the PBP and SP – and yet the “Origin to Origin” point (marked by a CAD Link) is located a mile away from the PBP and SP.  

 

 


Again, the 0,0,0 you mentioned has no relation to the Revit Origin Point.  How about you link your file to a new unmodified Origin to Origin and see where it lands.  You cannot move  Revit Origin Point, all the things you did only to move the PBP and SP from it.

 

It's fine that it's over your head or you refuse to understand it.  Hint: if you have a little knowledge with AutoCAD you may realized that you cannot move the WCS 0,0,0.

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Message 25 of 99

barthbradley
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@ToanDN wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

We ARE on different wavelengths, @ToanDN

 

What I said was : “You can move the Revit Project "WCS" Origin and later find it by Linking a CAD Origin to Origin.”

 

Your come back to that was: “You can move the Project Base Point (UCS) and Survey Point (also another UCS), not Origin Point (WCS).”

 

That’s not entirely correct, Sir. The attached Revit file shows 0,0,0 coordinates for both the PBP and SP – and yet the “Origin to Origin” point (marked by a CAD Link) is located a mile away from the PBP and SP.  

 

 


Again, the 0,0,0 you mentioned has no relation to the Revit Origin Point.  How about you link your file to a new unmodified Origin to Origin and see where it lands.  You cannot move  Revit Origin Point, all the things you did only to move the PBP and SP from it.

 

It's fine that it's over your head or you refuse to understand it.  Hint: if you have a little knowledge with AutoCAD you may realized that you cannot move the WCS 0,0,0.


 No where in any of my posts did I say there is a relationship between the PBP's 0,0,0 coordinates and the Revit Origin Point. In fact, I am saying just the opposite.  There is no relationship, which is evidenced in the file I attached. In that file, the PBP and the SP are at 0,0,0, but the Origin of the project is a mile way. 

 

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

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Message 26 of 99

ToanDN
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@Anonymous wrote:

****, you are dense. No where in any of my posts did I say there is a relationship between the PBP's 0,0,0 coordinates and the Revit Origin Point. In fact, I am saying just the opposite.  There is no relationship, which is evidenced in the file I attached. In that file, the PBP and the SP are at 0,0,0, but the Origin of the project is a mile way. 

 

BTW, whippersnapper; I've been using AutoCAD since release 10. You born by then? 


The Origin is there, what you see is the PBP 0,0,0 and the SP 0,0,0 are miles away from it.  But experiencing how you perceive knowledge I don't expect you see that.

 

You have been using AutoCAD for nearly 30 years and you still don't know that you cannot move WCS 0,0,0?  I have to admit that I had only expected it from some newbie with maybe 2 months experiences.

 

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Message 27 of 99

SteveKStafford
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@barthbradley regarding your list of steps, the act of unclipping the Project Base Point (PBP) allows it to be separated from the origin it identifies. Thus when you move it (unclipped) the origin remains where you left it (at your "A") and the PBP changes to becomes a marker only, it reports coordinate values referencing its distance from the origin (at your "A").

 

When either the PBP or Survey Point (SP) are moved while clipped the underlying coordinate system is altered. The stock templates are configured with PBP and SP located at the same spot. They are not connected at all. In practice, when we use Acquire Coordinates on a DWG the SP is adjusted to mark the WCS origin of that file. Revit's SP and coordinate system is like a UCS in AutoCAD but it is used to relate to the WCS of an AutoCAD file. However confusing, conversely, in Revit the PBP is more like the WCS we use in AutoCAD.

 

In my experience there is no useful reason to move the PBP while clipped, ever. Making it possible to do so has only increased user confusion and mistakes. Project templates should be configured around the PBP as firms see fit, for example modelling to the right and above the PBP to mimic the practice of creating drawings in AutoCAD to the right of and above the origin so coordinate values are all positive values.

 

There are two useful reasons to move the PBP while unclipped. First, to move it to mark a specific location so Spot Coordinate annotation can reference a specific building relevant location. Second, to use much more recent linked file positioning option "Auto - Project Base Point to Project Base Point" to link files to an agreed upon Project Base Point location, like at a grid intersection (again based on moving it unclipped).

 

As for the original post, if the model was indeed created very far from the origin of the Revit file then the only real way to resolve it is to endure the pain of trying to move the entire model closer to the origin.

 

FWIW, personally I refer to the file's origin, apart from the Project Base Point and Survey Point, as the mathematical origin or reference origin. It is this origin that matters the most regarding the error/warning messages we get and the graphic issues that can arise. Keeping the relevant geometry of the model close to this mathematical origin is what Revit wants us to do.


Steve Stafford
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Message 28 of 99

barthbradley
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@ToanDN wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

****, you are dense. No where in any of my posts did I say there is a relationship between the PBP's 0,0,0 coordinates and the Revit Origin Point. In fact, I am saying just the opposite.  There is no relationship, which is evidenced in the file I attached. In that file, the PBP and the SP are at 0,0,0, but the Origin of the project is a mile way. 

 

BTW, whippersnapper; I've been using AutoCAD since release 10. You born by then? 


The Origin is there, what you see is the PBP 0,0,0 and the SP 0,0,0 are miles away from it.  But experiencing how you perceive knowledge I don't expect you see that.

 

Yes, the Origin can be found because I put a fricking LINK on it, otherwise, how the hell else would you be able to locate it. That's the point I'm making. I don't know how to dumb it down any further for your benefit. Sorry. 

 

You have been using AutoCAD for nearly 30 years and you still don't know that you cannot move WCS 0,0,0?  I have to admit that I had only expected it from some newbie with maybe 2 months experiences.

 

Where the hell did I say that you can move the WCS in AutoCAD?! Answer: I NEVER DID. Again: the misinformation you're spouting today is astonishing. 

 


Take a nap, @ToanDN. Please. 

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Message 29 of 99

ToanDN
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@Anonymous wrote:

The Origin is there, what you see is the PBP 0,0,0 and the SP 0,0,0 are miles away from it.  But experiencing how you perceive knowledge I don't expect you see that.

 

Yes, the Origin can be found because I put a fricking LINK on it, otherwise, how the hell else would you be able to locate it. That's the point I'm making. I don't know how to dumb it down any further for your benefit. Sorry. 

 

You have been using AutoCAD for nearly 30 years and you still don't know that you cannot move WCS 0,0,0?  I have to admit that I had only expected it from some newbie with maybe 2 months experiences.

 

Where the hell did I say that you can move the WCS in AutoCAD?! Answer: I NEVER DID. Again: the misinformation you're spouting today is astonishing. 

 


Take a nap, @ToanDN. Please. 


I don't remember asking you to locate the origin.  So did OP.  Do you usually have this reading comprehension problem?

 

The whole time you were trying to prove that you can move the Revit Origin Point, or as @SteveKStafford referred to as "mathematical origin".  And the whole time you are just moving the PBP away from it.

 

Capture.PNG

 

Oh so now you are realizing you cannot move AutoCAD WCS 0,0,0?  Congratulations!!!  See where we are getting at?  Still no?  Not to worry, keep on thinking and you may eventually understand that you cannot move Revit Origin Point...  Some day.

 

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Message 30 of 99

SteveKStafford
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Let's agree that shared coordinates is a fussy subject. The language and descriptions related to explanations are obtuse.

 

As such, there is no need to go after each other. You're both pretty knowledgeable, it seems to me that you're writing at each other but still missing each other's point. I suggest a deep breath... cheers!


Steve Stafford
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Message 31 of 99

ToanDN
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Thanks @SteveKStafford!  Excellent write-up in your earlier post as always (Yes I do read other forums).

 

@Anonymous Let's get back to your question. 

 

"There are no easy ways to physically move the model closer to the Origin Point without some headaches.  How far is your project?  Design?  Documentation?".

 
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Message 32 of 99

barthbradley
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Thank you Steve. I’m a big fan of yours, by the way.

 

I agree with just about everything you just said, especially when you say “there being no useful reason to move the PBP while clipped”. But, that’s fundamentally what this thread is all about (at least the way I read it): According to the Author, his Project’s PBP is located miles away from the Project’s internal origin point. Identifying exactly where that Origin point lies in relationship to the PBP, is all I was addressing when I stated: “You can move the Revit Project ‘WCS’ Origin and later find it by Linking a CAD Origin to Origin.” And, I followed up by posting a Revit file that illustrates this; showing the Project Origin is in a different location from the startup location. The original Startup location for the Project Origin (which I also call the “WCS” – which is why I put quotes around it), was at the 0,0,0 coordinates of the PBP.

 

So, my questions to you Steve are: 1) if Linking in a CAD drawing “Origin to Origin”, places the Link on a point in space that is located far from the PBP’s 0,0,0 – isn’t that point in space the Project Origin?  And, 2) if that point in space is the Project Origin, isn’t it essentially “moved” if the PBP is reading 0,0,0?

 

Both are sincere questions. I welcome and value your tutelage.

 

Thank you,

 

Barth 

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Message 33 of 99

SteveKStafford
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@Anonymous wrote:

"Thank you Steve. I’m a big fan of yours, by the way."

 

Cheers, glad to help!

 

"So, my questions to you Steve are:"

 

"1) If Linking in a CAD drawing “Origin to Origin”, places the Link on a point in space that is located far from the PBP’s 0,0,0 – isn’t that point in space the Project Origin?"

 

Yes, sort of... technically when you link a DWG using Origin to Origin that aligns Revit's PBP with the DWG's WCS origin, assuming Revit's linking threshold isn't compromised. If compromised Revit forces Center to Center instead (center of extent of DWG to center of extent of Revit model).

 

As such, in practice I don't see how the WCS origin could land anywhere but at the PBP using Origin to Origin. I'd suspect the file violated Revit's threshold for linked files or another positioning option was used inadvertently. Also possible is that the SP is far from the Mathematical Origin because someone moved it in the template or before modelling started. It would also be necessary for the PBP to be moved unclipped to the same spot as the SP before the DWG is linked using Origin to Origin.

 

"2) If that point in space is the Project Origin, isn’t it essentially “moved” if the PBP is reading 0,0,0?"

 

No, it never moved. The symbol did (unclipped). Imagine a sheet of graph paper, sketch a PBP symbol at a grid intersection. if you could grab the PBP symbol, while the PBP is clipped, moving it also moves the graph paper with it. In contrast, moving it unclipped changes where PBP symbol rests on the graph paper, the graph paper doesn't move.

 

Using the example file you provided, and testing with my own files, I believe the Survey Point was moved far from the Revit file's Mathematical Origin and then the PBP was moved unclipped to the same location. That's why it reports 0,0. If it was moved unclipped back to the location marked by the DWG file you'll find those coordinate values are much different. That's because the PBP reports its offset from the SP origin location. I find that fact confusing to most people, me as well. The coordinate systems are separate but report values that imply otherwise.

 

Since the act of unclipping the PBP and moving it does not change origin of the file, that's why it is possible to choose the Move to Startup Location via the right-click context menu. While clipped we can't really change where the Mathematical Origin is, because it appears to move with the PBP symbol. If you pay close attention you'll find that moving the PBP while clipped actually moves the SP away from the PBP while the PBP stays put, but looks like it moved. Watch the elevation symbols surrounding the PBP when you do this with a stock template. Again the confusing aspect of reporting an offset relative to the SP suggests the PBP has shifted when it is really the SP that has. If you link a fresh DWG using Origin to Origin you'll find it lands at the PBP, not the SP.

 

In order to fix the situation you provided in your file it is necessary to use Move to Startup Location and then move the entire model over to be near the PBP, using the SP as the origin for the move, to place it at the WCS origin of the DWG file.

 

The same is most likely true for the original poster too.


Steve Stafford
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Message 34 of 99

Anonymous
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Thanks for your answers guys.

For all the discussion you had, I most agree with @ToanDN "You can move the Project Base Point (UCS) and Survey Point (also another UCS), not Origin Point (WCS)."@barthbradley either I undertood it wrong, or we were speaking about different things, but you you suggest is not exactly what happened to me.

Anyway guys, lets not start a endless discussion.

 

@ToanDN "There are no easy ways to physically move the model closer to the Origin Point without some headaches.  How far is your project?  Design?  Documentation? No, I couldn't find the way to move it. For some reason it let me move it vertically, but not horizontally, it might be the way it was model.
I am able to move PBP and SP to the origin point (WSC) but not the entirely project.

As @SteveKStafford said, when we created our template, the survey point was miles away of the project base point, I think we moved the PBP it uncliped to the SP. The result is that SP and PBP were both (0,0,0) and I though that was the real origin of the revil file (I didn't have a clue until 4 days ago that revit files also has this third point, the origin point (WSC)). The result is that my company colleagues start using our template, modelling wherever they needed (ever further from the WSc) and some of them reported various graphical issues, I always checked the 20miles distance, but the models were close enough the SP and PBP.

I have been working around it for weeks, trying to find the solution until I discover this Revit origin point, now I have modified my template, but I need a solution for all those project that were started with a wrong template, I need to find a way to move everything close to the WSC.

 


I have attached one of the project, you can have a look and see what were the shadows issues I mentioned at the beggining of the thread and here

 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/template-corrupted-with-graphic-issues/td-p/...

 

Play around if you want, and let me know if you find a way to resolve it and moved everything.

Thanks 

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Message 35 of 99

ToanDN
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Here's how I would do:

 

- unclip PBP and move it to your model, e.g. snap it to a grid intersection, re-clip it

- ignore SP

- save and close

- start a new project from a clean template, where PBP and SV are unmodified and better on the same spot as the Origin

- link your file in PBP to PBP

- bind it

 

This method should work for purely the model but you will lose all views, sheets, annotation, and phasing.  When done, you can transfer project standards and insert drafting views in to salvage those from the old file, if necessary.

 

Good luck!

 

P/S: if your are running into the warning that you cannot move the PBP more than 9k km from where it was created then let me know.

Message 36 of 99

SteveKStafford
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Accepted solution

@Anonymous wrote:


...I didn't have a clue until 4 days ago that revit files also has this third point...

This notion of a third point is a misnomer. The Project Base Point and Survey Point markers are annotation. By default they identify the origin of their corresponding coordinate system. When clipped and moved they also alter the position of their related coordinate systems. When unclipped they just move around like symbol on a drawing or a stake in the ground, in the real world. You can pull the stake out of the ground and place it elsewhere on site but the property doesn't move, just the stake, that's unclipped behavior.

 

Play around if you want, and let me know if you find a way to resolve it and moved everything.

The only way to resolve it at this point is hard and messy. You have to select everything in the model and move it all to a new closer location.

 

In your file I was able to move it all but received errors about elements being constrained, attachments that missed targets and join conditions that required removing the joins. I had to be careful to select elements in Design Options. The site elements didn't seem to want to move together. If you move everything using the same offset values or add reference planes to snap to it shouldn't take too long...for this file at least. I spent about five minutes on it and got it all back to the origin. Can't say how well the shared coordinates fared in the process. I'd redo that just to be sure it is correct.


 


Steve Stafford
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Message 37 of 99

Anonymous
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@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:


...I didn't have a clue until 4 days ago that revit files also has this third point...

This notion of a third point is a misnomer. The Project Base Point and Survey Point markers are annotation. By default they identify the origin of their corresponding coordinate system. When clipped and moved they also alter the position of their related coordinate systems. When unclipped they just move around like symbol on a drawing or a stake in the ground, in the real world. You can pull the stake out of the ground and place it elsewhere on site but the property doesn't move, just the stake, that's unclipped behavior.

Yeah, it is a misnomer, but I didn't know what it was when I discovered it, also is because of my lack of english. Anyway, your description about PBP and SP is really good, Thanks for it.

 

Play around if you want, and let me know if you find a way to resolve it and moved everything.

The only way to resolve it at this point is hard and messy. You have to select everything in the model and move it all to a new closer location.

 

In your file I was able to move it all but received errors about elements being constrained, attachments that missed targets and join conditions that required removing the joins. I had to be careful to select elements in Design Options. The site elements didn't seem to want to move together. If you move everything using the same offset values or add reference planes to snap to it shouldn't take too long...for this file at least. I spent about five minutes on it and got it all back to the origin. Can't say how well the shared coordinates fared in the process. I'd redo that just to be sure it is correct.

 

Ok, thanks for trying anyway, I guess I will find plenty of problems while moving everything, but It is something that has to be done.


 

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Message 38 of 99

Anonymous
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@ToanDN I have tried binding the model into another file, but my revit crash while doing it.

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Message 39 of 99

SteveKStafford
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Good luck!

 

I've had poor luck with binding over the years, to the extent that I more or less forget it is possible. Once you go down a dead end road too often you tend to drive past it eventually.


Steve Stafford
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Message 40 of 99

barthbradley
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@SteveKStafford: I appreciate your reply, but I have to partially disagree with you – respectfully so. And, to the other Gentleman participating here, who have discounted what I said as being ”confused” or unintelligent, I can only offer empirical evidence to support my assertion that the “invisible point” (e.g. the one that is recognized by Revit as “THE ORIGIN” when you Link in “Auto-Origin to Origin”) – CAN be moved. [FYI: this invisible point, which has also been described as Revit’s “WCS”; is technically known as the “Startup Position” for the Project Base Point.]  Additionally Gentleman, I contend that there is a fourth point; that point being defined by the Survey Point’s 0,0,0 origin.  I think this is more apt the “Mathematical Center”, since the other points’ coordinates are relative to it.  Pardon the appropriation, Steve.

 

The Project’s Origin Point (the invisible one) resides at the Startup Location of the Project Base Point. If you move the Project Base Point while it is clipped, the Origin Point will follow along with it. If you move the Project Base Point while it is unclipped, the Origin Point will not follow. Clearly, this behavior supports my assertion that the Origin Point can be moved.

 

Not Convinced? I invite you to follow this simple workflow to see for yourself:  

 

  1. Open a fresh AutoCAD drawing and place a “bullseye” symbol centered on 0,0,0 of the WCS. Save and close the drawing.
  2. Open a fresh Revit Project template and go to the default “Site” view showing 4 Elevation markers surrounding the Project Base Point and Survey Point, each defined with 0,0,0 coordinates.
  3. Link in your AutoCAD “bullseye” drawing “Auto-Origin to Origin”. Note that it lands smack dab at the center of the Project with its crosshairs intersecting at 0,0,0 coordinates of the default PBP and SP location.
  4. Delete the Link (remove it from the Project).
  5. Move the PBP to coordinate 50,50,0 (DO NOT UNCLIP).
  6. UNCLIP and move the Survey Point to coordinates -50,-50,0. Re-clip it.
  7. Note that the PBP coordinates didn’t change upon moving the SP; it still reads 50,50,0. Both the PBP and SP coordinates are relational to that “Mathematical Center”.
  8. Now UNCLIP and move the Project Base Point to coordinates 0,0,0. Re-clip it.
  9. Note that the Survey Point coordinates didn’t change upon moving the PBP; it still reads -50,-50, 0; still relational to that “Mathematical Center”.
  10. Link in your AutoCAD “bullseye” drawing “Origin to Origin” and note that it lands with its crosshairs intersecting at coordinates 50,50,0 – the new, relocated “Startup Position” that was defined in #5. To confirm this, unclip the PBP and then right-click on it and select “Move to Startup Location”. The PBP will jump to coordinates 50,50,0.
  11. With the PBP at its Startup Location (50,50,0), draw 2 model lines – in the X and Y directions – intersecting at the center of the PBP.
  12. Unclip the PBP and move it to coordinates 0,0,0. Clip it.
  13. (optional) Place 3 Spot Coordinates originating from the intersection of the 2 model lines; each with a different “Coordinate Origin” (e.g. “Project Base Point”, “Survey Point” , “Relative”). Lots to note here. Mainly, take note of the “Relative” coordinates. They are at 0,0,0.
  14. Save the Project and close.
  15. Open a new Project Template, go to “Site” view, and Link the above Project into it using “Auto-Origin to Origin” Positioning. Note that the 2 model lines in the Link (the ones placed at coordinates 50,50,0) intersect at the 0,0,0 coordinates of the PBP (a.k.a. “Startup Location”) in the host project.

Based on this testing, it seems evident to me that the “invisible point” (a.k.a. "Startup Location") CAN be moved – and that it kind of behaves, IMO, like AutoCAD’s WCS when Linking into another Revit Project “Auto-Origin to Origin”.

 

Still not convinced? Then, I think we have to agree to disagree – respectfully so.  

 

Thanks for the ride, Gentlemen.  

 

P.S. @Anonymous: I understand this slightly off your topic, but, in my defense, my original comment that sparked this digression was germane to what was being said at the time.  Sorry it spun off. Good luck to you.  

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