Posted by AZPS on Aug 06, 2024; 7:38pm
URL: https://forum.librecad.org/Dimensions-vs-X-Y-coordinates-tp5725199.html

I want to use the Cartesian X-Y coordinates information in the lower left corner of the screen to draw entities on my project plan.

By using an image on a layer as a template on which to overlay a site plan drawing, I intend to generate a Letter size page for a DIY home improvement project that requires a permit.

Previously, I have had an architectural floor plan drawing scanned and rendered as a PDF.  With that file opened in Libre Draw, it was scaled to an A4 page, exported as a SVG that is then imported into LibreCAD onto a similarly sized page.  With the proper settings in Drawing Preferences, the measurement functions work.  This process was not arrived at in a straight forward manner.  Many hours of research were required off-and-on for this solution, so I cannot say I remember exactly how I got this to work.  For some reason the coordinate readout corresponds to the drawing's measurements.

With my current project, I am attempting to create a drawing within a portion of an image.  I have successfully set up the proper dimensions in the Drawing Preferences/Dimensions/General Scale and Length Factor windows so that the largest real world length will fit into the portion of the application form image/template.  The length measurement functions on the drawing correctly indicate the real world measurements.  I want to draw a line that represents a fence line that will be the the reference edge from which the other features will be placed in the drawing.

The thing that escapes me is when I want to use the X-Y readout at the bottom of the screen to create a line that will correspond to those real world dimensions, the two references do not agree.  I have been unable to adjust any parameter in either the Drawing Preferences or the Print Preview/Scale that will cause this to work.

Although I have already learned the software sufficiently to generate a couple of drawings, I do not consider myself to be a proficient LiberCAD user.  I rely mostly on the tools not the command line.

Can someone point me to what I have missed?

Please note: LibreCAD 2.1.2 on a Ubuntu 18.04 OS.