You write relative coordinates by indicating a point's position relative to the previous point using a special prefix before the coordinate values.
Relative coordinates are used when you need to define a new point based on its distance and direction from the point you just specified. Unlike absolute coordinates, which refer to a fixed origin (like 0,0), relative coordinates describe a movement or offset from the last known position.
The Key to Writing Relative Coordinates
According to the provided reference, to specify relative coordinates, you must precede the coordinate values with an @ sign.
This @ symbol tells the system that the numbers following it represent a change in position from the last point entered, rather than a position from the origin.
Structure and Examples
The general structure for writing relative coordinates is:
@<delta X>,<delta Y>
Where:
@signifies that these are relative coordinates.<delta X>is the change in the X-direction from the previous point.<delta Y>is the change in the Y-direction from the previous point.
Example from the Reference:
Entering @3,4 specifies a point that is 3 units along the X axis and 4 units along the Y axis away from the last point specified. If your last point was (1,1), entering @3,4 would result in the new point being at (1+3, 1+4), which is (4,5).
Another Simple Example:
Suppose your last point was at (10, 5).
- To specify a point that is 2 units to the right (positive X) and 1 unit down (negative Y) from (10, 5), you would enter @2,-1. The new point would be (10+2, 5-1) = (12, 4).
Using relative coordinates simplifies drafting when you know the distances and directions from your current location without needing to calculate the absolute position.
