Dx/Dy Offset (DXDY) ( Modeling & Drawing Editor )

Tool summary :

  • Can be used in Modeling or the Drawing Editor to locate a point that is a distance that you specify from a first point or a reference point.
  • In Modeling , DXDY can be used to enter a " Z " offset distance as well as an " X " distance and " Y " distance. Since a " Z " distance beyond the limits of depth checking is allowed, DXDY can be used to input the work points of beams or braces that slope out of your current view.

    VIDEO The ' Single ' option for Copy Members is demonstrated. The point locator DxDy is used to enter a " Z " value of ' 3-0 ' to copy the new member to an elevation 3 feet higher than the original member.
  • In the Drawing Editor , you can enter an " X " distance and " Y " distance, but not a " Z " distance. X and Y and Z are screen axes . Since you cannot move into or out of the plane of a 2D drawing, a "Z" coordinate distance is not an option in the Drawing Editor . You can use DXDY to designate the exact points of 2D graphic objects such as lines or weld symbols.
  • Many tools require the entry of two points. After a first point has been located, entries made for DXDY are measured from that first located point.

    VIDEO One end of a horizontal brace is stretched 2-0 feet to the left by entering a negative value of -2-0 as the " X distance " for DxDy . The Model > Member > Move/Stretch operation is cancelled, then the entire member is moved to illustrate the point that when both the member and its end are selected the entire member is moved.
  • When DXDY is used to locate a first point , you are prompted to locate a reference point to dimension DXDY entries from.
  • For an operation requiring the location of more than two points, the option " Use this point as new base position " can facilitate the location of each subsequent point with respect to the previous point. See this example .
  • Offset Controls affect the functionality of DXDY .

More about this point locator :

Also see :

page 1 | contents | locate > | top

   Quick instructions for DXDY to locate a second point :

DXDY to add a sloping beam
(instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse)
1 . Invoke Add Beam , then left-click ( Locate ) when the target ( ) snaps to where you want the beam's first point. EXPT is the Locate option used in this example.
2 . The status line prompts, "Locate second point ." Select DXDY as the Locate option, then left-click ( Locate ) anywhere in the drawing area.
3 . In the DX/DY Offset window, enter the X, Y and Z distance from the first point to the beam's second point, then press " OK ."
4 . When you are done making entries to the Beam Edit window, the beam appears in the view.

page 1 | contents | locate > | top

   DXDY to lay out an octagonal shape :

Note: " Use this point as new base position " must be checked ( ) to reproduce this example.

DXDY entries to create an octagon using Add Lines
Point X distance Y distance
2 2-9 15/16 0
3 2-0 2-0
4 0 2-9 15/16
5 -2-0 2-0
6 -2-9 15/16 0
7 -2-0 -2-0
8 0 -2-9 15/16
9 2-0 -2-0

Note 1: Point 1 was located using INCL .

Note 2: 2-9 15/16 is the square root of 2-0 squared plus 2-0 squared (per the Pythagorean theorem). Each side of the octagon is this length.

Note 3: Most layouts let you middle-click ( Done ) the last point instead of making the DXDY entries that are shown for point 9 .

page 1 | contents | locate > | top

   DXDY to locate a second point (also see the quick instructions ) :

When DXDY is used to locate a second point, the dimensions you enter (in step 4 ) are measured from the first point you input.

1 . Begin this operation in Modeling or the Drawing Editor .

1a : Invoke Construction Line Add or Add Beam or Line Add or any similar tool that prompts you to locate two points.

2 . The status line prompts, " Locate a first point ."

2a : With one of the other Locate options active ( Auto , EXPT , etc.), left-click ( Locate ) when the point location target ( ) is where you want this first point. This first point is used as the reference point for DXDY .

3 . The status line prompts, " Locate a second point ."

3a : Select the DXDY icon or choose Locate > DxDy Offset , then left-click ( Locate ).

4 . The DX/DY Offset window opens.

The distances you enter on this window establish point coordinates with respect to screen axes .

X distance: A positive or negative (-) distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) from the point entered in step 2 of this procedure (or the reference point added in step 3 of the next procedure ). Entering a positive distance places the new point that distance directly to the right of the reference point. Entering a negative (-) distance places the new point that distance directly to the left of the reference point. Entering 0 (zero) places the new point at the X coordinate of the reference point.

Y distance: A positive or negative (-) distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) from the point entered in step 2 of this procedure (or the reference point added in step 3 of the next procedure ). Entering a positive Y distance places the new point that distance above the reference point. Entering a negative Y distance places the new point directly below the reference point. Entering 0 (zero) places the new point at the Y coordinate of the reference point.

Z distance: A positive or negative (-) distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) from the point entered in step 2 of this procedure (or the reference point added step 3 of the next procedure ). This prompt only appears if you are executing DXDY in Modeling . Entering a positive Z distance places the newly added point that distance toward you, out of the screen, from the reference point. Entering a negative Z distance places the newly added point that distance directly away from you, into the screen, from the reference point. Entering 0 (zero) places the new point at the Z coordinate of the reference point. You may enter a Z distance beyond the limits of depth checking , but the value you enter does not override Offset Controls .

Use this point as new base position: or . "This point" is the point you are currently defining. This option applies to operations such as Move Material . It also applies to a ' Single ' copy done repeated times in a Copy Members operation. For a typical two-point add operation, this option is irrelevant since there will be no additional points that will be located in that operation. If this box is checked ( ), the next point you locate using DXDY in your current operation will be dimensioned from the point you are currently defining. If this box is not checked ( ), the next point located is dimensioned from the last point that dimensioning was from (in that operation).

Alternative 1 : Press the " OK " button to cause a new point to be offset from the reference point per the X, Y, Z distances entered on this window.

Alternative 2 : Press the " Cancel " button to, instead of locating the Dx/Dy point, close the window, choose a different Locate option, and continue with whatever operation you invoked in step 1.

page 1 | contents | locate > | top

   DXDY to locate a first point :

When DXDY is used to locate a first point, you must locate a reference point to dimension from.

1 . Begin this operation in Modeling or the Drawing Editor .

1a : Invoke Construction Line Add or Add Beam or Line Add or any similar tool that prompts you to locate a point.

2 . The status line prompts, " Locate a point ."

2a : Select the DXDY icon or choose Locate > DxDy Offset , then left-click ( Locate ).

3 . The status line prompts, " Locate a reference point ."

3a : Select any Locate icon used for point location ( Auto , INCL , INCL , FRPT , etc.).

3b : Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the point location target ( ) snaps to the on-screen location where you want the reference point, then left-click ( Locate ).

4 . The DX/DY Offset window opens.

4a : See step 4 of the previous procedure.

page 1 | contents | locate > | top