Solving problems when working with large coordinates, important steps

When speaking about large coordinates, we refer to points or elements that are more than 5,000 m from the origin. All calculations in Allplan are based on the global point (origin). Consequently, Allplan is slower and the accuracy may decrease. For example, movements in the animation window may not be smooth or hatching and patterns may be incomplete.

Large coordinates are usually the result of importing survey data with country coordinates (unless you take countermeasures by specifying appropriate Settings during import). Importing an entire site plan exceeding 5,000 m may also produce large coordinates.

Basically it is a good idea to move the data to the origin (global point) in Allplan.

If you want to keep the coordinates of the site plan, do the following:

• Move the data to the Allplan origin (global point)
• Set offset coordinates in the project

Note: Imprecise components do not gain in precision when you move them, but you can edit or calculate them more exactly. You are thus advised to check the components for defects and, if necessary, draw the affected components again.

Moving data to the Allplan origin (global point)

To move data near the Allplan origin (global point)

• To be on the safe side, copy the entire project and edit the copy of the project.

1. Open the copied project.
2. Find out which drawing files contain data with large coordinates.
   You may find that there are only a few "outliers" that are irrelevant to further editing.
3. Create a new fileset so that you can move as much data as possible in one go.

   Tip: Even if you work with the building structure, you can use a fileset structure in parallel.

4. Assign all drawing files containing data with large coordinates to this fileset.

   You can thus move all these drawing files to the global point in a single step.
   If there are so many drawing files that they do not fit into one fileset, create more filesets and repeat the following steps for each fileset.

5. Open an empty drawing file and name it Reference point.
6. Draw two intersecting lines near the model.

   

   This point of intersection will serve as the reference point for the move.

7. Open the first fileset.
8. Set all layers to visible and modifiable. For example, you can use Set all layers to modifiable - retain current layer (Layers palette).
9. Open drawing file Reference point in reference mode.
10. Press CTRL+A to select all elements.
11. Click Move (How).
    

    Activate Move in one of the following ways

    • Menu bar: Edit

    • Keyboard: SHIFT+CTRL+V

    • Toolbar: Basic Tools Edit flyout
12. From point: click the reference point.
13. To point: click Global point in the dialog line.

    The Global X coordinate and Global Y coordinate boxes now show the position of the reference point.
    These are the values by which you need to move the model.

    

14. Be sure to write down the exact values - this is particularly important when you specify Offset coordinates in the Project Settings later.
15. Next, enter the value 0 for both the Global X coordinate and the Global Y coordinate.

    

    This moves the model near the global point.

16. Repeat steps 7 to 15 to move more data.
17. Click Delta point in the dialog line so that you can continue to work as usual.

Setting offset coordinates in the project

You just moved the data to the Allplan origin. When you measure the coordinates, you get small values. So that you can see and export the original coordinates, you can set the original values as Offset coordinates in the Project Settings.

To set offset coordinates in the project (consistent with the move)

• You know the exact X and Y coordinates of the reference point.

1. Click New Project, Open Project.
2. Click the project name with the right mouse button and select Properties on the shortcut menu.
3. Select the Offset coordinates option in the Settings area and enter the values you noted down for the reference point or the move.
4. Click OK to confirm.

For example:

The coordinates of the reference point are = -500000 and = -400000.
This means that you moved the data in the positive X and Y directions (to the top right).
Enter the value of the reference point as Offset coordinates, making sure Allplan adds the correct values to the data during export.

Checking the solution

Measure coordinates you know to find out whether you have solved the problems.