reference point 1

[dennis999]

Having come from a CAD background i am having trouble getting used to some of the methods in AI

In particular i often want to copy or move something from one spot to another or one file to another

In acad we get to choose a reference location or 'base' point for the objects being copied

for example i may have an array of holes with words below them and i would like to copy a word so that it's base or reference point is the center of the hole above and the destination is the center of another hole so that each copy has the same relative location to some other feature like the hole

in AI when i do a Ctrl-V the objects seem to land in a random place and then need to be dragged into place

i have taken to placing little tick marks and then including those in the copy and using them to snap to, but that is a royal pain, takes a lot of time a leaves duplicate and unneeded objects all about

i hope this was clear
is there a better or alternate way to make copies to precise locations relative to other features ?

TIA

 

[jconingham]

Try using Ctrl + F (Paste in Front) instead.

 

[apepp]

...Ai works with x + y coordinates via the transform palette, the origin point for Ai is set by the top left of the active document window, you can drag out a new origin point from here:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/Ai_Origin.mov

...this works in conjunction with the transform palette, smart guides help too:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/X+Y.mov

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...the transform again command is also useful for step and repeat work:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/tagain.mov

Andrew

 

[dennis999]

these are great tips, i thought there had to be a way,
i will look into these methods, thanks all!