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Inspiring
July 25, 2022
Question

How to fix global ruler origins?

  • July 25, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1929 views

My illustration is a graph with x and y coordinates. I want to set the (0, 0) point to be where the axes intersect.

This used to be extremely easy (by sliding the top left corner to where the given line intersects the ruler).

When I try it now, I can momentarily fix one coordinate (say x), but then the other one changes from where I "fixed" it a moment earlier.

How do I make the intersection of these line remain (0, 0)?

Another question is why Adobe breaks their own software? Used to work, now it's broken. (Works differently: less intuitively, more cumbersome and time-consuming. For DECADES it worked fine. Now broken.)

Please answer at least first question. Thanks.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Met1
Legend
July 25, 2022

Right click on the ruler origin and change to artboard rulers.

If you only have one artboard, in theory they should act exactly the same - in practice I find they don't and artboard rulers are more reliable.

Also, see renél80416020's script here:  community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/how-to-set-ruler-0-point-to-canvas/m-p/13067575, very useful (Global Ruler mode)

Inspiring
July 25, 2022

Thanks Met1.

 

However, your link with discussion about Javascript with all its lines of code is exactly the kind of thing that caused frustration and confusion. I like to make pictures. I do not like to wrestle with software and computer code. Something so simple as setting coordinate origins should always be doable with a small set of steps using a user-friendly interface, in my humble opinion. Thankfully, the method provided earlier does this.

Met1
Legend
July 26, 2022

It's a fully functioning script, you don't have to know anything about coding to use it.

Once loaded it's one menu pull, couldn't be simpler (you could even shortcut it for a single key action).

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2022

Can you please tell us step by step what you are doing?

Are yoiu dragging the origin point once or repeatedly?

Please show a screenshot of what exactly you drag.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 25, 2022

I am not sure if I read correctly, do you drag from the place where the rulers intersect to the intersection of your graph axis?

If that does not stick, restarting your machine may help and if that does not help, try resetting the Preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html

Inspiring
July 25, 2022

Thank you Ton and Monika.

 

Dragging from the upper left corner, where the vertical and horizontal rulers intersect, to the intersection point in the artwork (in this case my graph) appears to be the solution. It does appear to be sticking.

 

The method has changed since CS2. Dragging from the upper left corner used to be required once for each axis. Dragging into the drawing then used to cause the drawing to slide out of view. So the change is actually a good one. 

 

The frustration expressed in my original post was due to not knowing about the change and having found various discussions about two sets of rulers (Global and Artboard) that only added to my confusion.

 

Thanks again.