ruler direction to match cartesian system

[b squires]

can I change the rulers in Illustrator to match cartesian values - ie positive values are to the right and up, negative values are to the left and down. When I move an object, positive values will move it to the right and up, negative values will move it to the left and down

[Ton Frederiks]

This script from Carlos Canto may help:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-change-cs5-ruler-origin-to-bottom-left-lik...

[CarlosCanto]

13 years later and still rocking @Ton Frederiks 

[Ton Frederiks]

The script works for new documents, for existing ones you need to double click the intersection of the rulers to reset the origin.

[Ton Frederiks]

Yes, it still rocks, @CarlosCanto !

[b squires]

Thank You guys - I installed the Adobe ExtendScript toolkit, pasted the simple text from Carlos, saved the script and loaded it in Illustrator through File/Scripts/Other script and presto Cartesian system rules.

I should have asked this question when we moved to CS5 - my world would have been so much better.

I assume that when Illustrator updates, I may have to re-load the script, so I'll keep it handy.

You guys are the best!!!

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped.

[b squires]

I may have commented to soon. Illustrator (2025) is fighting Carlos' script. It still wants to move a positive value down horizontally with the move tool (and sometimes does) regardless of the script. I have to watch very carefully to ensure it actually moves it up. Note - a move in the wrong direction may be a costly mistake for me!

[Ton Frederiks]

I see what you mean, the Transform panel works correct, but the Move tool moves the objects up and down when you change both Horizontal and Vertical values.

[Ton Frederiks]

This is what happens with the Move tool after changing the coordinate system, it changes the vertical position when the horizontal value is edited.

[b squires]

I've noticed that if you change the move distance horizontally and tab through the vertical cell value (unchanged), Illustrator honours Carlos' script and moves the object accordingly. If you don't tab through the vetical move cell, and simply hit return after entering the horizontal move distance, then the object is moved in accordance with the standard program logic (ie positive is down, negative is up). This is true regardless of the vertical value beign positive or negative. The script seems to need a value for Y to be entered each time you use the move tool. Tabbing through the cell confirms the value and the script works correctly.

Another anomaly shows up if you decide to move the object again. When the move tool dialog box appears, the value of Y (the vertical move) will have changed from + to - or vica versa (the opositte of  the previous move's vertical value. interesting . . . . . . 

[Mike_Gondek]

Try dragging the ruler origin to bottom left. First I would drag guides as the ruler origin does not snap, unless you have guides to snap to. Guides will snap to edge of artboard if you hold down shift.

[Jacob Bugge]

b squires,

It has been up quite a few times, one of the latest being this,

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/how-to-change-the-quot-y-quot-coordinate-from...

There were many threads about it when the switch came with CS5 including the original one by Carlos with the script, but they were all lost in connexion with the latest change of forum software.

As mentioned in the thread linked to, an Adobe staff friend kindly restored the thread with the script on 28th April 2020.

I can see that you have seen it already.