Rotate CAD

When you import a CAD file, it does not initially line up with the basemap. But, in Designer XI you can adjust the CAD file to match the basemap better.

One quick way to adjust the CAD is to rotate it. This does not change the proportions of the CAD, it merely rotates the entire CAD to a new position.

When using this tool, keep the following in mind:

• Your first click on the CAD establishes the axis point for the upcoming rotation.

• You can type positive or negative angles. You can also incorporate decimals for small adjustments.

• After setting the angle, you can keep rotating at that same degree of adjustment by pressing “R,” or you can press “Shift+R” to rotate the opposite direction (the direction of rotation depends on whether you are using positive or negative degrees). This is seen in the video below where the user continues to press “R” to rotate 1 degree at a time, then presses “Shift+R” to correct a small over-adjustment.

To Rotate the CAD, follow these steps:

1. If necessary, Import the CAD.

2. You need to see the CAD and the basemap at the same time to perform the subsequent steps. So, if you need to move the CAD to your current map extent, click the CAD that you want to move to highlight it in green, then click the Move CAD File to Current Extent tool.

3. If necessary, click the CAD that you want to rotate to highlight it in green. The one selected is the one you are going to rotate. Unselected CAD files are not moved.

   

   IMPORTANT: It is particularly important to always verify you are rotating the correct CAD when you have multiple CAD layers in your design.

4. Click the Rotate CAD tool. Notice your cursor changes to say “Pick the Center of Rotation.”

5. Click the point to act as the axis of rotation

6. Notice the cursor changes to say “Press ‘A’ to edit the Angle.”

7. Press “A.”

8. Type the rotation angle. You can use positive or negative degrees. You can incorporate decimals, if needed.

9. Press Enter.

10. Notice the CAD rotates the number of degrees you entered.

    • At this point, you can repeat the process by pressing “A” again and inputting another angle.

    • You can press “R” to continue to rotate the CAD using the same degrees you entered before.

    • You can press “Shift+R” to continue to rotate the CAD using the same degrees but in the opposite direction.

      IMPORTANT: If your CAD has multiple layers within it, they are all rotated together.