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Coordinates, Projection & Snapping

Contents

These commands control precision while you work in the GDI Display: snapping to existing features, measuring isometric distances along an axis, forcing new lines to specific angles, shifting or scaling the whole model, and projecting coordinates between plane (X-Y) and geographic (longitude/latitude) systems using a projection file. Only one projection file can be attached to a model at a time, and it must cover the full extent of the model data to project accurately.

GDI Commands

Feature Snap

Turns Feature Snap on or off, depending on its current status.

  1. Click the Feature Snap icon in the lower-left corner of the GDI Window.
  2. A darkened icon background means Feature Snap is enabled; a normal gray background means it’s disabled.

Can also be run by selecting the Feature Snap item from the GDI Command List or by typing SNAP on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • When enabled, a graphic circle displays around the mouse crosshairs with a radius equal to the snap target. A left-click, or a coordinate pair typed on the GDI Prompt Line, selects any feature that falls within that circle. These target values can be changed on the Graphics data tab of the User Options & Settings screen (Utilities menu).
  • If more than one feature falls within the snap target circle, the feature with the lowest Record Number is used.

Measure An X-Axis Isometric Distance

Calculates a distance along the X-axis between two points you specify.

  1. Select the Measure X Distance item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the First Point prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display.
  3. At the Next Point prompt, left-click another point. A message reports the X-axis distance between the two points — click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing MEASUREX or DISTANCEX on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • If Feature Snap is turned on and a node falls within the snap target of a selected point, that node is used instead.

Measure A Y-Axis Isometric Distance

Calculates a distance along the Y-axis between two points you specify.

  1. Select the Measure Y Distance item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the First Point prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display.
  3. At the Next Point prompt, left-click another point. A message reports the Y-axis distance between the two points — click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing MEASUREY or DISTANCEY on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • If Feature Snap is turned on and a node falls within the snap target of a selected point, that node is used instead.

Measure A Z-Axis Isometric Distance

Calculates a distance along the Z-axis between two points you specify, while the model is displayed in Isometric View.

  1. Select the Measure Z Distance item from the GDI Command List. If the model is in Plan View, a message is displayed and the command ends — click OK to clear it.
  2. At the First Point prompt, left-click a point in the GDI Display.
  3. At the Next Point prompt, left-click another point. A message reports the Z-axis distance between the two points — click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing MEASUREZ or DISTANCEZ on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • If Feature Snap is turned on and a node falls within the snap target of a selected point, that node is used instead.

Set The Orthogonal Coordinates

Turns Orthogonal Coordinates on or off, depending on the current status.

  1. Select the Set Orthogonal Coordinates item from the GDI Command List.
  2. A message may report the current Orthogonal Coordinates setting. Click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing SETORTHO or ORTHO on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • Orthogonal Coordinates force new lines to be drawn at 0, 90, 180, or 270 degrees from north. When on, “Ortho On” displays next to the coordinates above the GDI Command Line.
  • Combine this with Snap To A Grid Intersection to draw lines that snap to the Reference Grid; select Display Reference Grid (Settings item, Graphics menu) to show the grid lines.
  • Turning Orthogonal Coordinates on automatically turns Orthogonal Plus Coordinates off.

Set The Orthogonal Plus Coordinates

Turns Orthogonal Plus Coordinates on or off, depending on the current status.

  1. Select the Set Orthogonal Coordinates – Plus item from the GDI Command List.
  2. A message may report the current Orthogonal Plus Coordinates setting. Click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing SETORTHOPLUS or ORTHOP on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • Orthogonal Plus Coordinates force new lines to be drawn at 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, or 315 degrees from north — Orthogonal Coordinates plus the diagonals. When on, “Ortho Plus On” displays next to the coordinates above the GDI Command Line.
  • Combine this with Snap To A Grid Intersection to draw lines that snap to the Reference Grid; select Display Reference Grid (Settings item, Graphics menu) to show the grid lines.
  • Turning Orthogonal Plus Coordinates on automatically turns Orthogonal Coordinates off.

Set To Flat Isometric Coordinates

Allows for isometric detail while the model is displayed in Plan View.

  1. Select the Set Flat Isometric Coordinates item from the GDI Command List.
  2. A message may report the current Flat Isometric Coordinates setting. Click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing SETFLATISO on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • When this option is on, “Flat Iso On” displays next to the coordinates above the GDI Command Line.

Shift The Model Coordinates

Shifts, scales, or rotates the model’s coordinates based on values you specify.

  1. Select the Shift Model Coordinates item from the GDI Command List. The Shift Specifications screen is displayed.
  2. For the Shift items, type the distance to move model points along each axis.
  3. For the Scale items, type the Scale Factor to multiply the coordinate values by, for each axis.
  4. For the Rotation Angle item, type the angle (in degrees from north) to rotate model points.
  5. For the Rotation Point items, type the X and Y Coordinates of the center of rotation.
  6. Click Shift to apply the changes, or Close to return without making any. A message may confirm when the shift is complete — click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by typing SHIFTCOORDS or SHIFT on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • Models can also be shifted during the Import routine, using the Origin Shift or Insertion Point data fields — the field name depends on the file type being imported.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected (Environment data tab, Options & Settings), click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change.

Attach A Projection File

Attaches a projection file to the currently open model.

  1. Select the Attach ‘prj’ Style Projection File item from the GDI Command List. The Open screen is displayed.
  2. Navigate to the projection file for your model’s zone — for example, the GASWorkS 11\support\projections folder contains sample .prj files such as NAD 1983 StatePlaneColoradoCentral FIPS 0502 (US Feet).prj.
  3. Select the file and click Open. The projection file is attached, and the supported GeoMapping functions become available.

Can also be run by typing ATTACHPRJ on the GDI Command Line. Not all GeoMapping functions are available when the model’s Coordinate Values dimensional units aren’t set to Web L/L.

Notes

  • Only one projection file may be attached to a model at a time, and each file is only valid for the region it covers. If the model extends beyond that region, or needs more than one projection file to cover its full extent, it must be re-projected into the World Coordinate System (WCS) before using the GeoMapping functions.
  • To remove an attached projection file, use the Remove A Projection File command below.

Remove A Projection File

Removes the projection file currently attached to the model.

  1. Select the Remove Projection File item from the GDI Command List. The attached projection file is removed.

Can also be run by typing REMOVEPRJ on the GDI Command Line.

Project To Plane Coordinates

Projects the model from longitude and latitude into plane coordinates, or vice versa, using a specified projection file.

  1. Select the Project Coordinates item from the GeoMapping branch of the GDI Command Tree. The Convert To Projected Coordinate System screen is displayed.
  2. Select the direction of the conversion from the Conversion list, and the projection file’s extension from the File Type list.
  3. Click Browse, select a projection file on the Open screen, and click Open.
  4. Select Update Pipe Lengths to recalculate pipe Hydraulic Length values after the projection, or leave it unselected to preserve the original values.
  5. Click Continue to proceed, or Cancel to end the command and preserve the model. If GASWorkS detects the model is already in the specified coordinate system, confirm whether to proceed anyway. A message may report when the projection is complete — click OK to clear it.

Can also be run by selecting the Project Coordinates item from the GDI Command List or by typing PROJECTCOORDS or PRJ on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • The Projection routine uses either the Transverse Mercator or Lambert Conformal Conic projection, depending on which is specified by the selected projection file.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected (Environment data tab, Options & Settings), click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change.

Report Customers With Invalid Coordinates

Finds every customer with large out-of-range or negative coordinate values and lists them in a report.

  1. Select the Report Customers With Invalid Coordinates item from the GDI Command List. The Customer Coordinate Error Report is displayed, listing every customer record with invalid coordinate values.
  2. Browse the report, then click Close to return to the GDI Window.

Can also be run by typing REPORTBADCOORD or REPORTBADCUST on the GDI Command Line.

Notes

  • The Customer Data Report (Report menu) can also be used to find customers with invalid coordinates.
  • To remove all customers with invalid coordinates from the model, use the Purge Customers command.

Notes & Considerations

  • Plane coordinates represent geographic data using X-Y values, and are easier to calculate direction and distance with than spherical longitude/latitude coordinates. Examples include the State Plane Coordinate System in the United States, the Ordnance Survey National Grid in the United Kingdom, and the Universal Transverse Mercator system worldwide.
  • Plane coordinate systems are typically divided into zones, each tied to its own projection file. GASWorkS supports .prj files from ESRI and .wkt files from EPSG — make sure the file matches the zone containing your model data, or the projection won’t be accurate.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected (Environment data tab, Options & Settings), click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change.

See Also

  • Adding Customers & Services
  • Customer Loads, Supply Mains & Maintenance
  • Managing Intersections & Pipe Connectivity
  • Toggling Layers, Logs & GeoMapping
  • GeoMapping: Attaching & Building with Map Backgrounds
  • Importing CSV, DXF & KML Files
  • Example: Importing DXF & Working with Shapefiles
  • Example: Selecting, Moving & Viewing Features
  • GDI Utilities: Undo, Redo, Cancel & Housekeeping

FAQ

  • What kinds of tasks live under Display, View & Navigation?
    This subcategory covers how the model looks and how you move around it on screen — colors, symbol and text sizes, the Tool Palette, coordinate and snapping settings, what’s visible or hidden in the GDI Display, distance and angle measurements, layer and log toggles, and panning, zooming, and plotting the GDI image itself.
  • If something isn’t showing up in the GDI Display, where should I look first?
    Start with Display & Visibility Settings — it controls whether customer symbols, node symbols, pipe symbols, flow arrows, User Graphics, User Text, and background images are turned on or off. If the feature type is visible but hard to spot, Colors, Symbols, Sizes & Tool Palette covers adjusting colors and symbol sizes to make things stand out.
  • What’s the difference between the Views/Panning/Zooming commands and the Coordinates & Snapping commands?
    Views, Panning, Zooming & Plotting is about controlling what part of the model you’re looking at — saving views, zooming in and out, plotting the image. Coordinates, Projection & Snapping is about precision while you work within that view — setting coordinate systems, snapping to features, and measuring along specific axes, which matters more when you’re placing or aligning features than when you’re just navigating the drawing.
  • Where do I measure a distance or angle directly in the model?
    Measuring Distances & Angles covers exactly that — Measure A Distance and Measure An Angle let you click points in the GDI Display and get a real-world measurement back, without needing to calculate it separately.
  • How do I turn GeoMapping or a specific DXF layer on or off?
    Toggling Layers, Logs & GeoMapping covers both. It includes Turn The GeoMapping Functions On Or Off and Turn A DXF Layer Off, along with commands for turning the Change Log on or off and viewing or clearing it.

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Updated on July 29, 2026

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