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BeginnerFree AutoCAD course about 15 min

Move, copy and rotate

Moving, copying and rotating are how you reuse work. The key is the base point: pick it on something meaningful and every placement is exact.

In this lesson you will

  • Move and copy objects with base points and displacements
  • Make multiple and arrayed copies
  • Rotate by an angle or by reference
  • Use grips for quick edits

The base point

MOVE, COPY, ROTATE, SCALE and MIRROR all start the same way: select objects, press Enter, then pick a base point. Choose a point you can snap to exactly — a corner, an endpoint, the centre of a column — so the object lands precisely where you want it.

A small rectangle with its base point marked. An arrow shows it moved by a displacement to a new position; a second copy is left in the original place; a third version is rotated 30 degrees about the base point.base pointoriginal / copymoved (displacement)30°rotated about base point
Figure: Move, copy and rotate all start from a base point. Original KitWren diagram.

MOVE

Displacement option: at the base-point prompt type D, then 1200,0 to move by that amount without picking points.

  1. 1Type M, select objects, Enter.
  2. 2Pick a base point (snap to a corner).
  3. 3Pick the destination point, or type a displacement such as @1200,0.

COPY

CO (or CP) works like MOVE but leaves the original. It keeps asking for destination points, so you can place many copies. The Array option (A) places a number of evenly spaced copies along a line — e.g. 6 windows at 1800 centres: select a window, base point, A, 6, then @1800,0. For grids and circular patterns, use the ARRAY command.

ROTATE

Copy option (C) rotates a copy and keeps the original.

Reference option (R) rotates something to line up with another object when you don't know the angle: pick two points on the object's current edge, then two points on the target edge.

  1. 1Type RO, select objects, Enter.
  2. 2Pick the base point — the pivot.
  3. 3Type an angle (positive = counter-clockwise), e.g. 90 or -30.

Grips: editing without commands

Select an object and click a blue grip — it turns red (hot). Now press Space to cycle through Stretch › Move › Rotate › Scale › Mirror, using the hot grip as the base point. Great for quick adjustments.

Quick reference

Command / toolHow to start itWhat it does
MOVEMMoves objects
COPYCO / CPCopies objects (multiple by default)
ROTATERORotates about a base point
ARRAYARRectangular, polar or path arrays
ALIGNALMoves and rotates to match points

Common mistakes

  • Objects end up slightly off position.

    Snap the base point and destination to real geometry; don't click in space.

  • Rotation goes the wrong way.

    Positive angles are counter-clockwise; use a negative angle for clockwise.

Exercise

Furnish a meeting room

  1. Draw a 1800 × 900 table (rectangle) and a 450 × 450 chair.
  2. Copy the chair along one side of the table with COPY › Array: 3 chairs at 600 centres.
  3. Mirror or copy them to the other side.
  4. Rotate a copy of the chair 90° to sit at the table end.
  5. Move the whole set 1000 to the right by displacement.

You should end up with: A table with evenly spaced chairs, placed exactly.

Checklist

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Lesson quiz

1 / 4

What is the most important choice when moving an object precisely?

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Free, independent learning material written for KitWren. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. KitWren is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Autodesk. We never provide software downloads, licence keys or cracks — use the official sources.