AutoCAD Tip: AutoCAD True North and Project North Workflow

Separate True North (geographic) from Project North (sheet-friendly) to align with survey data, keep drawings orthogonal, and plot consistently. Here’s a concise setup that’s dependable on real projects.

• Establish True North with geolocation
  • Insert survey data first. If available, set a coordinate system or use GEOGRAPHICLOCATION to assign a site reference so World UCS represents True North.
  • Verify UNITS (Decimal + Degrees for angles) and confirm ANGBASE = 0 and ANGDIR = 0 for standard bearings.
  • Keep the survey in World (don’t rotate survey geometry). This becomes your single source of geographic truth.
• Define Project North with a UCS
  • Align the UCS to the building grid: use UCS, then Object (OB) to align to a grid line, or UCS Z and enter a rotation that makes your primary grid horizontal.
  • Issue PLAN Current to square the view to the UCS.
  • Save it: UCS, Save, name it “Project_North”. Keep World as your True North baseline.
• Create quick toggles with Views and Named UCS
  • With UCS set to World, run PLAN World and save a view “TN_Plan”.
  • Restore “Project_North” UCS, run PLAN Current, and save a view “PN_Plan”.
  • These two named views become your one-click switches between True North and Project North.
• Viewport control for sheets
  • Create two layout viewports if needed: one set to TN_Plan (World) and one to PN_Plan (Project_North).
  • Set UCSVP = 1 so each viewport remembers its UCS independently.
  • Use LOCK on viewports after setup to prevent accidental twists. If a view ever skews, DVIEW > TWist or PLAN World/Current to reset. VIEWTWIST can be audited if necessary.
• Xref and model discipline
  • Attach the survey in World; do not rotate it. Bring the building model in, then orient working views with UCS—avoid rotating project geometry.
  • If alignment is needed, use ALIGN once to position, then keep the established UCS workflow intact.
• Annotation strategy
  • Place model annotations with the intended UCS active (TN for site plans, PN for building plans) so text and dimensions read naturally.
  • Paper space annotations remain page-aligned—ideal for titles, notes, and legends.
  • Turn on a visible UCS icon (UCSICON Origin ON) in Model Space to confirm orientation before annotating.
• QA checklist and handoff
  • UCSFOLLOW = 0 to avoid unintended view changes.
  • Document which sheets use TN vs. PN in your project notes or Sheet Set Manager properties.
  • Package with eTransmit and include a brief readme describing the True/Project North convention.

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