# Coordinates

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Selection prerequisites: One or more points

This Measure menu command measures the coordinates of the selected points. The measurement is with respect to the marked coordinate system.

If there is no marked coordinate system, Sketchpad marks an existing coordinate system or creates a new one.

If the marked coordinate system has a square or rectangular grid form, the coordinates are measured as an (x, y) pair.

If the marked coordinate system has a polar grid form, the coordinates are measured as an (r, θ) pair.

If you hold the Shift key while choosing this command, it becomes Abscissa & Ordinate or Polar Distance & Direction, depending on whether the coordinate system is rectangular or polar. In these cases, the command measures the coordinates (x and y or r and θ) as separate values, allowing you to use them as values in calculations and elsewhere.

The Shift key is a one-step shortcut to choosing Abscissa and Ordinate (or Polar Distance and Polar Direction) as two separate commands.

See also:

Abscissa (x) command

Ordinate (y) command

Define Coordinate System