# ROTATE in AutoCAD

> How AutoCAD's ROTATE (RO) works, prompt by prompt: base point and angle, Copy to keep the original, Reference to turn to an angle. Try it free in your browser.

ROTATE turns the objects you select about a base point: select them, give the base point, then the angle — typed, or picked as a point whose direction from the base point is the angle. Its first line says which way is positive, counterclockwise by default (ANGDIR), and where 0 lies (ANGBASE). Enter at the angle repeats the last turn, 0 in a new drawing. The objects turn about an axis parallel to the UCS's Z through the base point, so in 3D they keep their height. The turn is one step that Undo takes back.

- **Command:** `ROTATE`
- **Aliases:** `RO`
- **Panel:** [Modify](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands.md#modify)
- **Try it:** [Open the editor](/draw), type `RO` and press Enter.

## At the command line

The engine draws it and writes its history as you would type it: the prompts in AutoCAD 2027's order, with the same option letters.

A rectangle turned 30° about its corner with Copy, the original kept.

```text
Command: ROTATE
Current positive angle in UCS:  ANGDIR=counterclockwise  ANGBASE=0
Select objects: 1 found
Select objects:
Specify base point: 0,0
Specify rotation angle or [Copy/Reference] <0>: C
Rotating a copy of the selected objects.
Specify rotation angle or [Copy/Reference] <0>: 30
```

## Options

### `Copy` (`C`)

Turns a copy and leaves the objects where they were, saying `Rotating a copy of the selected objects.`. The prompt then asks for the angle again.

### `Reference` (`R`)

Turns from an angle you have to the one you want: asks for the reference angle (typed, or two points that measure it), then the new angle, and turns by the difference. To set a slanted edge level, pick its two ends as the reference and type 0.

### `Points` (`P`)

At Reference's new angle: the new angle is that of a line between two points you pick, so the objects line up with an edge that is already drawn.

## What it does not do yet

While you give the angle, the turned set follows the cursor in each object's colour, but not its linetype or lineweight.

[What it does and still lacks, in detail (in English)](https://github.com/ovelilla/mellowcad/blob/main/docs/coverage/modify.md#rotate--ro--es-gira--gi--pt-br-rotac--ro)

## Questions

### What is the shortcut for ROTATE in AutoCAD?

`RO`, then Enter or Space. The full name works too, and `_ROTATE` in any language of AutoCAD.

### How do I rotate an object to line up with another?

Choose `Reference`, pick two points along the object's edge, then choose `Points` and pick two points along the line it should follow.

### How do I rotate an object and keep the original?

Choose `Copy` before giving the angle: the copy turns and the original stays.

### Why does ROTATE turn the wrong way?

A positive angle turns counterclockwise, as the first line's ANGDIR says. Type a negative angle, `-30`, to turn clockwise.

## Related commands

- [MOVE in AutoCAD](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/move.md)
- [COPY in AutoCAD](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/copy.md)
- [MIRROR in AutoCAD](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/mirror.md)
- [SCALE in AutoCAD](https://mellowcad.com/docs/commands/scale.md)