diff --git a/src/adjust_data.f90 b/src/adjust_data.f90
index 71ce6512..3075989f 100644
--- a/src/adjust_data.f90
+++ b/src/adjust_data.f90
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ subroutine adjust_data_codeunits
  use labels,          only:ih,ix,ivx,get_sink_type,ipmass,idustfrac,irho,labeltype,label
  use settings_data,   only:ncolumns,ndimV,ndim,ntypes,iverbose,UseFakeDustParticles,UseFastRender,icoords
  use particle_data,   only:dat,npartoftype,iamtype
- use filenames,       only:ifileopen,nstepsinfile
+ use filenames,       only:ifileopen,nstepsinfile,have_origin,have_sinkpos,xyz_origin,isinkid
  use geometry,        only:labelcoord
  use part_utils,      only:locate_first_two_of_type,locate_nth_particle_of_type,get_binary,got_particles_of_type
  real :: hmin,dphi,domega,period
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ subroutine adjust_data_codeunits
     !--can specify either just "true" for sink #1, or specify a number for a particular sink
     centreonsink = lenvironment('SPLASH_CENTRE_ON_SINK') .or. lenvironment('SPLASH_CENTER_ON_SINK')
     isink        = max(ienvironment('SPLASH_CENTRE_ON_SINK'),ienvironment('SPLASH_CENTER_ON_SINK'))
+    if (have_sinkpos) isink = isinkid(ifileopen)
     if (isink > 0 .or. centreonsink .and. all(ix(1:ndim) > 0)) then
        if (isink==0) isink = 1
        itype = get_sink_type(ntypes)
@@ -147,7 +148,6 @@ subroutine adjust_data_codeunits
           if (all(npartoftype(itype,:) < isink)) then
              print "(a,i10,a)",' ERROR: --sink = ',isink,' but not enough sink particles'
           else
-             if (iverbose >= 1) print*
              if (isink < 10) then
                 print "(a,i1,a)",' :: CENTREING ON SINK ',isink,' from --sink flag'
              else
@@ -163,6 +163,17 @@ subroutine adjust_data_codeunits
                           '        corresponding to sink particles'
        endif
     endif
+
+    !
+    !--environment variable to recentre each file on a given origin
+    !  This will not produce the intended results if any other shifting has occurred
+    if (have_origin) then
+       if (iverbose >= 1) print "(a,3(1x,es10.3))",' :: manual origin =',xyz_origin(1:3,ndim)
+       do j=1,nstepsinfile(ifileopen)
+          call shift_positions(dat(:,:,j),ntot,ndim,xyz_origin(1:3,ifileopen))
+       enddo
+    endif
+
     !
     !--center on a particular particle
     !
diff --git a/src/globaldata.f90 b/src/globaldata.f90
index 034b797a..ed21cd5d 100644
--- a/src/globaldata.f90
+++ b/src/globaldata.f90
@@ -99,11 +99,13 @@ end module particle_data
 module filenames
  implicit none
  integer, parameter :: maxfile = 10001
- integer :: nfiles,nsteps,ifileopen,iposopen
+ integer :: nfiles,nsteps,ifileopen,iposopen,i,io
+ real    :: xyz_origin(3,maxfile)
  character(len=120), dimension(maxfile) :: rootname
  character(len=100) :: fileprefix
- character(len=120) :: defaultsfile,limitsfile,unitsfile,coloursfile
- integer, dimension(maxfile) :: nstepsinfile
+ character(len=120) :: defaultsfile,limitsfile,unitsfile,coloursfile,originfile,sinkposfile
+ integer, dimension(maxfile) :: nstepsinfile,isinkid
+ logical :: have_origin,have_sinkpos
  character(len=*), parameter :: tagline = &
   'SPLASH: A visualisation tool for SPH data (c)2004-2022 Daniel Price and contributors'
 
@@ -113,6 +115,7 @@ module filenames
 
 subroutine set_filenames(prefix)
  character(len=*), intent(in) :: prefix
+ logical                      :: fexists
 
  fileprefix   = trim(adjustl(prefix))
  if (fileprefix(len_trim(fileprefix):len_trim(fileprefix))=='.') then
@@ -122,6 +125,39 @@ subroutine set_filenames(prefix)
  limitsfile   = trim(adjustl(fileprefix))//'.limits'
  unitsfile    = trim(adjustl(fileprefix))//'.units'
  coloursfile  = trim(adjustl(fileprefix))//'.colours'
+ originfile   = trim(adjustl(fileprefix))//'.origin'
+ sinkposfile  = trim(adjustl(fileprefix))//'.sinkpos'
+
+ inquire(file=originfile,exist=fexists)
+ xyz_origin = 0.
+ have_origin = .false.
+ if (fexists) then
+    print*, 'Reading in ',trim(originfile)
+    print*, 'WARNING: this will not provided the desired result if other shifting applied'
+    print*, 'WARNING: This method has not yet been fully tested'
+    have_origin = .true.
+    open(unit=1701,file=originfile)
+    io = 0
+    i = 1
+    do while (io==0)
+       read(1701,*,iostat=io) xyz_origin(:,i)
+       i = i + 1
+    enddo
+ endif
+ inquire(file=sinkposfile,exist=fexists)
+ isinkid = 0
+ have_sinkpos = .false.
+ if (fexists) then
+    print*, 'Reading in ',trim(sinkposfile)
+    have_sinkpos = .true.
+    open(unit=1701,file=sinkposfile)
+    io = 0
+    i = 1
+    do while (io==0)
+       read(1701,*,iostat=io) isinkid(i)
+       i = i + 1
+    enddo
+ endif
 
  return
 end subroutine set_filenames
diff --git a/src/shapes.f90 b/src/shapes.f90
index 640dc1fe..211f9392 100644
--- a/src/shapes.f90
+++ b/src/shapes.f90
@@ -293,10 +293,10 @@ subroutine add_shape(istart,iend,nshape)
           shape(ishape)%ylen = shape(ishape)%xlen
           poslabel = ' centre'
        case(ishape_rectangle) ! rectangle
-          call prompt('enter x position of left edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%xpos,0.)
-          call prompt('enter x position of right edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%xlen,0.)
-          call prompt('enter y position of bottom edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%ypos,0.)
-          call prompt('enter y position of top edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%ylen,0.)
+          call prompt('enter x position of left edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%xpos)
+          call prompt('enter x position of right edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%xlen)
+          call prompt('enter y position of bottom edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%ypos)
+          call prompt('enter y position of top edge (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//')',shape(ishape)%ylen)
           poslabel = ''
        case(ishape_arrow) ! arrow
           call prompt('enter starting x position (in '//trim(labelunits(iunits))//') ',shape(ishape)%xpos)