move an object on the x,y plane but staying in the 3D view

 From:  Michael Gibson
11862.7 In reply to 11862.5 
And yes if you move the point in one of the 2D ortho (Top/Front/Right) views instead of the 3D view the point will stay at its z/elevation level when you move it.

That doesn't happen automatically when dragging points in the 3D view so that you have more freedom to construct non-planar objects in that view.

- Michael