The absolute drive position (Pm) is used as an indirect first measurement value for the absolute position of a machine component (TI). An incremental, direct measuring system (MI) on the machine component provides a second measurement (t). Since the displacement (delta) between the machine component (TI) and the drive (M) is smaller than the periodicity (I) of the second measurement value, the absolute position (P) of the component is determined from the two measurement values. The formula for absolute position is p + zKT + t, where PT is the absolute position from the point of view of the table and t is natural number (unknown). T is the dividing period of the linear scale and t is the absolute position within a division period.
