Move to absolute position in Eagle CAD?
tldr:


mov
ctrl+click the part
(x y)
the part is now at absolute coordinates x, y


or


click the part
type: move (C0 0)
type: (x y)




The move command does move the part to absolute coordinates, but it also takes into account the position relative to where you clicked to select the part.

(If you want to move to relative coordinates you have to use (Rx y))

So, if you click the center of your part and move it using the second procedure you describe, it moves it to absolute coordinates. However, if you click outside of the part center, it will subtract the relative position of your mouse when you clicked the part you want to move (i.e. by grouping or just clicking close to it, not precisely at the center).

However, I have discovered that this cumbersome procedure "solves" the issue (and does not work with groups):

1 - click the part (with or without offset)

2 - type: move (C0 0)

(centers the part to your mouse)

3 - type: (x y) 

(absolute coordinates)

Here's "proof":

1 - Part is initially at (0.2 0):



2A - I type "move" then click a bit to the right of the part and type (0.2 0.1):

It moves the "position I clicked" to absolute position (0.2 0.1) and the part to (0.15 0.1).



2B - I put the part back to (0.2 0) and do the same thing, but clicking the center of the part:

Now its at absolute position (0.2 0.1). I get the same result if I click out of the center but using "move (C0 0)" instead of "move". "C" stands for Ctrl, and Ctrl + click centers the part to your mouse.