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Apply Custom Georeference

Updated

Learn how to apply Custom Georeference in Plex-Earth 2026 by entering latitude/longitude coordinates or copying coordinates from Google Earth, and matching them to a reference point in your drawing. Use this workflow when the drawing has no known coordinate system or you just need a quick georeference.

Apply a custom georeference to precisely match your drawing with real-world coordinates.

This feature is included in the following plans: Lite, Basic, Pro, Premium

Use Custom Georeference when you need to associate a drawing with a real-world location but don't know (or don't need) a formal coordinate system. You tie a specific point in your drawing to a known geographic location, and Plex-Earth handles the rest.

Use this method when:

  • The drawing was created without georeferencing
  • The coordinate system is unknown
  • You want to match a point in the drawing to a location in Google Earth or to known latitude/longitude coordinates

Already know your coordinate system? Use Choose a Coordinate System instead.

📢 Tip: If your drawing is already georeferenced through AutoCAD’s GEO command (or MAPCASSIGN / GEOCSASSIGN in Civil 3D or AutoCAD Map 3D), you do not need to georeference it again in Plex-Earth. Plex-Earth automatically recognizes and uses the coordinate system applied in CAD. You can verify this by clicking Assign Georeference (it will show By AutoCAD). Check here for more details.

Assign Custom Georeference

  1. To create a Custom Georeference, go to the Plex-Earth ribbon → Project panel → Assign Georeference (or type PXV_GEO in the command line).

    Plex-Earth Ribbon_Geolocation.png

  2. In the window that appears, choose By Geographic Location (Custom Georeference).

    Choose Custom Georeference.png

  3. A window will pop up to ask you to specify your geographic location. You can either:

    • Type in the Latitude / Longitude, or

    • Click Paste from Clipboard if you already copied the coordinates

      Specify Geographic Location.png

      To copy the location data from Google Earth, locate your area of interest on Google Earth → create a placemark → right-click on the placemark → Copy. Then back in CAD, use Paste from Clipboard.

      📢 Tip: You can also use the Copy View Location command in Google Earth using Ctrl+Shift+C, and it will copy the coordinates of where the mouse cursor is.

  4. Click Accept to proceed, as shown in the picture below:

    Accept the Coordinates.png

  5. Plex-Earth will now ask you to identify where this location corresponds to in your drawing. 

    Select Reference Point.png


    Choose one:

    • By Origin: The entered location maps to the drawing origin (0,0)
    • By Point: Click a specific point inside the drawing to set the reference
Specify a Point.png

Additional Notes

  • Before you use Custom Georeference:
    Make sure your drawing includes designed elements such as lines or polylines (not only points), so you can visually confirm alignment afterward.

  • Custom Georeference does not work on XREFs
    If your drawing is inserted as an XREF, this feature is not applicable — it works only for base drawings.

  • Plex-Earth units vs. CAD units:
    Plex-Earth has its own unit setting, separate from your AutoCAD/Civil 3D/BricsCAD units. To change Plex-Earth units, go to Collection Manager → click the Units icon next to Settings or change the units in the applied georeference. To change CAD units, use the UNITS command in the command line. For more detail, see Plex-Earth Settings and Commands.

After finishing the georeferencing process, you are now ready to explore all the stunning features Plex-Earth offers.

FAQs

What is the difference between Custom Georeference and choosing a coordinate system?

Custom Georeference lets you place your drawing on the map by tying a single point to a known real-world location — no coordinate system name or EPSG code required. It is the right choice when your drawing was created without georeferencing or when you do not know the coordinate system. Choosing a coordinate system is more precise and is the right choice when your drawing is already based on a known projection. See Choose a Coordinate System for that workflow.

How do I get the coordinates from Google Earth to paste into Plex-Earth?

There are two ways. You can create a placemark in Google Earth at your area of interest, right-click on it, and select Copy — then use Paste from Clipboard in Plex-Earth. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Shift+C in Google Earth to copy the coordinates of your current cursor position directly to the clipboard.

Should I use "By Origin" or "By Point" when setting the reference location in my drawing?

Use By Origin if the real-world location you entered corresponds to the drawing origin (0,0). Use By Point if you want to click a specific identifiable point inside your drawing — for example a corner, intersection, or survey marker — and associate it with the entered coordinates. By Point gives you more control and is the better choice when your drawing is not centered at the origin.

Does Custom Georeference work on drawings inserted as XREFs?

No. Custom Georeference only works on base drawings. If your drawing is inserted as an external reference (XREF), you will need to open the base file directly and apply the georeference there.

Related Questions

This article explains how to apply a custom georeference in Plex-Earth by tying a drawing point to a real-world location using latitude and longitude or Google Earth coordinates. You may have searched for:

  • How to georeference a drawing without knowing the coordinate system
  • How to place my AutoCAD drawing on the map using a known point
  • How to align my drawing to Google Earth using lat/lon coordinates
  • How to set the real-world location of my drawing in Plex-Earth
  • How to georeference an existing drawing with no coordinate system in Plex-Earth
  • How to paste Google Earth coordinates into Plex-Earth
  • Custom georeference not working on XREF in Plex-Earth

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