Deed to DXF: Convert a Deed Description to a CAD File
Take a metes and bounds deed and get clean DXF geometry you can open in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, or Carlson — without retyping a single bearing.
Most boundary work still starts the same way: a deed lands on your desk, and somebody keys the calls into COGO by hand. It is slow, and a single transposed bearing or distance throws off the whole traverse. CADastral skips the keying — AI reads the deed, plots the calls, and hands you a DXF.
What "Deed to DXF" Actually Means
A deed description is a sequence of courses — a point of beginning, then a chain of bearings, distances, and curve calls (radius, arc, chord, delta) that should close back on themselves. A DXF file is the CAD-neutral exchange format that carries that geometry as lines, polylines, and arcs into any modern drafting package. "Deed to DXF" is the act of turning the written courses into drawable geometry your CAD can read.
The Workflow
1. Upload the deed
Drop in the deed document — typed, scanned, or even handwritten. The AI extraction reads the legal description and pulls every bearing, distance, and curve call. Each call is labeled so you can verify it against the source before you trust it.
2. Plot and check closure
The extracted calls plot on an interactive canvas. Set the point of beginning, snap to adjacent parcels, and review the traverse. The plotter reports closure so you can see whether the deed mathematically returns to the POB before you build anything on top of it.
3. Export DXF
Once the plot looks right, export DXF. The file opens directly in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, Carlson, or any package that reads DXF — no intermediate conversion, no manual cleanup of stray entities.
Prefer to Keep Working in Your Deed Reader?
If your shop runs Carlson with the DotSoft Deed Reader, CADastral also outputs the extracted calls as a clean metes and bounds list formatted for that workflow. You get a verification-friendly annotated list plus a CAD-ready block — paste it straight into your existing process instead of retyping.
Deed to DXF: By Hand vs. CADastral
| Step | Manual COGO Entry | CADastral |
|---|---|---|
| Read the calls | Type each bearing/distance | AI extracts from the deed |
| Curve calls | Hand-enter radius/arc/chord | Captured automatically |
| Closure check | Run after entry | Shown on the plot |
| CAD output | Draw or import | DXF export, one click |
| Handwritten deeds | Manual only | AI vision reads them |
Always Verify the Calls
AI extraction is fast, but a deed is a legal document. Every call CADastral pulls is labeled so you can check it against the source, and the plot shows closure so a bad call stands out. Treat the output as a head start on your COGO, not a substitute for a surveyor's review.
Convert Your First Deed Free
Sign up and get 15 free credits. Upload a deed, plot the calls, and export DXF — all in under a minute.
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