A Net Deed Plotter Alternative for Surveyors
Desktop deed plotters have served surveyors for decades. If you are looking for something that runs in the browser and reads the deed for you, here is how CADastral compares.
Tools like Net Deed Plotter, DotSoft Deed Reader, and similar desktop packages are the established way to plot a metes and bounds description. They are capable and they are proven. They also share the traits of their generation: they install on Windows, they expect you to key the calls in by hand, and they live on one machine.
CADastral takes a different starting point. Instead of asking you to type the courses, it reads them off the deed with AI, plots them, checks closure, and exports DXF — all from a browser tab.
Where the Approaches Differ
| Consideration | Typical Desktop Deed Plotter | CADastral |
|---|---|---|
| Install | Windows desktop application | Runs in any browser |
| Getting calls in | Manual entry of each course | AI extracts them from the deed |
| Scanned / handwritten deeds | Retype by hand | AI vision reads them |
| Pricing model | Per-seat license | Pay per use (15 free credits) |
| Closure check | Yes | Yes, shown on the plot |
| DXF / CAD export | Yes | Yes — AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation, Carlson |
| Carlson DotSoft format | Native | Outputs a list formatted for it |
When a Desktop Plotter Still Wins
If your entire workflow already lives in one Windows CAD environment and you rarely touch a scanned deed, a desktop plotter you already own is hard to beat. CADastral is most useful when the bottleneck is reading and keying the deed — old, scanned, or handwritten descriptions, high deed volume, or working across machines and operating systems.
Use Both
You do not have to replace your CAD to try this. Use CADastral to read the deed and produce DXF or a Carlson-ready call list, then finish in the desktop software you already know. The AI handles the tedious part — turning words into geometry — and your existing tools handle the drafting.
Try It on One Deed
Sign up for 15 free credits, upload a deed, and see the plot and DXF for yourself before you change anything about your workflow.
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