construction

Locating your project area in a blank drawing - AutoCAD 2021

The following question recently arrived at our support team’s mailbox:

I know the coordinate system and my project’s location in Google Earth, but how can I find its exact position in a blank drawing?

Up until Plex-Earth 4, there was a command that allowed you to synchronize AutoCAD with the current view in Google Earth. It was one of the first commands developed in Plex-Earth back in 2008, and it was the base of more advanced functions (such as imagery mosaic importing). However it’s not directly available anymore due to the discontinuation of Google Earth's COM API.

But as we've already said, we accepted the challenge, and instead of downgrading functionality due to Google Earth’s changes, we instead took it as an opportunity to enhance the existing functionality, actually making it more meaningful and more useful than ever!

We improved that humble AutoCAD - Google Earth sync command by adopting the copy & paste functionality of Google Earth objects as a part of other commands, making them easier to use and more complete.

So, regarding the original question, you can choose between two simple ways/methods:

Method 1: Locate your project area in Google Earth. Create a placemark, path or polygon (any will work), copy it, and then simply paste it (Ctrl-V) in AutoCAD.

Plex-Earth will automatically do the rest and will zoom AutoCAD drawing to your project area.

Sounds almost too simple to be true, but Plex-Earth is smart enough to figure it out, and will automatically zoom the AutoCAD drawing to your project area for you! See the video below.

Method 2: Locate your project area in Google Earth, create a placemark (or other objects), copy it, and return to AutoCAD.

Click the "Import Imagery" button in Plex Earth 5 ribbon, select to import Simple Image, and choose Google Maps (or any other provider) on the next screen.

Again, Plex- Earth will do the rest and import an image to your project location.

Method 2 means you not only zoom your drawing to a specific geographic location, but you also import useful objects that can help you better identify and understand your project area.

Videos are good but wanna check it yourself, with a real project? Start your 7-day UNRESTRICTED free trial and experience Plex-Earth’s full capabilities in the next few minutes!

Plexscape’s response to COVID-19 pandemic: Free Plex.Earth licences for remote working

Plexscape’s response to COVID-19 pandemic: Free Plex.Earth licences for remote working

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, Plexscape, developers of Plex.Earth®, one of the most popular AutoCAD tools for the acceleration of architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) projects, is doubling its customers’ licenses at no extra cost, for the next 3 months.
This initiative aims to help thousands of Plex.Earth users in more than 120 countries worldwide to have a smooth transition to the new remote-work conditions by installing the software on their home computers or laptops, free of charge.

We're here for you: Free Plex.Earth activations during COVID-19 pandemic

We're here for you: Free Plex.Earth activations during COVID-19 pandemic

Seeing how bad the COVID-19 situation seemed to be we arranged for our own staff to work remotely, but we wondered, could we help and encourage YOU, our Plex.Earth users, to do the same? Consequently, we decided to double your Plex.Earth licensed machines, without any extra charge, for the next 3 months.

Introducing Plex.Earth Timeviews™: View the most up-to-date satellite imagery in AutoCAD

How many times did you wish you could have the current view of your project area? Outdated imagery can lead to costly design mistakes. Not anymore.

We have launched Plex.Earth Timeviews™, our new premium service, which brings Bird.i's up-to-date satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe, Airbus and Planet into your designs. Now you can get the most current view of your project area for any place in the world (you can read more here).

To guide you through Timeviews™, we have prepared a tutorial to show you how easy is to view the newest satellite imagery into your AutoCAD designs, for any project in the world.

Do you want to get free and unlimited access to Timeviews™ until the 31st of August?

We have an exclusive offer currently running for our amazing customers and anyone who wants to grab a new Plex.Earth subscription now!

Just make sure you download the newest version of Plex.Earth and follow the in-app instructions.

Copy KML/KMZ objects from Google Earth to AutoCAD with Plex.Earth

We have introduced a powerful new feature in the latest version of Plex.Earth 4, which allows you to import objects from Google Earth into AutoCAD with a simple copy and paste operation.

You can even import KMZ elements that are loaded dynamically into Google Earth!

Interested to find more? Read our tutorial here.



How to create live tours in Google Earth, for your AutoCAD design, with Plex.Earth

How to create live tours in Google Earth, for your AutoCAD design, with Plex.Earth

Showcasing your AutoCAD design to Google Earth and sharing it with others can be vital for your project: Winning that customer, taking instant feedback, convincing local authorities/communities and shareholders for your design.

What about not just exporting your design but also creating realistic videos and immersive live tours in Google Earth?

We have created a tutorial to show you how you can easily do that with Plex.Earth to engage anyone you want from the early stages of your design, reducing subsequent and unproductive iterations that cost you time and money.