Coordinate Systems in Pythagoras

In Pythagoras, you work with multiple coordinate systems depending on what you want to draw or measure.

The main types are:

• Local coordinate systems (for actual drawing work)

• Page coordinate systems (for layout and printing)

• Georeferenced systems (for GIS or map-based projects)

Correct use of coordinate systems is essential to avoid errors during transformations, measurements, or exports.

The Control Panel

At the top of the Control Panel, you'll see the current scale of your drawing and the selected units just below it.

Underneath are three important coordinate system controls:

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• 1. Show Coordinate System
  Visualize the active coordinate system directly on the drawing.
  
  

• 2. Coordinate Notation (Choose representation of coordinates)
  Switch between notations like XYZ, NEZ, HDZ, etc.
  
  

• 3. Coordinate System Name (Choose coordinate system)
  Easily switch between different coordinate system types.

Types of Coordinate Systems

Two default coordinate systems

The Local Coordinate System

This is your default base coordinate system. Every new drawing starts here. Most objects are stored using this system. The layout sheet can be rotated, moved, and scaled independently.

Use case:
Measurements with a total station (without GPS) or manual drawing using a custom origin. Ideal for surveys or early design stages without georeferencing.

The Page Coordinate System

Used for placing layout elements like title blocks, frame borders, and legends. Fully independent of any measurement or CAD data. The origin (0,0) is located at the bottom-left corner of the sheet.

Use case:
Place text, frame, and title block at a fixed position on the sheet layout, regardless of rotation or drawing scale.

Add Custom Coordinate Systems for Easier Drawing

use the Create coordinate system  tool

Custom Coordinate System (ECS)

User-defined system using two points: an origin and a direction point on the X-axis. You can define up to 32 ECSs per drawing and switch quickly via the Control Panel. Note: Elevations are always relative to the elevation of the ECS origin.

Temporary Coordinate System

Used for temporary operations like aligning or rotating objects. Not saved in the document and overwritten as soon as a new temporary system is defined.

Use case:
Align to a façade or work area temporarily based on a known edge. Useful for drawing along slanted walls without rotating the full plan.

The Global Coordinate System

Use this to copy and paste between drawings that each have their own local system. Requires at least two control points (tie points) to compute the transformation between local and global coordinates.

Use case:
Combine drawings from different local systems using tie points.

Coordinate Reference System (CRS)

Set the document’s base CRS via:Settings > Document Settings > Coordinate Reference System In the Control Panel, select which CRS to use for displaying positions.

Tip: Missing a required CRS? You can add it manually: Missing the required CRS? Here's how to add it

Note: If you select WGS 84 / Pseudo Mercator as the CRS in document settings, two CRS-related options will appear in the Control Panel. Notice how the coordinates read differently.

Geographical coordinates
for example GPS data

Latitude: in decimal degrees

Longitude: in decimal degrees

coordinate systems that are defined at a national level and differ per country