World files for CAD datasets

A world (.wld) file is a text file containing control points that describe a coordinate transformation. A world file can be used to extend the properties of a CAD drawing to include georeferencing information. The information is stored as coordinate values that define one or two displacement vectors called links.

The data comprises two or four pairs of coordinates organized into two rows. Each row defines a displacement link using the following syntax: <From x,y> <space> <To x,y>. The first pair of coordinates in each row corresponds to the source coordinates, also known as the from-coordinates. These values represent the x,y location of any known control point in the CAD drawing. The second pair of coordinates in each row corresponds to the destination coordinates, also known as the to-coordinates. These values represent a new location in geographic space, typically a reference point in another feature layer.

The data looks similar to this:

25933.063000,9032.704720 1702332.110159,309622.102491
32047.556994,13057.483520 1706354.400361,303697.073028