Decimal Minute support for XY and Measure tool

Question

I'm currently working with ArcGIS.com maps to collaborate with others who particpate in the outdoor sport of Geocaching.  Most people are not even aware that Geocaching exists, let alone what it's about.  Even so, there is a very large community base of users who could take advantage of ArcGIS.com's functionality.  Not only for Geocaching, but most Geocachers also participate in other outdoor activities where maps are very useful, such as hiking and kayaking.

Anyway...Geocachers use Decimal Minute format of Lat/Lon to find Geocaches using GPS and other locations.  Support of this format in the XY and Measure tools of ArcGIS Explorer online would be much appreciated by the Geocaching community and make the maps exponentially more useful.

BrianHaren · Answer

There is a workaround if you have the capability to create ArcGIS services.  Create an MXD using the appropriate geographic coordinate system (such as WGS84 or NAD83) and set the Units (in the Data Frame Properties dialog window) to Degrees Decimal Minutes.  Create the service then bring the service into a NEW ArcGIS Explorer Online map using the 'Advanced' option.  You want to add a Service URL.  Once you do that your service becomes the base for the map and the coordinate display will be in Degrees Decimal Minutes.

However... doing this means you will not be able to select any of the ArcGIS Online basemap services (the option becomes grayed out).  You can add any other available service or import shapefiles, CSV files and GPX files as normal

The whole process is a bit cumbersome, but it ends up working quite well.  We actually create fairly complex maps in ArcGIS Explorer Online that are running in our custom local coordinate system, and the application handles the on-the-fly transformation from State Plane to our local system efficiently.

ShellyGill2 · Answer

Geocachers use Decimal Minute format of Lat/Lon to find Geocaches using GPS and other locations.  Support of this format in the XY and Measure tools of ArcGIS Explorer online would be much appreciated by the Geocaching community and make the maps exponentially more useful.

Its interesting to find out this specific use of the DDM format - I have entered an enhancement request for this for in Find Places and Measure Point (I'm afraid I cant suggest when it might be available yet though). Thanks for posting.