idea Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

IreneHwang — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 23:14:39 GMT

I have data where direction for the line is in DMS north azimuth.

To convert this data to decimal degrees, you need to strip off the degree, minutes seconds characters and then convert it to decimal degrees.

It will be a time saver if arcade had a function that could strip off the characters and convert to decimal degrees. This function will be very useful when converting data to load into a parcel fabric.

The current label expression shipped with COGO enabled lines converts decimal degrees to DMS north azimuth. What I am looking for is the reverse function.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

MehdiPira1 — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 01:19:37 GMT

Hi @IreneHwang ,

There's an easier way of converting DMS to DD without using Arcade, If you are after a quick solution in ArcGIS Pro.

1. Create two new fields (eg., Long_DD and Lat_DD)

2. Right click on Long_DD field > select Calculate Geometry

3. For the Property > select Point x-coordinate

4. For Coordinate Format, select Decimal Degrees > Ok

Do the same for Lat_DD, selecting Point y-coordinate.

and if you're looking into automating, you can use python:

arcpy.management.CalculateGeometryAttributes("GPS_data", "Long_DD POINT_X", '', '', None, "DD") arcpy.management.CalculateGeometryAttributes("GPS_data", "Lat_DD POINT_Y", '', '', None, "DD")

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

AmirBar-Maor — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 11:05:53 GMT

@MehdiPira1

Your suggestion would work if the direction is derived from the geoemtry.

I believe @IreneHwang is using an attribute that originates from a legal document and is not guaranteed to match the feature geometry.

Common reasons for the mismatch are parcel misclose adjustment, least-square adjustment and ground to grid correction.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

MehdiPira1 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 02:07:07 GMT

@AmirBar-Maor

If that's the case, then Convert Coordinate Notation tool in ArcGIS Pro will do the job.

Cheers

Mehdi

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

AmirBar-Maor — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 08:17:28 GMT

@MehdiPira1

Yes - this python method would work in ArcGIS Pro.

But @IreneHwang is asking for Arcade method. Arcade is a portable, lightweight expression language that is used with Attribute Rules, labeling, popups etc. on ALL ArcGIS clients.

Attribute Rules can be set to react to triggers (Insert, update, delete) on the geodatabase level, stored as part of the feature class definition (portable) and without the need to write python scripts that are project dependent.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

MattEitrem — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 16:23:43 GMT

I am also looking for something similar, where I have cogo values in quadrant bearings and need to convert them to the new Argis Pro cogo format of decimal degrees, preferably in the calculate field tool. An example would be converting S 1-45-0 E to 91.75

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

JasonCamerano — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 21:12:54 GMT

Hey @MattEitrem ,

I might have created the tool that you need! https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-parcel-fabric-blog/migrate-arcmap-cogo-to-pro/ba-p/885059

This GP script tool will convert those pesky COGO string values to DOUBLE values. It will create a full brand new feature class during the conversion. None of your existing data will be effected. Let me know if this works for you.

-Jason

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

IreneHwang — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:21:21 GMT

@MehdiPira1

Thank you for the great suggestions. The options you describe will help me out in the short-term. However, for the data that is from a legal document, I am looking to convert it and also validate it using attribute rules which makes the arcade method very attractive. In addition, I would like enable the other users in our organization to leverage this validation along with popups, labelling etc.

- Irene

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

RichardShepherd — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:22:06 GMT

Hi @IreneHwang, @MattEitrem,

Good news! Arcade1.13 has just been released and includes the ConvertDirection function (https://developers.arcgis.com/arcade/function-reference/geometry_functions/#convertdirection).

This allows users to translate angles between many text and value formats.

For the examples mentioned above you should be able to write Arcade script such as:

ConvertDirection(

myTextAngle1, //e.g. 78° 34' 25"

{"angleType":"dms","directionType":"north"},

{"outputType":"value","angleType":"degrees","directionType":"north"}

) //gives 78.5736

ConvertDirection(

myTextAngle2, //e.g. S 1-45-0 E

{"angleType":"dms","directionType":"quadrant"},

{"outputType":"value","angleType":"degrees","directionType":"polar"}

) //gives 271.75

(My thanks to @AmirBar-Maor for regularly reminding us how useful this function would be!)

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees - Status changed to: In Product Plan

KoryKramer — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:57:34 GMT

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

IreneHwang1 — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 15:59:21 GMT

Fantastic! This will be extremely helpful to a number of us😁

Thank you!

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

MehdiPira1 — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 00:53:16 GMT

@RichardShepherd

Awesome! Thanks.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees - Status changed to: Implemented

KoryKramer — Thu, 13 May 2021 23:11:44 GMT

Implemented in ArcGIS Pro 2.8.

See and (1:17) in the video.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

DarylHochhalter — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 15:28:02 GMT

I was recently using this arcade function and ran into an issue (possible bug) between SQL enterprise geodatabase and a file geodatabase. I was converting DMS to Degrees and likely the other way around too. The script below worked in the file geodatabase but not in the enterprise geodatabase where it gave the error "expecting a mutable array".

Function DMS2DD(theTextAngle){
return ConvertDirection(theTextAngle,
{'angleType':'dms','directionType':'north'},{'outputType':'value','angleType':'degrees','directionType':'north'})
}
-DMS2DD($feature.TEXTANGLE)

After some research looking at the tables in SQL we decided that maybe it wasn't finding the recently added TEXTANGLE field. We compressed the SQL geodatabase and the above Arcade expression then worked in ArcGIS Pro Field Calculator.

Re: Arcade function to convert direction in DMS to Decimal degrees

Robert_Houston — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 19:53:13 GMT

Hi @DarylHochhalter,

Its possible that rather unhelpful error message should actually indicate "Invalid Argument" for ConvertDirections first argument, we'll look to replace that with a more helpful message!

Can $feature.TEXTANGLE ever be null? If so the call to convert direction would fail with the unhelpful message. Checking the type of theTextAngle param in DMS2DD is text might also help narrow down the problem.

Thanks for getting in touch with the issue!