topic Re: Creating shp. from txt in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Creating shp. from txt

anxiousvole214 — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:48:44 GMT

Hi all,

I'm having trouble creating a shapefile from a starting txt file. I've opened the table for the file and have added the fields of latitude and longitude (Float) but the problem is that, when I try to enter the instructed fields in the Calculate Field dialogue box, I get an error message.

Input table: PlotXY

Field name: latitude1

Expression type: Python 3

lat: !latitude!/3600

I've tried doing this for both latitude and longitude, but I keep getting a null field in both of them, and an error message pops up saying I have invalid fields.

I've spent days trying to figure out what's wrong and I've scoured forums and various help sites but nothing works.

Re: Creating shp. from txt

DanPatterson — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:09:33 GMT

why are you dividing latitude by 3600?

Decimal degree values are expected for latitude and longitude and the field should be a Double type, from there you can create geometry objects

Re: Creating shp. from txt

anxiousvole214 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:10:22 GMT

So I succeeded in getting past this last step. The fields of latitude and longitude now say 0 instead of null. In the contents pane, there is now a "Plot_XYTableToPoint" with a little green dot under it. How do I get this to a shapefile?

Re: Creating shp. from txt

anxiousvole214 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:36:13 GMT

Those were the instructions in the document. Float type, divide by 3600

Re: Creating shp. from txt

anxiousvole214 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:36:30 GMT

I'll try this though

Re: Creating shp. from txt

Dale_Honeycutt — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 01:02:29 GMT

There's always the XY Table To Point geoprocessing tool, but won't do you much good if your lat/long's are all zero.

Just spit balling here: What are the data types of your fields? I'm thinking your input fields are text? If so, try this expression:

 float(!latitude!)/3600.0

If your longitude field is text, add another field of type double and calculate that field using float() as well.

I've no clue what the little green dot means -- never seen it.

Re: Creating shp. from txt

anxiousvole214 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:30:55 GMT

I will try this, thanks!