topic Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection in Coordinate Reference Systems Questions

Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

EninnaLuli1 — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 02:05:10 GMT

I have a CSV file with point location data.

I added this CSV file to ArcMap then clicked on Display XY data to make it into an Event layer. I then exported this into a shapefile (then exported it again based on a criteria I have using the Select By Attributes tool).

The problem is that the shapefile is not overlaying with other layers even though they are in the same projection.

The data frame is in Web Mercator (which is what I need the layers to be).

When I click on Display XY data, I get the following image, meaning that ArcMap has recognized that my data frame is in Web Mercator and is automatically adding this projection to the Event layer.

The shapefile has these extents and info:

Projected Coordinate System:	WGS_1984_Web_Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere
Projection:	Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere
False_Easting:	0.00000000
False_Northing:	0.00000000
Central_Meridian:	0.00000000
Standard_Parallel_1:	0.00000000
Auxiliary_Sphere_Type:	0.00000000
Linear Unit:	Meter

Geographic Coordinate System:	GCS_WGS_1984
Datum:	D_WGS_1984
Prime Meridian:	Greenwich
Angular Unit:	Degree

The points are located around the UK and this is how far off they are from each other:

(You would be able to see the points if you zoom into the one dot. I know they are in the UK because the points have the country's shape).

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 02:54:17 GMT

your file is in a geographic coordinate system...aka decimal degrees... you have to define it as such and save it as a feature class in a geodatabase or as a shapefile. Once it is defined properly, you can project it to your web projection.

PS do this in an empty data frame without any other data added so things don't get confused

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

EninnaLuli1 — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 02:59:34 GMT

Do you mean the extents? They are in metres.

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

FilipeEsteves — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:17:57 GMT

Hi Eninna Luli, If they don't overlapping i would try to project the shp in another coordinate system. You can try too, display XY data from an empty mxd + basemap and define here the projection (maybe WGS84) and see if it works. If you want, send me the file in order to take a look and to try to figure what is happening, Hope it helps Best regards, FE

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:19:54 GMT

the extent values are erroneous and only reflect the coordinates of the data frame which got them from the first layer added. The file you added does not have a defined coordinate system and "it" assumed that the coordinates were the same...so ignore the meters designation...you have deimal degree data, which is why the data shows up near the equator all scrunched up.

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

EninnaLuli1 — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:21:15 GMT

Felipe, How can I send you the file?

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

EninnaLuli1 — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:26:00 GMT

Ok. Just so I understand, you are suggesting that I need to use Define Projection on the shapefile to a GCS (like WGS84) then use Project to change it to Web Mercator?

What about the fact that when I click on "Display XY Data", it automatically takes in Web Mercator (or this doesn't matter? I should just do the above process?)

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 04:30:49 GMT

If the csv file had coordinates in the range -180 to 180 for X (aka longitude) and -90 to 90 for Y (aka latitude)

what do you think the coordinate are in? decimal degrees? WGS84? collected from a gps that defaults to that. OR do think that it is a projected coordinate system whose units are meters?

You could be bold and give my suggestion a try and see what happens... tell it what it is first...then change it

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

FilipeEsteves — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 05:52:01 GMT

By email (see profile) or you can upload here (public place).

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

MelitaKennedy — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 22:41:16 GMT

The display xy data tool defaults the coordinate system to the whatever the data frame is using. If you have a base map loaded, that's usually EPSG:3857 aka Web Mercator.

For data in a csv or text file, it's almost never Web Mercator but latitude/longitude values in degrees. I keep meaning to ask the mapping team about changing the default, or at least making it smarter, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

When you open the display xy data tool, just change the coordinate system from the default to geographic coordinate systems, work, WGS 1984. Or when you click the Edit button on the coordinate system, type in 4326.

Melita

Re: Shapefile not overlaying with other layers even though same projection

pokkiri — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:32:20 GMT

This is a common issue when working with CSV data. When you use "Display XY Data," ArcMap assumes the coordinates match the data frame's CRS (often Web Mercator), but CSV coordinates are usually in WGS84 (lat/lon degrees).

- it will preview your data on a basemap. If your points appear scrunched near the equator (0,0), that's a clear sign the coordinates are being interpreted as meters when they're actually degrees.

The fix is to ensure the correct CRS (usually WGS84/EPSG:4326 for CSV data) is specified when you first display the XY data, before exporting to shapefile.

A quick way to verify the issue is to upload your shapefile to Projection Finder