topic Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection in Coordinate Reference Systems Questions

My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:44:12 GMT

Hello everyone, I have a question. I need to do some spatial adjustment on a layer importing from Shapefile. However, because the shapefile doesn't have correct Geographic Coordinate System, I used Define projection to change it to GCS WGS 1984. But when I do that and add a basemap suddenly the layer doesn't appear on the map anymore. It just disappear. If I changed the layer back to unknown GCS, then I can see it again. How can give it right projection and still be able to see it, so I can do some spatial adjustment on it.

Please help me please. This is very important.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

RiyasDeen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:13:28 GMT

What version of ArcMap are you using?

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:19:08 GMT

Thanks for your reply. I used ArcMap 10.1.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

RiyasDeen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:49:49 GMT

Did you try adding your base map and shape file in arcmap.

Then using Define Projection tool, import the projection from your base map?

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 08:53:57 GMT

You have to know the correct coordinate system before using the Define Projection...are you sure it was the correct one? If you add the file to a new data frame and mouse around the screen what coordinates are reported in the bottom right? Do they look like longitude and latitude?

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

JessCartwright — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 09:59:39 GMT

If it was initially projected, just to the wrong projection, then you would use Define Projection to tell ArcMap which projection it is in first before using the Project tool to change it into the desired projection.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:13:26 GMT

Thanks for all the replies. I will create a video clip and post a link tomorrow. That way you can tell me what I have done incorrectly.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ScottDean — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 13:33:53 GMT

As others have mentioned, you cannot define a projection unless you are sure you know what the projection is for the source data. If you define it as something other than it truly is then you will have problems down the road. Here is something that may help you.

http://support.esri.com/es/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24893

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 22:56:16 GMT

@Riyas Deen, I tried your solution and the points still appear but if you look at the coordinates, they don't look right at all.

Please check this image: http://screencast.com/t/rgMhQkQkZLZg

And this video clip: http://screencast.com/t/Gd7p73l1hI

Thanks for your patience. I am new to this.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 22:58:35 GMT

Everyone, please check this video clip:

http://screencast.com/t/Gd7p73l1hI

The points were created in AutoCAD and saved as Shapefile.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

RiyasDeen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:36:05 GMT

If you are able to define projection and get the points where you want, you are good to go. I would't worry about the extent coordinates, the extent displayed is in WGS 1984 Web Mercator, your base map coordinate system.

If you are going to use this layer with any other layer in a different projection system, you can use the project tool to reproject it to your target coordinate system.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:49:27 GMT

I am trying to get this all in WGS 1984 rather than WGS 1984 Web Mercator. Anyways if there are no other options, I will give it a try. It's off the topic but I would like to quickly ask if you could share. How do I move each point separately rather than all points using spatial adjustment tool? I tried this, but I need to link all points > Set Adjusted Data > Adjust to be able to adjust. I want to adjust only one point, is it possible?

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

RiyasDeen — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:58:56 GMT

If you want to adjust one point, then you are better off using editor. Use Editor toolbar -> Start Editing

Use Edit tool to select the point and move it to new location you want.

Re: My layers appear too far after defining projection

ryannz — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 03:49:03 GMT

Thanks. That helps.