topic Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy in Data Management Questions

Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:52:18 GMT

How can I create points from a spreadsheet that do not contain xy? I just have a list of data, but some of that data includes location such as Section 1, Block 122. I have a separate polygon layer that has all of the sections/blocks labeled, but I would like to add this information "automagically" without manually creating each point and then linking the data. Thank you.

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

DarrenWiens2 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:58:15 GMT

You are describing Joining data: Joins and relates—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS for Desktop

You will need to make a common, single column on which to make your join (e.g. "Section_Block" -> "1_122").

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:05:56 GMT

But, I don't want the data to live in my polygon layer. I want it to create points within that polygon. I could not find a way using join/relate that gave me what I was after. Am I doing it wrong?

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

DarrenWiens2 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:07:43 GMT

Make points geometries, perhaps centroids, from the polygons and then join your tabular data to those.

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:17:09 GMT

That doesn't sound like it will save me any work. Some polygons will end up with 1 point and some will end up with 10. So, if I created centroids, I would need to create the max for each polygon and remove the extras, right? Is there something I'm not thinking of?

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

DarrenWiens2 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:28:56 GMT

Okay, if you're talking about a one-to-many relationship, then you should look into Relates. Joins and relates—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

AdrianWelsh — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:29:38 GMT

Hi K,

I like Darrens ideas. Maybe do this:

Join your tabular data to the polygon (after making a concatenated field like Darren pointed out).
In the join, be sure you click on 'all' the data instead of just matching data.
Export this newly joined polygon layer to a new feature class.
Then make centroids (like Darren suggested) of this new polygon feature class.

I believe that way it will keep all of your tabular data and then have it be the attributes of the new points (though, I would imagine the points would be on top of each other).

EDIT: I just saw Darren's post. Related tables might be the way to go.

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KellyGerrow — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:29:58 GMT

Try using custom location types in ArcGIS Maps for Office:

Location types—Esri Maps for Office | ArcGIS

You can create a feature service with your data and use it to locate your data.

-Kelly

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:41:13 GMT

I'll give it a try. Thank you for your time.

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:41:41 GMT

I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

KrisGilbert1 — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:41:55 GMT

I'll try this, too. Thanks!

Re: Creating points from a spreadsheet w/o xy

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:31:53 GMT

That is a very good idea !