topic Re: Adding data in Geoprocessing Questions

Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:20:12 GMT

I have a spreadsheet with the coordinates in DD. The Longitude numbers did not have a - in front. For example 114.235 not -114.235. So I added another column named Long and added the -. I then tried to import the data into arc map using add data xy but the Long column does not show up as one of my options in the add data xy box. I am assuming it has something to do with the original Longitude columns formating????

Thanks,

Jane

Re: Adding data

AdamZiegler1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:46:58 GMT

Hi Jane - It may have something to do with that column. How did you add the '-'? The only way I've had that work in the past is to use a '-1' multiplier to get the number format to stick. There's a chance your process converted the numbers to text.

-Adam Z

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:48:04 GMT

yes, you are right , when you add the - you make ArcGIS read this column as text field. but ArcGIS look for number field.

so I prefer to keep the original spreadsheet without modify. And Import that table to Geodatabase. then make field calculator to coordinate fields to multiply -1 . then use this table to add x y data.

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 19:34:57 GMT

Thanks Adam and Abullah, I think you are both right. So I will import the

table to a Geodatabse then use the field calculator to add a - in front of

the number.

Thanks for your help.

Jane

Re: Adding data

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 19:43:33 GMT

don't 'add' a - in front... multiply your values by -1 as they have suggested.

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 19:45:09 GMT

I did and it worked!

Thanks guys:)

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:11:33 GMT

I have now imported the points following the addition of the - in front of

the longitude numbers. I used gsc wgs 1984 and the points are still

showing up in the same place as when the - was not there...which is in the

middle of the ocean

What else could account for the points importing and presenting at the

wrong location.

Thanks

Re: Adding data

AdamZiegler1 — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:16:41 GMT

Are the values truly '-'? I'd imagine they are charting at the + value. When you identify on an object, how is the attribute being displayed? Any chance you can share a few rows in an attachment?

-Adam Z

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:30:45 GMT

Here is the attachement. The first one is from the original spreadsheet

where I imported based on the longitude and latitude columns without the -

in front of the longitude column. The points did not display in the right

location. As you can see there are two other columns with x y

coordinates. I imported any row with x y coordinates present and they all

imported and displayed in the right location.

Thanks for helping

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 20:59:58 GMT

it is spatial reference case.

when you using the UTMEasting and UTMNorthing fields get in right position because it is meter unit and you choose projection with meter unit.

so if you want to use longitude and latitude fields you should choose GSC ( geographic coordinate systems ) that use decimal degree.

that will let you put your points in the right position.

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:11:33 GMT

I did use the gsc coordinate system for the lat and long columns. I tried

NAD 83 and WBS 84. The points still showed up in the wrong place. Any

other reason you can think of for this?

Jane

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:17:53 GMT

sorry , where is the data ? what is the country?

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:27:03 GMT

other note:

Your UTM Nothing field = Latitude = ( Y ) in add x y data

and UTM Easting field = longitude = (X ) in add x y data

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:28:57 GMT

Canada, NA BC to be more specific Zone 10 and 11

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:35:49 GMT

yes , you are right with minus sign -

but did you followed the previous note ?

Your UTM Nothing field = Latitude = ( Y ) in add x y data
and UTM Easting field = longitude = (X ) in add x y data

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:43:58 GMT

Yes did that too. Placed the Longitude column in the x box and the latitude

in the Y.

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 21:49:22 GMT

Hi Abdullah, I should add that the original data base for this spread sheet

is Access. I was not able to open the access database and import the

shapefile so I exported the sheet to an excel format.

Maybe the problems lies within the access database? I should have been

able to open it using arc catalog but it didn't work.

Thanks

Jane

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:03:33 GMT

You attached for us the attribute table. Is that the table from your data?

How it doesn't work ?

Re: Adding data

janehansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:13:58 GMT

Yes, it is the data I exported from my access mdb. I first importing the

data without adding the - sign in front. I used add data added the long

column to the x and the lat column to the y. I used wgs 84 as the

coordinate system. The points displayed outside of BC.

Then I added a - sign in front of the numbers in the long column by

importing the table to a gdb and editing the column using the field

calculator mulitply -1. Then I again followed the same process as above

and the points still showed up outside of canada.

I am trying to open the access mdb in arc cataloug and I can't get that to

work either. I have added the the OLE connection and that has not helped.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Jane

Re: Adding data

AbdullahAnter — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 22:19:56 GMT

Jane you , you don't follow my steps well.

so I prefer to keep the original spreadsheet without modify. And Import that table to Geodatabase. then make field calculator to coordinate fields to multiply -1 . then use this table to add x y data.

Don't create point feature before you multiply by -1 , so import spreadsheet to table not feature class , then multiply by -1 to coordinate fields then add y data from that table. and choose GCS spatial reference.