topic Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes in Mapping Questions

Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Tue, 24 May 2016 00:59:06 GMT

I'd like to display lat/long in decimal degrees or degrees decimal minutes in a grid/graticule on the map layout. Though the option exists in the properties, the apply button is inactive. Does anyone know how to make this work?

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 24 May 2016 01:20:22 GMT

do you have defined coordinate systems for all the files? What is the data frame coordinate system.

What are grids and graticules?—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Tue, 24 May 2016 01:48:09 GMT

The data frame coordinate system is WGS 1984. I have one feature class in this map with a NAD83 Albers projection. On the Intervals tab of the properties once the grid is created, the option exists to choose decimal degrees or degrees and decimal minutes yet the apply button is inactive.

Changing the origin to Use origin from the current coordinate system activates the apply button yet the grid does not change from Degrees- minutes-seconds even with a refresh.

So now I've stumbled into the Labels tab. Additional properties allows a choice for Label type. The Label Style Format only gives a choice of DMS.

I've now successfully lost the minutes and seconds and have not gained decimal anything.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 24 May 2016 02:22:07 GMT

And what are the display units of the data frame? they can be set to what you want, perhaps that will allow for alternate settings for degrees. of course that first link i sent describes the 3 options for creating them, perhaps one is better than the others, you could try

A quick tour of data frame grids and the Grids and Graticules Wizard—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

NeilAyres — Tue, 24 May 2016 06:49:41 GMT

On the labels tab of the grid properties, there is a button for additional properties.

At the top there is a pulldown.

Does this not fix your problem?

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:31:31 GMT

I've tried this without success. Will give it another go tomorrow as I've got to get other work done today. Thanks for the response.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DavidBarnes — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:50:15 GMT

In that scenario (using the Additional Properties button and setting it to use decimal degrees or degrees and decimal minutes) you will also need to set the number of decimals to be greater than zero. And even then it drops trailing zeros.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DarrenWiens2 — Tue, 24 May 2016 18:29:32 GMT

Can you elaborate on how using the default values for a graticule (under data frame properties->Grids->New Grid...) doesn't work?

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Tue, 24 May 2016 19:07:27 GMT

Using default values works fine. It displays in Degrees, Minutes, seconds. I'd like to display coordinates in decimal degrees and am struggling to do so.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

NeilAyres — Tue, 24 May 2016 19:16:36 GMT

Rather puzzled here. Can't understand why the additional properties pulldown doesn't allow you to display Dmddd or DD.

Perhaps you should show us some more details of your data, the data frame and properties thereof.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Tue, 24 May 2016 19:18:09 GMT

Does it work for you?

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DarrenWiens2 — Tue, 24 May 2016 19:44:38 GMT

I would have guessed that you could change a graticule to DD, but it doesn't appear so. In that case, you can create a measured grid (second option in my image above) using WGS84 as the coordinate reference system. Then, if it's not already the default unit, change to DD in grid properties -> intervals tab.

edit: just saw Neil's answer re: graticule label styles, which appears to work, although I could not force it to show decimal places for whole numbers (e.g. 122 vs. 122.00000). If that's not an issue for you, then that should also work. There seems to be more flexibility through grids, however.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:45:38 GMT

Using a measured grid is the easiest way I could get decimal degrees to show on the layout. I'll try out the label suggestions per Neil as well. Thanks for the help.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:50:43 GMT

What version of ArcMap are you using? the Wizard has tons of options

A quick tour of data frame grids and the Grids and Graticules Wizard—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

and tips like double-clidking on a grid's name to access its properties and many examples. Perhaps they aren't available in older versions or arcmap, but should be in 10.3 ond 10..4

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Wed, 25 May 2016 01:09:11 GMT

I've tried in 10.3.1 and 10.2.2. I've been through the help, tried multiple settings on the various properties tabs. The best success I've had is using a measured grid instead of a graticule.

I just figured out the interval is the key for the graticule. Using an interval of 1 degree, 10 minutes and 30 seconds, and selecting decimal degrees everywhere it appears in the properties, I finally have decimal degrees beyond the degree showing on my map (at a scale of 1:3,000,000.

I do believe I'm solved!

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Wed, 25 May 2016 01:44:38 GMT

With all the advice given, here's my solution. When creating the graticule, set the interval at an appropriate level initially. I used 10 minutes ( 1 degree was not adequate in my case). Then when in the interval tab of properties, watch to see what changes when toggling between DMS, DD, and DM. Nail down the interval you desire here using the format demonstrated and place a 1 in the last position of the number of decimal places you want (example: .20001 for decimal degrees or 10.0001' for decimal minutes) Change the labels to match on the additional properties tab and be sure to show enough decimal places. Apply at every stage.

Whew.

Thanks for all the advice.

Re: Graticule of degrees decimal minutes

JanetBraymen — Wed, 25 May 2016 01:48:55 GMT

Oh.... and coordinate system of the data frame doesn't seem to matter. It worked in several I tried.