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Editing Attribute Table - ArcMap 9.2

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05-11-2011 09:03 AM
NicholasJowlabar
Emerging Contributor
Hello all,

I'm new to the ArcGIS community and I have a few questions regarding ArcMap 9.2 and the attribute table.

1. My first problem is a meter to decimal degree conversion. I have longitude and latitude columns setup in the attribute table and was wondering if there is a way to autofill the respective columns with their corresponding coordinates in decimal degrees instead of meters? I tried calculate geometry however I see no option to convert to decimal degrees. Essentially I need the coordinates in decimal degrees that are displayed when using the identify tool on structures on the map.

2. My second problem involves image links to various structures on the map. Some structures have links to an image while others do not. I was wondering if there is a way to cycle through a particular type of structure for example, all the bridges to check if a link exist for each bridge aside from doing it manually?

I appreciate any help regarding these issues.

Thanks
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3 Replies
MathieuCain
Occasional Contributor
Hi binhexoctdec,

With regards to your first point:
If you want to populate your table, then...
1- I assume you have either a shapefile or a table whose points you have displayed as x/y coordinates. Either way, your shapefile should have a projection system defined.
2- Right click on the dataframe (by default called Layers) containing your shapefile and select Properties
3- Select the Coordinate System tab (note the current projection may be that of your shapefile if it was the first thing added to your dataframe)
4- Under Select a Coordinate System, open Predefined, followed by Geographic Coordinate System (i.e., you are switching from a projected system to a geographic one)
5- Choose a Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) best suited to your dataset (if for instance you were using a North American Datum 1983 (NAD 83) for your projection, probably best to stick with the same datum for your GCS system)
6- Click Apply
7- Select the General tab, and choose the Units display as Decimal Degrees, click OK
8- Right click on your shapefile layer and select Data > Export Data
9- Specify "Use the same coordinate system as the data frame" and specify where you want to save your new GCS shapefile
10- Once you've added the new shapefile back to the map, click on the ArcToolbox icon (red tooolbox near the top) to open it
11- Open Data Management Tools > Features > Add XY Coordinates
12- Specify the GCS layer in your drop down list
13- Right click on your GCS layer and select Open Attribute Table
14- The POINT_X and POINT_Y fields will contain your equivalent coordinates in Decimal Degrees
15- If you want you can populate the fields you had already created to hold these values with these 2 new fields

If however, you want to avoid this process, and this is just for visualisation with the Identify tool, then you don't actually have to populate any fields in your attribute table.
1- Select the identify tool
2- Click on your point: the location's coordinates are displayed along with the attributes in the fields for that record
3- Select the little drop down arrow to the right of Location, and select Decimal Degrees (or any other unit for that matter of your choice). Now your Location's coordinates appear in Decimal Degrees

With regards to your second question, I'm guessing your structures have hyperlinks where clicking on them will open an image. Quite often hyperlinks for features are best stored in a field of that feature class' attribute table. I suggest you look there for starters. If you notice for instance that there is a field which contains the hyperlinks, then you could always do a Select by Attribute, and select all records in that field that say aren't blank. In essence that will select all the features with a hyperlink.

Hope that helps.
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NicholasJowlabar
Emerging Contributor
Hi binhexoctdec,

With regards to your first point:
If you want to populate your table, then...
1- I assume you have either a shapefile or a table whose points you have displayed as x/y coordinates. Either way, your shapefile should have a projection system defined.
2- Right click on the dataframe (by default called Layers) containing your shapefile and select Properties
3- Select the Coordinate System tab (note the current projection may be that of your shapefile if it was the first thing added to your dataframe)
4- Under Select a Coordinate System, open Predefined, followed by Geographic Coordinate System (i.e., you are switching from a projected system to a geographic one)
5- Choose a Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) best suited to your dataset (if for instance you were using a North American Datum 1983 (NAD 83) for your projection, probably best to stick with the same datum for your GCS system)
6- Click Apply
7- Select the General tab, and choose the Units display as Decimal Degrees, click OK
8- Right click on your shapefile layer and select Data > Export Data
9- Specify "Use the same coordinate system as the data frame" and specify where you want to save your new GCS shapefile
10- Once you've added the new shapefile back to the map, click on the ArcToolbox icon (red tooolbox near the top) to open it
11- Open Data Management Tools > Features > Add XY Coordinates
12- Specify the GCS layer in your drop down list
13- Right click on your GCS layer and select Open Attribute Table
14- The POINT_X and POINT_Y fields will contain your equivalent coordinates in Decimal Degrees
15- If you want you can populate the fields you had already created to hold these values with these 2 new fields

If however, you want to avoid this process, and this is just for visualisation with the Identify tool, then you don't actually have to populate any fields in your attribute table.
1- Select the identify tool
2- Click on your point: the location's coordinates are displayed along with the attributes in the fields for that record
3- Select the little drop down arrow to the right of Location, and select Decimal Degrees (or any other unit for that matter of your choice). Now your Location's coordinates appear in Decimal Degrees

With regards to your second question, I'm guessing your structures have hyperlinks where clicking on them will open an image. Quite often hyperlinks for features are best stored in a field of that feature class' attribute table. I suggest you look there for starters. If you notice for instance that there is a field which contains the hyperlinks, then you could always do a Select by Attribute, and select all records in that field that say aren't blank. In essence that will select all the features with a hyperlink.

Hope that helps.


Thank you very much. I'll look into what you've posted.

I have one more question regarding the ArcFM Attribute Editor and the Attribute Table. Is there a way to cycle through the attribute table and the ArcFM attribute editor at the same time? For example if I have 10 objects, if I click on object 1 in the table the corresponding information appears in the editor. Now can I cycle through the table from 1-10 with the corresponding information appearing in the editor?

Thanks
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GeorgGrassmueck
New Contributor
Hi,

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your posted help. I spent a whole day trying to convert my attribute table to decimal degrees without success.  Just before I quit in frustration I came across your post.  It worked wonderful.  Thank you so much!!!!
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