Adding x,y Coordinates to a table in
ArcMap
This procedure outlines the steps necessary to add X,Y coordinates to a table
for a point data file in ArcMap. The example used in this procedure is a set
of points created from a table of latitude and longitude values. The data was
converted to a UTM projection and this procedure will create 2 new columns holding
the UTM eastings and northings for the point data.
Setting up the data file
- Run ArcMap and create a new document.
- Click the Add Data button
and
add the point data file.
- Check the projection of the data by right-clicking the data frame called
"Layers" and choosing "properties". Click the Coordinate
System tab and note the selected projection. If the projection is not UTM,
refer to the procedure Reprojecting
Spatial Data in ArcMap.
- Click OK to return to the map window.
- Right-click the point layer and select Open Attribute Table. Notice the
existing columns include latitude and longitude but not UTM eastings and northings.
- Click the "Options" button and select "Add Field". Give
the new field an appropriate name, change the type to "Long Integer"
and make the precision "12".
- Click OK.
- Repeat the above step to add a field for the UTM Y coordinate (northing).
The table should resemble the following image.
- To understand how latitude and longitude coordinates relate, study the following
chart as a general rule for a region in southern Ontario.
| Latitude |
43 degrees |
UTM-Y |
4,763,000 metres N |
| Longitude |
-79 degrees |
UTM-X |
623,000 metres E |
Updating the column with UTM coordinates
- If the Editor toolbar is not visible, click the TOOLS menu and select "Editor
Toolbar".
- Click the Editor dropdown list and select "Start editing". Notice
the field headings change from gray to white to indicate they are ready for
edits.
- Right-click the UTM_X heading and select "Calculate Values".
The Field Calculator appears.
- Click the "Load" button to load a pre-defined visual basic equation.
If you are using the DATA WORKSTATION, navigate to E:DATA\ESRI_field_calculator\getx.cal
and click Open.
NOTE: If you do not have access to the pre-defined equation, simply copy
the equation exactly as you see it in the image below.
Click OK to run the equation. The table will update with UTM X
coordinates.
- Repeat the above steps to calculate the UTM Y coordinates choosing "gety.cal"
in the Field Calculator Load window. The results should resemble the following
image.
The final step is to save the changes made to the table.
- From the Editor dropdown list, choose "Stop Editing" and
save your edits.
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