Can anyone lead me to how I can take points from a Carlson drawing and export them to a shape file with the coordinate system info. I have a drawing with State Plane coordinates and someone has asked me to export to a shapefile. I can get the shapefile exported but it does not seem to have descriptions, elevations or coordinate data with it. I have a licensed ArcGIS copy but I use GIS so rarely I cant seem to get the data exported properly. When I try and import my shapefile it tells me there is no positional data with my points. Thanks for the help.
I don't use Carlson but I'm guessing that you can export a pnezd comma seperated value file to Excel. If so, open the csv file and insert headings at the first row of each column. eg. column 1 = Point, column 2 = Northing, ect.. Resave the file and import into ArcGIS. Once in ArcGIS, right click the imported file (in table of contents window) and choose add xy . a dialog box will open up where you specify the headings that match x,y,and z. Once done, the data will be added to the map if ok'd.
In the table of contents, right click the newly created data event and choose data, export data then choose shapefile as the format.
Another way is to append the csv file with headings to the shapefile you created using the append tool in the ArcGIS toolbox. Said tool is located under data management-general.
I'm sure there is a more direct way with Carlson but the above described methods can be useful work arounds.
Forgot an important detail in the previous post. The appropriate coordinate system needs to be set in the data frame prior to importing csv file. This is done in the table of contents window. Right click layers, properties and choose the coordinate system tab to set the appropriate CS.
thats for importing shapefiles, any help for exporting them??
thanks for the help, I will use this till I figure out the carlson.
one question...how do you import the file to arcgis?
The easiest way is open up the catalog window, set the Folder Connections to the file location and drag and drop the csv into ArcMap.
The same can be done using the add data Icon (or on the main menu click Filethen Add Data, Add Data) then setting the Folder Connections to the proper path and clicking ok.
Email me your email addy and I'll send you a pdf file on how my company does this.
As it turns out, Carlson does have a command designed to create an Esri PRJ file but requires the Carlson GIS module (version 2013 or later). In this module (not to be confused with the GIS menu found within Carlson Survey) is this:
>Export ESRI Projection File
>This command creates an ESRI format Projection File (ESRI PRJ) from the projection definition in Drawing Setup which must be setup before running this routine. The program prompts for the .PRJ file to create.
Once the PRJ file is created, it can be used with the Export ESRI SHP File command:
There might also be a way to create a PRJ file from ArcGIS but I'm not familiar enough with ArcGIS to suggest how to accomplish this. I did see, however, Esri Support Article 14056 which has some information on PRJ creation.
I hope this helps.
I did that last night, check your spam folder..seems my mail always ends up there!
It did not even make it that far!! Try again. I'll keep an eye out for it.
