Import points from CSV file inserts points in incorrect location (not even close

[Anonymous]

I took data from a GPS and changed it all into northing and eastings and put it into an excel spreadsheet. I brought the spreadsheet into the CAD file expecting the data points to populate on top of a topo map that was pre-existing. I used the PNEZ format (which my excel was in) for importing but the points were way off point.

Out of frustration I tried manually inputting a few points using the properties manager position x and position y modifiers and putting the northing and eastings in there and the points showed up on the topo as expected.

What could I have possibly done wrong?

[Jeew-m]

Dear Friend,

Make sure you set correct format after importing the file. 

There are so many styles.

PNEZ

PENZ

PENZD

NEZ

So many formats.

Make sure you have a point number column in excel if you use PNEZ or PENZ.

Thanks

[Pointdump]

Jamie,

Welcome to the Autodesk Forums.

"I took data from a GPS and changed it all into northing and eastings and put it into an excel spreadsheet."

Can you elaborate on how you did that?

Dave

[autoMick]

There's a whole list of things:

1. First: You should also set your desired coordinate system in your drawing, command is MAPCSASSIGN.
2. Then: check what coordinate system and format your input file coordinates are in (lat/long, NEZ, ENZ etc.)
3. Next: Point file format as noted by @Jeew-m. Note that if you are converting from lat/longs to NEZ then the point file format you pick when importing will need to be modified (if this is the case, say so, and we can give you more pointers on how to do this)
4. as @Pointdump is hinting at - the error may be in your conversions. Note that in Civil3d (as per point 3 above) you can usually create a point format that converts not only the column order correctly, but also the coordinate system at the same time - i.e. a 1-step process.

Cheers

Mick

[Anonymous]

I manually put the latitude and longitudes into the excel spreadsheet from the GPS. Then I used a website to translate the latitude and longitudes into northing and eastings and put that data into the next column in excel. Then to format a spreadsheet for CAD I took the two columns of northings and eastings and put those into a new sheet, added a column for point numbers and added the Z column as 0 for all points so it was in the format PNEZ. I then saved that spreadsheet as a .csv and imported it to Civil 3D.

[wfberry]

In the future remember that you can make a point file format that uses Lat - Longs.

Check out:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/civil-3d-importing-lat-long-format-points/td-p/7297234

Bill

[neilyj666]

You can convert the lat/longs directly in civil  but you do need to create a point file e.g.

Export from my handheld Garmin

into Civil 3D via a new Point File Format

Ensure Coodinate transformation is checked and credit to @Pointdump for the help with this a year or so ago.

and in Civil 3D