Import points from .txt file (DDMMSS.SSSS format)

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering how to import points from a .txt file. The point's format is as follows: LAT LON ELEVATION DESCRPTION, separated by a space. The coordinate format is DDMMSS.SSSS(N/S) for latitude and DDDMMSS.SSSS(E/W) for longitude, refered to WGS84. Elevation is in meters and description field is an alphanumerical string containing the name and other data. E.g.:

432458.3125N 0034716.2281W 42.542 POINT1
432452.7800N 0034743.7607W 60.189 POINT2
432450.0887N 0034737.7634W 77.577 POINT3
432455.4192N 0034720.0434W 40.199 POINT4
432459.2798N 0034710.2714W 56.416 POINT5

I've tried to import this data using the import tool, changing the format input but it doesn't work for me.

[Pointdump]

Orlando,
You'll need to use Excel to convert DDMMSS.SSSS to Decimal Degrees. Or add spaces to separate Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds.
Dave

[Jeew-m]

Hi,

I think these letters N and W causes problems when importing.

Try to use find and replace method to remove N and W in the lat and lon locations.

That would be easy through excel.

Thanks

[Pointdump · Accepted solution]

Orlando,
Point File Formats can be exasperating. I finally stumbled onto a way to make your data work like this:

Dave

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

You can easily edit your .txt file using Excel. 

Using Excel=>File=>Browse=>Open your .txt 

Next, Excel will run a utility-ish dialog window when opening the .txt file. You can create a delimiter during the .txt’s opening operation in Excel. If you create the delimiter correctly, Excel will organize the degrees, minutes and seconds and place each in separate columns. Be sure to delete the characters N and W while in Excel. 

You can even rearrange the columns, i.e. PNEZD or PENZD, and put ‘#headers’ on the columns if you wish.

Finally, perform a SAVE AS to .txt or .csv.   

 

[cwr-pae]

From C3D help, Point File Formats - Select Column Name Dialog Box

Column option include dashed, possibly easier to convert to in excel. Note that lat/long west and south are negative numbers.

DASHED Longitude
Note: A DASHED longitude value is expressed with dashes, such as 73-13-12.67.

DASHED Latitude
Note: A DASHED latitude value is expressed with dashes, such as 73-13-12.67.