Adding X, Y Coordinate Data in ArcGIS 10

X, Y coordinate values describe discrete locations on the earth's surface, and are collected using
GPS devices. Once the information has been uploaded from the GPS to a computer, it is possible
to map these points in the ArcGIS environment. The procedure below outlines the steps required
to create a point shapefile from your X, Y coordinate values in ArcGIS 10.
Step 1

Format data

Begin by opening the file in Excel or a similar spreadsheet program.

Ensure that your first row contains the column headings; try to keep the column names as short
and descriptive as possible.
Check that the cells containing your coordinate values are in numeric format. This is important
lat/long values MUST be in decimal degrees. If your data has been entered in degrees, minutes
and seconds format then it will be necessary to convert to decimal degrees. The conversion
formula is as follows:
Decimal Degrees = Degrees + ((Minutes / 60) + (Seconds / 3600))

Select all of the cells in the spreadsheet that contain data and click on File > Save As.
In the Save As dialog, browse to the directory in which you wish to save your work, change the
Save As Type box to read CSV, and enter a name for the document. Click Save.
Note: ArcGIS 9x and later will support Excel format; however, should you have any issues
attempting this process with an Excel spreadsheet then it may be necessary to save the file to a
different format (DBF, TXT, CSV).

Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MaDGIC)

Trent University Library

Rev 04/2012

Software: ArcGIS 10

Browse to your directory and open the file in Notepad. The document should appear similar to the
example below - a delimited text file with the first row containing column headings and the
remaining rows containing your data.

Step 2

Add X, Y Data to ArcMap

Open a new, blank document in ArcMap. Click the Add Data button (

).

The Add Data dialog will display only the directories to which a connection has been established. If
you are able to see the drive in which your work has been saved, browse to the file containing
your coordinates, and click Add.
If you can't see the drive, create a connection using the the Connect to Folder button (
browse into the directory, highlight the file containing your coordinates, and click Add.

), then

The CSV file will appear in the ArcMap table of contents. Note that the file must be closed in all
other applications (Excel, Notepad) prior to adding it to ArcMap. If it is open in any other
application, you will most likely receive an error message.
To display your coordinate values as points, right-click the file name in the ArcMap table of
contents and select 'Display XY Data...'

Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MaDGIC)

Trent University Library

Rev 04/2012

Software: ArcGIS 10

The Add XY Data dialog will open. Specify the fields that contain the X and Y coordinates, with X
corresponding to longitude (easting) values and Y corresponding to latitude (northing) values.
Set the desired coordinate system by clicking the 'Edit' button at the bottom of the screen and
browsing to the coordinate system of your data.

Click OK to close the Spatial Reference Properties dialog, and click OK again to process the
request. You will receive a warning that the resulting table does not have an Object-ID field click
OK to close the message we will create an Object ID field in Step 3 below. Your XY data will
appear as points on your map.

Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MaDGIC)

Trent University Library

Rev 04/2012

Software: ArcGIS 10

Step 3

Export data

Although the X, Y data is visible on your map, it exists only as an event layer on this particular
map document. To create a permanent file that can be used in calculations and analyses, rightclick the Events layer name in the table of contents and choose Data > Export Data. Follow the
instructions in the resulting dialog to save the new file to your working directory.

Choose Yes when prompted to add the exported data to ArcMap.

A new shapefile with the name you have specified is added to your directory as well as to the map
document. You may now remove the CSV file and the Events layer (right-click > Remove). Your
new shapefile is fully functional, and can be added to multiple map documents, projected, or used
in calculations and geoprocessing functions.
File > Save to save the map document.

Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MaDGIC)

Trent University Library

Rev 04/2012

Software: ArcGIS 10