Converting Coordinates in bulk

To ensure that all the records that store coordinate data have a complete set of coordinates in a consistent format, you use the Bulk Coordinate Converter dialog.

All coordinates are converted to decimal degrees against the WGS 1984 standard. Converting your coordinates enables you to:

  • Use the data in the Coordinate field to insert or update latitudes and longitudes (as decimal degrees). This allows records to be plotted on maps or for records to be included in coordinate queries.

  • Use the data in the latitude and longitude fields to insert or update the coordinate field value. You may want to do this to ensure that your data is complete.

You can specify how the update is applied. You can also save a list of records that fail to update, for example because of insufficient data, in a set for review later.

Note: You can only convert coordinates if there is a Coordinate type field followed directly by two other fields for the latitude and longitude (Real Number fields). These two fields will contain the converted coordinate values. The first field, stores the original coordinate before it is converted.

See Coordinates in iBase for further background information.

Note: See Supported coordinate systems for further information on converting data to the coordinate system standard to your organization. This topic also describes the rules that are applied when converting coordinates.

To convert coordinates

  1. Decide on the scope of the bulk conversion. For example, you can convert all the records in the database or you can restrict the conversion to the records in a query or set. You will convert only the records that you have access to.

  2. To track which records converted successfully, you can create sets that you can review later:

    • To obtain a list of failures, turn on the Add records that failed to update checkbox, and enter the details of the set.

    • To obtain a list of successes, turn on the Add successfully updated records checkbox, and enter the details of the set.

  3. Click Next to continue.

  4. In the Update area, specify whether you are updating latitudes and longitudes or the coordinate field value as explained in detail below.

  5. Select the datum of the original coordinates if they do not use WGS 1984. The datum you select will be remembered for the next time you use the Bulk Coordinate Converter dialog.

  6. Click Next to continue.

  7. Depending on the coordinate system:

    1. For UTM or UPS coordinates where the hemisphere is not specified, select North or South.

    2. For BNG coordinates, select the precision that you want to use (see Supported coordinate systems for details).

  8. Click Convert to apply the conversion.

Updating latitudes and longitudes

You can automatically update latitudes and longitudes if the records have a value in the Coordinate type field, which will enable you to plot these records on maps.

Select the Update latitude and longitude field values option and then decide on the scope of the update:

Option

Update scope

Only if both the fields are blank

Select this option to update only those records that are missing both the longitude and latitude.

Only if either one or both the fields are blank

Select this option to update any records with a missing latitude, missing longitude or both.

Always

Select this option to update all records, including records that already have a latitude and longitude.

Updating the coordinate field value

You can automatically update the Coordinate type field if the records have latitudes and longitudes, which were entered either manually or by importing.

Select the Update coordinate field values option and then decide on the scope of the update:

Option

Update scope

Only if the field is blank

Select this option to update only records without a value in the Coordinate type field.

Always

Select this option to update all records, including those that already have a value in the Coordinate type field. For example, you might want to do this after editing a series of latitudes and longitudes.