RockWorks | Utilities | Coords | Polar -> XY
This program is used to translate location coordinates listed in a polar coordinate format (bearing and distance) to X,Y coordinates in a Cartesian coordinate format, assuming a fixed reference point. The reference point can be universal (applying to all measurements) or specific to each measurement. The computed X,Y coordinates will be recorded in the same units as the original distance measurements.
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
- Data Columns: Use these prompts to define the columns in the current datasheet which contain the input data, and to which the output coordinates are to be recorded.
- Input
- Origin X, Origin Y: (optional) If your data file lists a reference point for each bearing & distance measurement, use these prompts to define the name of the columns that contains the X and Y coordinates of these reference points. (If you don't have the reference points defined in the data file, you can specify a single "universal" point in the options settings, as described below.)
These coordinates can be in your output units or a different coordinate system. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
- Bearing: Select the name of the column in the current datasheet that contains the bearing measurements (0 to 360 degrees) to be converted.
- Distance: Select the column in the datasheet that contains the distance measurements. Be sure your linear units are defined.
- Output
- Easting: Select the name of the column in the current datasheet into which the computed X (Easting) Cartesian coordinates are to be stored. Be warned that any existing data in the columns will be overwritten.
- Northing: Select the name of the column in the current datasheet into which the computed Y (Northing) Cartesian coordinates are to be stored. Any existing data in the columns will be overwritten.
- Polar - XY
- Origin: Here you will define the reference point.
- Column-Based: Click in this radio button if the reference points are defined in the data file for each bearing/distance measurement, and you have selected the Origin-X and Origin-Y coordinate columns in the Data Columns | Input prompts, as described above.
- Universal: Click in this radio button if the conversion is to be based on a single reference point. The reference coordinate must be in the same units as the distance measurements.
- Origin-X: Type in the X or Easting coordinate for the origin reference point.
- Origin-Y: Type in the Y or Northing coordinate for the origin reference point.
- Decimals: Sspecify the number of decimal places for the output coordinates. The proper value to enter will depend on your data: the accuracy of the distance measurements, and the units you are using.
- Access the RockWorks Datasheet program tab.
- Create a new datasheet and enter or import your listing of polar coordinates in bearing and distance.
Or, open one of the sample files and replace that data with your own. See Data Layout for datasheet examples.
! Click the Example button at the top of the window to load a sample file that is installed with the program.
- Select the Utilities | Coords | Polar -> XY menu option.
- Enter the requested program settings, listed above.
- Click the Continue button to proceed.
The program will convert the polar source coordinates to an X,Y Cartesian format as specified and store them in the selected columns in the datasheet. The X,Y coordinates will be recorded in the same units as the original distance measurements.
In this example, these two coordinates:
would be translated to these X,Y coordinates.
Back to Coords Menu Summary
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