Converting Polar Data to XY Format

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
 

Menu Options

• Input Columns:  Choose the input data in the left pane of the program window. 
  • 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: Click on this item to select the name of the column in the current data sheet that contains the bearing measurements (0 to 360 degrees) to be converted.
  • Distance: Click on this item to select the name of the column in the current data sheet that contains the distance measurements. Be sure your linear units are defined.
• Output Columns:  Choose the output data columns in the center-left pane of the window.
  • Easting: Click on this item to 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: Click on this item to 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.
• Origin:  Expand this heading, if necessary, to 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 X and Y coordinate columns in the Input Column prompts, as described above.
  • Universal: Click in this radio button if the conversion is to be based on a single reference point.  Expand this heading to enter this point.  The reference coordinate must be in the same units as the distance measurements.
    • Origin-X: Click on the Easting prompt to type in the X or Easting coordinate for the origin reference point.
    • Origin-Y: Click on the Easting prompt to type in the Y or Northing coordinate for the origin reference point.
• Decimals: Click on the Decimal Places item to specify 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.
  
   

Step-by-Step Summary

1. Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab. 
2. Open or create a data file containing the polar coordinates, in bearing and distance, to be translated. 
3. Select the Utilities | Coords | Polar -> XY menu option. 
4. Enter the requested menu items, listed above. 
5. Click the Process button when all of this information has been entered.

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.

6. Close the options window to return to the data window.

In this example, these two coordinates:

would be translated to these X,Y coordinates.

Back to Coords Menu Summary

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