RockWorks | Utilities | Coords | XY->Polar
This program is used to translate X,Y locations in a Cartesian coordinate format to a polar coordinate format (bearing and distance) assuming a fixed reference point. The resulting coordinates are stored in two columns in the main datasheet.
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Menu Options
- Input Columns: Specify these in the left pane of the program window.
- X (Easting): Click on the X (Easting) item to select the name of the column in the datasheet that contains the existing X (Easting) Cartesian coordinates to be translated.
Be sure you define your coordinate system and units. See Defining your Datasheet Coordinates for more information.
- Y (Northing): Click on the Y (Northing) item to select the name of the column in the datasheet that contains the existing Y (Northing) Cartesian coordinates to be translated.
- Output Columns: Declare the columns for the computed coordinates in the middle-left pane. Any existing data in these columns will be overwritten.
- Bearing: Click on the Bearing item to select the name of the column in the current datasheet into which the computed bearing (0 to 360 degrees) are to be recorded. Be warned that any existing data in the columns will be overwritten!
- Distance: Click on the Distance item to select the name of the column in the current datasheet into which the computed distance measurements (in any units) are to be recorded. Be warned that any existing data in the columns will be overwritten!
- Origin: Expand this heading if necessary to specify the X and Y Cartesian coordinates for the single point that will serve as the reference point for the coordinate translation. The default coordinates are (0,0). The reference coordinate must be in the same units as the distance measurements.
- X (Easting): Click on the Easting prompt to type in the X or Easting coordinate for the origin reference point. The reference coordinate must be in the same units as the X and Y source coordinates.
- Y (Northing): Click on the Easting prompt to type in the Y or Northing coordinate for the origin reference point. The reference coordinate must be in the same units as the X and Y source coordinates.
- Decimals: Click on the Decimal Places item to specify the number of decimal places for the output distance and bearing measurements.
Step-by-Step Summary
- Access the Utilities program tab.
- Open or create a data file containing the X and Y coordinates, in a Cartesian coordinate system, to be translated.
- Select the Utilities | Coords | XY -> Polar menu command.
- Enter the requested menu options, described above.
- Click the Process button to continue.
The program will convert the source X,Y coordinates to a polar format as specified and store them in the selected columns in the datasheet. The distance units will represent the same units as the original X and Y coordinates.
Back to Coords Menu Summary
RockWare home page