Description
After importing an Excel table with longitude and latitude values into ArcMap, the X and Y Fields are blank in the Display XY Data dialog box.
Cause
This issue occurs when the latitude and longitude field data types are incorrectly set.
Solution or Workaround
- In the Table Of Contents, right-click the Excel table, and select Data > Export. Browse to the specific location, specify the name of the file (the default name is Export_Output), and Save as type: dBase table.
- In the Do you want to add the new table to the current map? pop-up, click Yes.
- Right-click the newly created table, and click Open to open the Table dialog box.
- Go to Table Options and select Add Field to add a new field.
- In the Add Field dialog box, specify the name and type of field for the longitude and latitude. For example, use:
- Name: Longitude1, Type: Double
- Name: Latitude1, Type: Double
- To start editing the table, navigate to the Editor toolbar and select Start Editing.
- When prompted, select the newly created table.
- Right-click the Longitude1 header and select Field Calculator.
- In the Field Calculator dialog box, double-click the pre-existing longitude field. Click OK.
- Repeat steps 8 and 9 for the Latitude1 field.
- Close the table. Save and stop the editing session.
- In the Table Of Contents, right-click the Export_Output table, and select Display XY Data.
- In the Display XY Data dialog box, select Longitude1 for the X Field and Latitude1 for the Y Field to specify the coordinates. Click Edit.
- Navigate to the desired coordinate system, for example:
Geographic coordinate system > North America > NAD 1983