Feature Description

If a user needs to transform the coordinates of a point to another coordinate system, the "Transform Coordinates" feature can be used to obtain coordinate values in the target coordinate system.

This feature supports transformations between two geographic coordinate systems, two projected coordinate systems, as well as mutual conversions between geographic and projected coordinate systems.

Feature Entry

• Start Tab->Data Processing Group->Project Drop-down Button->Transform Coordinates.

Steps

1. Source Data Point: Directly input longitude/latitude or X/Y coordinate values. When the source coordinate point uses a geographic coordinate system, you can switch to "Display in Degrees:Minutes:Seconds" format to input precise DMS values.
2. Source Coordinate System: Set the coordinate system for source data. This feature doesn't support planar coordinate transformations. Both source and target coordinate systems must be set as either geographic or projected coordinate systems. Three configuration methods are available:
   • Reset Coordinate System: Click the Reset Coordinate System button, select More from the dropdown menu, then configure the target projection in the Coordinate System Settings dialog. For detailed operations, refer to Projection Settings.
   • Copy Coordinate System: Click the Copy Coordinate System button to copy from either a datasource or dataset.
   • Import Coordinate System: Click the Import Coordinate System... button to select and import a projection information file.
3. Target Coordinate System: Set the result coordinate system as a different geographic or projected coordinate system from the source. Configuration methods mirror those for the source coordinate system.
4. Reference Transformation Settings: Click the dropdown button next to the Transformation Method label to select from over a dozen system-provided projection methods. For method descriptions, refer to Reference System Transformation Methods.
5. Projection Transformation Parameters: Different transformation methods require different parameter configurations. For method details, see Reference System Transformation Methods.
   • For three-parameter methods (Geocentric Translation, Molodensky, Molodensky Abridged), configure X/Y/Z offset values in meters.

     This geocentric transformation shifts from one datum center (0,0,0) to another (ΔX,ΔY,ΔZ) through linear translation.

   • For seven-parameter methods (Position Vector, Coordinate Frame, Bursa-Wolf), configure scale difference, rotation angles, and offsets.

     Requires seven parameters: three translations (meters), three rotations (arc-seconds), and scale difference (ppm).

6. Import/Export Transformation Parameters: Click the import button to load *.ctp files containing preconfigured parameters. Click export to save current parameters for future use.
7. After completing all parameter settings, click "Transform" to execute. View results in the Result Coordinate Point section. For geographic coordinate systems, toggle DMS display format.

Related Topics

Reproject Dataset

Batch Reproject

Calculate Transformation Model Parameters