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Excel Data Mapping System: ExceltoMap

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How to enter location coordinates

Use the coordinates recorded by the GPS devise if available. Otherwise, use the following methods.
  This system handles coordinates in decimal format (6 digits).
  Degree-minute-second inputs are automatically converted to decimal format when processed.

  1. The method using Google Maps
    This method is useful for places in residential areas.
    1) Open Google Maps in your browser.
    2) Place a cursor at the target place and right-click.
    3) A pop-up menu is open. Place the cursor on the coordinates shown at the top and left-click.
    4) The coordinates is copied. Paste it to the latitude cell.
    The coordinates in the latitude cell are automatically allocated to appropriate cells when processed.
    The address of the place is also copied in one click in Google Maps.

  2. The method using Google Earth in a Browser
    1) Open Google Earth in your browser.
      Configure the display of coordinates in decimal format rather than degrees-minutes-seconds.
    2) Place a cursor at the target place and right-click.
    3) A pop-up menu is open. Place the cursor on 'Copy the coordinates' and left-click.
    4) The coordinates is copied. Paste it to the latitude cell.
    The coordinates are automatically separated and placed to appropriate cells when processed.
    The marks '°N' and '°E' (or '°S' and '°W') are automatically removed.
    The south latitudes or west longitudes are changed to negative values.

  3. The method using Google Earth Pro (a free and stand-alone application)
    1) Open Google Earth Pro.
      Configure the display of coordinates in decimal format rather than degrees-minutes-seconds.
    2) Click the pin-shaped icon on the upper-left corner of the map screen.
    3) Drag the icon to the target place on the map.
    4) Copy the coordinates shown in the information window and paste them to the corresponding cells.
      The degree mark '°' in the pasted cell will be removed automatically.
    5) Close the information window by pressing its 'Cancel' button.

How to display place information

There are various ways to display place data. The following tips might be of help for advanced users.

The mark and label of a place element
Place elements are displayed with place marks and labels. In Google Earth, these two are inseparable and cannot be shown or hidden independently. For this reason, it is often advisable to set up two folders with the same place elements: one showing only marks and the other only labels. In this case, set the label size to 0 for marks and the mark size to 0 for labels.

Place marks need to be set slightly higher than the ground. This is to prevent them from being hidden by the structures on the ground when the map is shown in 3D. Usually, a height of about 3 meters above the ground is sufficient. However, for areas of high tropical forests or high buildings, a height of more than 20 meters might be needed. In such a case, their position may appear significantly shifted from a close and tilted view.

Labels are always visible. It is true even if their height is set below the ground level. Using a sign-like character for labels as a substitute for the place mark will ensure that it is always visible and that with its relative height set to zero, there is no risk of its position appearing shifted when viewed from an angle. However, because this substitute is essentially a label, balloon settings cannot be opted. Some of sign-like characters are available in the cell menu [◉▣◈▼▲▶◀]. If sign-like characters are adopted for a label, the place mark size is automatically set to 0. This is to prevent the label positions from shifting away due to the presence of the place mark, whose positioning always has priority.

Two ways to display place information using text
There are two ways to display place information using text.

A technique to display multiple data at multiple places simultaneously.
The first step is to assign multiple labels (without marks) to each place.
Specifically, create multiple folders sharing the same place elements and let each of them display the value of different data items as a label. It is realized by entering corresponding data item name in column J (Refer to 'Elements' - 'Place element' - 'Assignment in columm J'). This enables necessary information to be displayed as labels at multiple places at the same time.

Yet, a problem remains. Displaying multiple labels at the same time causes them to overlap.

Although only for a close tilted view, this overlap can be avoided by assigning a different height to each label. In the example data for snow bats, this technique is used to show multiple labels during the tour.

Handling GPS data

The following handling is intended for GPS data.

How to set an arbitrary viewpoint

A veiwpoint is set acccrding to the assignment in column G, but it can also be set manually as follows.

About the file link

The buttons in a data file are each assigned a macro in the system file. This is what the link is.

Useful short-cut keys

Data Sheets have 'Move' and 'Insert' buttons for editing. The shortcut keys below may also be helpful.