coordinates

AspEdit manual Coordinate conventions

Geodetic datum

AspEdit is not taking the geodetic datum into account in any way, it performs no conversions. The coordinates in the exported OpenAir files will be the same as the ones given in the input. It is the users responsibility to make sure the correct geodetic datum is used.

Units

The default units are set in the List dialog box. When an area is created, it will use these units by default. From then on, the units for that area are not dependent upon the setting in the list, they can only be set from the Area dialog box. Different units can be set for all areas.

Following units are available:

DMS : degrees, munutes seconds
DMS.s : degrees, minutes, seconds, decimal seconds
DM.m : degrees, minutes, decimal minutes.

Input

Upon input, AspEdit uses the coordinates as set in the area dialog box.
The N/S and E/W hemisphere indicators can be placed either at the front or at the end. If none is specified, N and E are presumed. Don’t use a plus or minus sign.
Punctuation is very permissive. You can use any of the following examples, in any combination (DMSs):
N50°20’30.00” / N50.02.30.00 50,2.30”00
When exactly 6 numerical digits without any punctuation are given for latitude, or 7 digits for longitude, DMS is taken as input unit. Example: 502030N will be read as 50°20’30”N, regardless of the selected units. Example for longitude 0042030E = 004°20’30”E. Mind the zeros at the start.

Output

In the xml file, the selected units will be used
In OpenAir files, the units will always be DMS

Changing the units of an existing area

All units will automatically be converted to the new ones. However, the conversion may cause a loss of accuracy. In the xml file, the coordinates are stored in text format and in the selected units.
Example: if the units were initially stored in DM.m and converted to DMS, they will lose accuracy. Converting back to DMm will not recover the accuracy.

Hemisphere codes

Accepted hemisphere codes are N, n, S, s, E, e, W, w. Upon input, they can be placed before or after the coordinate.

Coordinates in the XML file

An xml file uses a text coding such as UTF-8 for symbols such as a double quote. This makes it more difficult to read, when opened from a simple text editor.
A double quote can’t be used in an xml data field, because it would be considered as the end of the data field. Because of that, AspEdit replaces all double quotes with a # symbol. For example: 51°06'05”N will be written as 51°06'05#N in the xml file. If you manually edit the file, take care to adhere to this convention.