Calculating the magnetic course for a path

Available with Production Mapping license.

The Magnetic Course Calculator function calculates the magnetic course and distance between two specified points. This tool can be used to obtain the distance between two bearings based on the magnetic variation values for a particular year.

1. Start ArcMap.
2. On the menu bar, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Feature Builder.
3. Click the Feature Builder button on the Production Feature Builder toolbar.

   The Feature Builder window appears.

   Tip:

   The Feature Builder window can be placed anywhere in ArcMap, or in the Table Of Contents window, with the aid of the arrows showing the possible placement positions.

4. If the scratch dataset has not been added to the table of contents, click the Add Scratch Data Layers button at the top of the Feature Builder window.

   The dataset is added to the map using the current spatial reference.

5. Choose Magnetic Course Calculator in the list on the Functions tab.

   

6. Define a coordinate for the start point of the polyline by doing one of the following:
   • Click the Pinprick tool on the Production Feature Builder toolbar and click on the map
   • Type the coordinates in the cells on the Input tab in the Coordinates area.

   Tip:

   To view the input coordinates on the map, double-click the row headers for each coordinate.

7. Repeat step 6 to define a coordinate for the ending point of the course leg.
8. If necessary, click the cell next to MagVar Value and type a value for the magnetic variation.

   This can be a specified value or from a field defined in the MagVar Source parameter. The default unit is degrees.

   Learn more about the magnetic variation value

Tip:

Right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

9. If necessary, click the drop-down arrow next to MagVar Source and choose a source for the magnetic variation.

   This is the source of the magnetic variation value.

   Learn more about the magnetic variation source

10. If necessary, click the drop-down arrow next to MagVar Year and choose a different year for the World Magnetic Model.

    This is the year associated with the magnetic variation value.

    Note:

    You can only choose a value for MagVar Year if Magnetic Model is selected for the MagVar Source property.

    Learn more about the magnetic variation year

11. Click the Execute button .
12. Click the Output tab in the Functions area.

The magnetic course and distance values are displayed.

The magnetic course is the angle from the first coordinate to the second coordinate. The distance value represents the distance between the first coordinate and the second coordinate.

Tip:

Right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.