Create Points Tool

The Create Points tool creates a point-type spatial object by specifying input fields containing the X coordinate (Longitude ) and the Y coordinate (Latitude ). This is usually done to prepare the input data for spatial processing using Alteryx’s spatial tools, such as the Spatial Match Tool, Distance Tool, or the Trade Area Tool.

The input data and the Point type spatial object created by the Create Points tool can all be written to a spatial file for viewing with a mapping Application such as MapInfo and ArcGIS, or the objects can be viewed using the Report Map Tool without having to output to a spatial file.

If the records have street addresses but no latitude and longitude, you can calculate the latitude and longitude using the Street Geocoder Tool, which recognizes any third-party geocoder, then using the Create Points tool to create a Point type spatial object.

While using spatial tools, you may have more than one spatial object field in the data stream. When you are configuring the final Output Data tool, you must remember that output to files such as.dbf,.xls or.csv will not accept the spatial object fields, and that spatial files will accept only one spatial object field. Use the Select Tool to select only the appropriate fields for the output file type.

For more information on writing output to a spatial file, see Output Data Tool.

Configure the tool

Choose the appropriate fields from the input table that correspond to X Field (Longitude) and Y Field (Latitude) coordinates.
Select the appropriate format of the Latitude and Longitude coordinates coming into the tool. Choices include:

Fields are Lat/Long Floating Point: The coordinates are in a decimal format.
Fields are Lat/Long Integers (x 1,000,000): The coordinates are displayed in a whole number format.
Fields are Projected Floating Points: The coordinates are displayed in a geographic projection. By default, Designer uses WGS84. Enter a different projection, or click to open the Edit Project dialog. See Projection Support.