A new tool is available called GISconnector for Excel which enables bidirectional data transfer between ArcGIS and Excel. The tool, GISconnector, also enables transfer selections and filters (definition queries) between Excel and ArcGIS. GISconnector was recently nominated as one of the most innovative GIS-Software in Germany for 2014. One of the developers, Matthias Abele, a biologist from Germany specializing in the field of river ecology, has provided information about this new tool.
UPDATE:
Matthias Abele has announced the release of GISconnector 1.1 which has the following improvements:
- Connect your existing ArcGIS and Excel data on the basis of alphanumerical columns
- New and improved workflow for creating connections and the export of data
- Support for ArcSDE-Geodatabases
- The connected Excel workbook can directly be started from ArcGIS
- Extended logging of all actions in a protocol
- Export the table scheme of a feature class and therefore export only a part of your data to Excel or to ArcGIS
- Free functions without limitation:
- Export your ArcGIS data to Excel
- Export your Excel data directly into an ArcGIS table
Originally published 9/4/2014: GISConnector is comprised of two add-ins, one for Excel and the other for ArcGIS. These two add-ins (or extensions) communicate in order to allow for the interaction of data between Excel and ArcGIS. Functionality offered by GISconnector includes: no editing session required for transferring data from Excel to ArcGIS, transfer new columns both from Excel to ArcGIS and vice versa, transfer new ArcGIS features to your existing Excel table, connect many feature classes to one Excel file with multiple tables or spreadsheets, and export attribute data to Excel and Excel tables to ArcGIS
The system requirements for using GISconnector are ArcGIS Desktop 10.1 or higher and Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010 or higher. There is a demo version available that allows users to test the features of GISconnector with a limit of 100 records. Visit the GISconnector site to learn more about this tool or visit the GISconnector YouTube channel to view videos.
More detail about GISconnector
Export data from ArcGIS and import data into ArcGIS:
- Export attribute tables from ArcGIS directly to Excel (xlsx) in a new or existing Excel file with the ArcGIS Desktop Add-In “GISconnector for Excel”
- Export Excel data directly to ArcGIS tables (dBase-tables or geodatabase tables)
Bidirectional link between feature classes and Excel tables with data synchronization:
- Synchronize data modifications between Excel and ArcGIS without an editing session
- Save the data connection with settings: tell the GISconnector for Excel exactly which columns are to be transferred from ArcGIS to Excel, or from Excel to ArcGIS, and which are not
- If you rename columns or create new ones in Excel, you can transfer the changes to ArcGIS; this also works the other way round, of course
- When you transfer data from ArcGIS to Excel, the GISconnector for Excel does not overwrite your Excel formulas to keep your spreadsheet always full dynamically
Create new features using ArcGIS and enter the corresponding attribute data in Excel while editing:
- You can transfer newly created features immediately to Excel during an editing session. Then, you can enter all of your attribute data in Excel
- Transfer your edits either during or after your editing session back to ArcGIS
Transfer of selections & definition queries to Excel:
- Select objects in an ArcGIS layer and transfer the selection to the linked Excel table as a selection
- Select objects in an ArcGIS layer and transfer the selection to the linked Excel table as a filter
- Transfer definition queries of an ArcGIS layer to the linked Excel table as a filter
Transfer of selections & filters to ArcGIS:
- Select data in the Excel table and transfer the selection to ArcGIS as a selection
- Select data in the Excel table and transfer the selection to ArcGIS as a definition query
- Transfer filters of an Excel table to ArcGIS as a definition query
- Transfer filters of an Excel table to ArcGIS as a selection
Homepage: www.gis-connector.com
Testversion: http://www.gis-connector.de/en/testversion-2/
Youtube-Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/gisconnectoren
