DMStoDD ( Latitude or Longitude )

Converts decimal minutes seconds to decimal degrees.

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Edward P. Asmus
Asmus Consulting
http://asmus.uga.edu

Sample input:

DMStoDD ( "38° 12' 23\" N" )

Sample output:

38.2063888888888889

Function definition: (Copy & paste into FileMaker's Edit Custom Function window)

/* =========================================================
                       Custom Function DMStoDD
===========================================================

Purpose:  Convert degrees minutes seconds (DMS) to decimal degrees (DD).

Developer:  Edward Asmus (edasmus@uga.edu)

Calling:  DMStoDD ( "38° 12' 23\" N" )  The result would be 38.2063888888888889.

DMS:  The degree symbol (°) is that used by Google Earth and Google Maps it is Unicode 176 (shift-option-8).  The seconds are decimal minutes.  Note that you may need to "escape" the seconds character (") by inserting a backslash of the form "\"".  This would result in a single double-quote character (").  Either latitude or longitude can be sent for conversion and it will be converted correctly.

DD:  The routine works for both latitude and longitude.  If the latitude is in the southern hemisphere, it will be a negative value.  If the longitude is in the western hemisphere, it will be a negative value.

Reference:  http://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/degrees-to-degrees-minutes-seconds.htm

========================================================= */

Let (
[
~locDegree = Position ( latORlon; "°"; 1; 1 ) ;
~locMin = Position ( latORlon; "'"; 1; 1 ) ;
~locSec = Position ( latORlon; "\""; 1; 1 ) ;
~theLength = Length ( latORlon );
~degrees = Trim ( Left ( latORlon; ~locDegree - 1 ) ) ;
~mins = Trim ( Middle ( latORlon; ~locDegree + 1; ~locMin - ~locDegree - 1 ) ) / 60 ;
~secs = Trim ( Middle ( latORlon; ~locMin + 1; ~locSec - ~locMin - 1 ) ) / 3600 ;
~result = ~degrees + ~mins + ~secs;
~result = If ( ( Position ( latORlon; "S"; 1; 1 ) > 0 ) or ( Position ( latORlon; "W"; 1; 1 ) > 0 ) ; "-"; "" ) & ~result
] ;
~result
)

Converts degrees minutes seconds (DMS) to decimal degrees (DD). Latitude or longitude can be sent to the routine. A negative number will be returned for locations in the southern or western hemispheres.

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Note: these functions are not guaranteed or supported by BrianDunning.com. Please contact the individual developer with any questions or problems.

DMStoDD ( Latitude or Longitude )

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