"Warning, inconsistent extents"

[tachyon]

Hi ESRI Users,

I'm usually a MapInfo user, so still learning the ropes in ArcMap
(running V9.2 with a fair few toolboxes). On to my question.

I have been sent a bunch of shape files (polylines) that are
*theoretically* in a specified GCS. However when I try to add them in
to ArcMap, I get the following error message: "Warning, inconsistent
extent! One or more of the added layers has an extent that is not
consistent with the associated spatial reference information...".

A search of Google lead me to believe that you simply needed to change
the XY coordinate system for each file in ArcCatalog. After spending
the last 2 days playing trial and error, I'm still at square one,
getting the same error message. The people who sent me the data are
not really GIS users, but seem fairly adamant that it's in this
particular GCS since it's the only one they really use in that part of
the world (there is no metadata, getting such things from these people
is a fantasy).

If it helps, each dataset contains the following files: a.shx, a.sbn,
a.prj, a.avl, a.txt, a.shp, a.sbx, a.dbf

Does anybody have any suggestions for overcoming this issue?

Thanks in advance,
Tach

[Me]

Tach,

the only time I have seen these error is with an old Geodatabase, where
the extent and projection was defined for a set of layers (feature
geodataset)... You shouldn't have this problem with a Shapefile!

By the way, could it be possible that your colleagues are using a
projection that is not defined on your computer?

It may sounds silly, but sometimes simply copying the file, via
ArcCatalog, fixes errors in Shapefiles!!! Give it a try!

[Melita Kennedy]

tachyon wrote:
>
> Hi ESRI Users,
>

[...]

> I have been sent a bunch of shape files (polylines) that are
> *theoretically* in a specified GCS. However when I try to add them in
> to ArcMap, I get the following error message: "Warning, inconsistent
> extent! One or more of the added layers has an extent that is not
> consistent with the associated spatial reference information...".
>
> A search of Google lead me to believe that you simply needed to change
> the XY coordinate system for each file in ArcCatalog. After spending
> the last 2 days playing trial and error, I'm still at square one,
> getting the same error message. The people who sent me the data are
> not really GIS users, but seem fairly adamant that it's in this
> particular GCS since it's the only one they really use in that part of
> the world (there is no metadata, getting such things from these people
> is a fantasy).
>
> If it helps, each dataset contains the following files: a.shx, a.sbn,
> a.prj, a.avl, a.txt, a.shp, a.sbx, a.dbf
>
> Does anybody have any suggestions for overcoming this issue?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Tach

Hi Tach,

This warning message usually occurs when a dataset is defined as
having a geographic coordinate system, but the extents are larger
than possible using decimal degrees. So, yes, this data is probably
in some other coordinate system.

You might want to check with the EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset
(http://www.epsg-registry.org or http://www.epsg.org) to see what
coordinate systems are possible for the area.

If that doesn't work, you can tell us what location the data represents,
and give the current extents (ArcCatalog, metadata, spatial section),
plus what the data provider think the coordinate system is.

I usually only check newsgroups once a week, so you might also want
to check out the ArcGIS Desktop forums at http://forums.esri.com.

Melita