Can QGIS plot coordinates in Degrees-Minutes format?

Question

I have a .csv file of coordinates that looks like this:

Is there a way for QGIS to plot coordinates formatted like this? I've tried Adding a Delimited Text Layer... in QGIS, but do not see any options appropriate for this format:

Nxx.xx.xxx Wxxx.xx.xxx

I am able to use a GPS Coordinate Converter website to convert that data to Decimal Degrees, Degrees, Minutes & Seconds, and UTM. For example, inputting N39.56.854 W074.28.013 outputs a latitude of 39.947567, and longitude of -74.466883. However, I would like to stay in QGIS and make the same conversion.

Things I've tried:

• Created a new .csv that has formatting that matches the output of coordinate conversion site mentioned above, and with separated lat-long columns:

  

  However, using the QGIS Add Delimited Text Layer... option yields no visualization of the points.

Answer 1

The 'Add Delimited Text Layer' dialog can add DMS coordinates (DegreeMinutesSeconds). Tick the checkbox DMS coordinates.

I don't know the QGIS version this was implemented, but it is in QGIS 2.10.1. Remember the x field runs west and y field north.

You need a minor manipulation of your cvs format changing:

north west
N39.56.854 W074.28.013

to

north west
N39'56.854 W074'28.013

This can be done in setting an advanced text editor like Notepad++ in column mode, selecting the dot to replace and the replace within in the selection with '.

The QGIS documentation (help button on dialog) says:

DMS angles: if selected coordinates are represented as degrees/minutes/seconds or degrees/minutes. QGIS is quite permissive in its interpretation of degrees/minutes/seconds. A valid DMS coordinate will contain three numeric fields with an optional hemisphere prefix or suffix (N, E, or + are positive, S, W, or - are negative). Additional non numeric characters are generally discarded. For example N41d54'01.54" is a valid coordinate.

Update: If you add a separator like comma to you format change, it will also work:

latitude, longitude
N39 56.854, W074 28.013