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i'm trying to convert some *.xyz files into shapefiles but unfortunately it does't work out correctly! I use the tool "ASCII 3D to Feature Class" (ArcMap extension "3D Analyst") because I've read this is a good and easy way to do this. But for some reason the attribute table of the resulting shapefile does not contain the z-values:

attribute table

This is a problem because I want to generate a DTM out of the shapefiles.

Is there any solution for this? I've tried several options within the tool but without luck.

I don't think it's that important but for your information: I have two different kind of *.xyz files which I can use representing the same area (2 meter grid width and variable grid width). they are build like this:

variable grid width: (no header) - (2x space)x-value(4x space)y-value(5x space)z-value

2 meter grid width: (no header) - (2x space)x-value(2x space)y-value(2x space)z-value

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    Check if Z-value embedded in shape, start editing and see if vertex has Z attribute in addition to XY
    – FelixIP
    Commented Nov 10, 2014 at 19:21
  • The Z values are stored in the shape.You can examine the features in ArcScene. There is no need to add a field in the the attribute table altough you can do that if you'd like: Arc Toolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Add XY Coordinates. This tool will add XYZ fields to the attribute table.
    – Jakub Sisak GeoGraphics
    Commented Nov 10, 2014 at 20:18
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    Felix is correct, with Multipoint, the Z and M values are stored per-vertex, of which there may be thousands per multipoint feature, which is an aggregate geometry type. If you want to have Z values in the attribute table, use Point, not Multipoint, and then use Dan's answer to add the Z values to the table.
    – blah238
    Commented Nov 11, 2014 at 6:20

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As FelixIP said in the comments, the Z values should be in there: the "Z" in the Shape type of "Multipoint ZM" indicates that your layer is z-enabled, so if you did the conversion from .XYZ to Shapefile correctly, your Z values are in there. It's just that Z values don't show up in a feature's attribute table by default, you need to add them manually. You can use the 3D Analyst Add Z Information tool to do that if you want to check your data, but any of the ESRI tools which operate on Z values should work fine with your shapefile the way it is.

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    Multipoint is an aggregate geometry type, in which many thousands of vertices (points) are stored per row (multipoint). So it will not be possible to extract each Z value without first converting to Point.
    – blah238
    Commented Nov 11, 2014 at 6:23

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