Setting up a dynamic table Excel to ArcMap

Question

I am trying to create a GIS map that contains data for over 200 monitoring wells that are sampled 4 times a year. I would like to set up the GIS map so the attributes table for the well layer updates automatically when I update the excel spreadsheet that I would like to link to the well layer attributes. Is there an easy way to link an excel spread sheet to an attribute table so the attributes will update automatically when the excel file is updated. I found some information about this topic in the question pool, but didn’t find a clear solution.

I'm using Arcmap by Esri version 10.3?

Answer 1

So I was wrong about the database connection thing, you can't see the linked table if you add the database that way. Works this way

1. Excel table saved as xls (xlsx not supported as linked table in an Access mdb)
   

2. Access database as mdb
   

3. Import Excel into Access files as a linked table
   

4. Add data in Arcmap and browse to the mdb and add the table.

5. Create event layer or joined feature

6. Open the Excel at the same time as the map is open and make a live edit
   

7. Hit refresh in Arcmap... hadn't even hit save in excel yet.. which is the magic part to me :)
   

Keep in mind that none of this is going to be supported functionality.. and it is using all old filetypes that are likely on their way out.

Answer 2

I also work in the environmental field. In my experience, arcmap fights you every step of the way when trying to make dynamic maps that update automatically with new data. You might want to check out QGIS, which has an ability an option to "watch file" when importing a .csv. This with the "EasyCustomLabeling" plugin + a join on the label layer and the "watched" cvs file led to a pretty robust solution where documents update automatically.