MapViewer 8 New Feature Series: Text Classes for Hatch and Territory Maps

This week's new feature series focuses on using text columns for classes in hatch maps and territory maps. In previous versions of MapViewer, classes for hatch maps and territory maps required a numerical data value. If you did not have numerical values to use for your classes, it was necessary to assign a numerical to each class, resulting in tedious data modifications. Now, you can create these classes based on a column of text! Create classes based on salespersons' names, geographical regions, or any other string of text!

Below are step-by-step instructions to create a territory map using this convenient new feature! In this example, I am creating a territory map showing which countries are in which continents. I began with a boundary file defiining the countries and a worksheet containing each country name, which is the PID for each object, and the continent to which it belongs, which will be used for the class column. You can download the files I used and the finished projects here. The boundary file, world_countries.gsb, is simply the WORLD.gsb file from the MapViewer 8 Samples directory that I edited to suit my map!

Sample data sheet snippet

Before creating maps with text-based classes, it is important to be sure your class names are set up correctly. The text strings must match exactly in order for an object to be added to the correct class. For example, "Jen" and "Jenn" would create two different classes, and "Area1", "Area 1", and "Area-1" would create different classes. However, the classes are not case-sensitive, so "Jen", "JEN", and "jen" would only create one class.

Let's get started!

1. Click the Map | Create Map | Territory command.
2. In the Import Dialog, select the boundary file. I'm using world_countries.gsm.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Import Options dialog, click OK.
5. In the Open Data File dialog, select the data file. I'm using countriesByContinents.txt.
6. Click Open.
7. In the Property Manager, on the General page, ensure the correct column is assigned for PID column. I'm using Column C: name.
8. Click on the Map tab.
9. In the Territories section, click the Edit button.
10. In the Territories dialog, click the Map territories by text classes button.

    

Territories dialog

11. In the Text Classes dialog, click the dropdown menu and select the appropriate column to use to create the classes. I'm using Column B: continent.
12. Click OK to return to the Territories dialog.
13. Double-click a current Fill to assign a different fill to the class.
14. Click OK, and the territory map updates to display the territories.

The territory map is complete! Quickly add a legend to your map with the Map | Add | Legend command! If desired, use the Property Manager to make adjustments to your display.

To create a hatch map using text classes, the process is quite similar:

1. Click the Map | Create Map | Hatch command.
2. In the Import dialog, select the boundary file. I'm using world_countries.gsm.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Import Options dialog, click OK.
5. In the Open Data File dialog, select the data file. I'm using countriesByContinents.txt.
6. Click Open.
7. In the Property Manager, on the General page, ensure the correct columns are assigned for PID column and Variable column. The Variable column will be the column containing the text for the class names. I'm using Column C: name for the PID and Column B: continent for the variable. If you receive a warning that there is no data in the variable column, click OK.
8. Click on the Map tab.
9. Under Classes, set the Binning method to By text.

   

Map page of the hatch map Property Manager

10. Click the Edit button to modify the color used for each class.

After creating your hatch or territory map from text classes, if an area is not colored as expected, check to be sure the PID for that area matches the PID from the data file. You can also check to be sure there are no typos or spelling errors in the class name assigned to the area in your data file.

Stay tuned next week for a look at the powerful new query across multiple layers feature!

Do you have any questions about this post? Do you have an idea for a blog post or have a topic you'd like to see featured? Let me know! Leave a comment, or send an email to jennifer@goldensoftware.com.