Mapping Tutorial: Advanced Functions
Simple and Advanced Searches
Use the search button, located in the application's main toolbar, to search for geographic units. There are two search modes: simple search, by name, and advanced search, by value.
Simple search (by name): Search for geographic units using their names (or part of their names). Click on the name of the unit in the drop-down list to select it.
Advanced search (by value): Search for geographic units that meet a condition for one or more of the variables shown. For example, search for geographic units in which the Population with any disabilities segment is between 30 and 50%.
You can perform a multicriteria search by linking up several successive selections, on different analyses. In this case, the result of the first search is added to the selection, then a new search is performed on the current selection.
zooms in on the selection.
restores the initial map frame following a zoom.
performs the search.
Loading External Data
It is possible to include your own data to make them accessible for mapping by means of a simple copy and paste from the spreadsheet. Data integrated in this way can then be accessed in the same manner as the original data from the drop-down list, with an extra heading: imported data.
Follow these steps to import your data:
1. Select the geographic level corresponding to your data and then click the load external data button on the application's general toolbar.
This button launches a panel allowing you to import data and specify the representation modes for the maps.
2. Click on the link: Open a template import Excel file.
3. Enter your data in the spreadsheet for each geographic unit in the column: Describe your own data here.
The block of data must include, in the first line, the names of the variables to be imported and in the second column, the list of geographic codes so they can be matched with the basemap.
4. Copy together the columns with your data and with geographic unit codes and paste them into the space reserved for this purpose (Ctrl+V or click right/paste).
5. Click on the import data button to launch the analysis of imported data.
6. Select the representation for the data from the drop-down list and refine the definitions as needed.
By default, the variables with decimal values are presented as choropleth analysis, while the variables with integer are shown as symbols analysis.
7. You may also specify the data source and the name of the indicator. Adjustments for the number of ranges and the size of the symbols are done directly in the legend for the map.
8. See the result by clicking on "OK"
A map created in this way may be saved as an xml file and shared with other users.
The Load external data tool may also be used to select the geographic units. In the frame, just paste a single column containing the list of geographic codes to be selected. A selection that matches this list of codes will then appear.
Saving a Selection or a Project
You can save a selection or a project.
Saving the current selection
Use the save button in the information table on the selection to save the current selection of geographic units, so as to be able to access them in future.
You can save several selections by naming each one.
Saving a project
Use the save button in the application's general toolbar to save a project, i.e., all of the current environment: indicator(s) map(s), frame(s), customized layers, selection, etc.
Use the panel to name your project and save an XML file to your desktop. The panel also provides a URL link that you can copy (right-click the mouse). These two methods allow you to share projects with other users.
Loading a selection or a project
Use the save button in the application's general toolbar to reload a selection or a project.
The panel gives a list of selections that can be loaded. The trash button withholds a selection.
To reload a project, Windows opens a window for you to search for an XML file on your desktop.
More Topics
See previous: « Table Areas
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