Using the Map Wizard - creating state, county, or postal code maps
The Map Wizard is a new addition to the SpatialKey report creator. This step-by-step process is designed to help get your data onto a map, in the way you want it, in a quick and simple way. In this How To we will show how easy it can be to visualize your data using the new Thematic Mapping capabilities (in this case US Boundaries like states, counties, and postal codes) of SpatialKey by using the Map Wizard in a new report.
The example problem:
Using a US Sales Data dataset (containing sales data for the years 2007 and 2008 and the difference in sales between the two years) imported into SpatialKey, show the average change in sales for states, counties, and postal codes of the United States.
The example data:
Here is a sample of the example data used in this how to (you can download the salesdata.csv here to duplicate this example) – 
Create a states map from the data
Step 1: Create a new report by clicking the “Create a report” button for the US Sales Data dataset
Step 2: Select Full Screen Map from the Select a Template screen
At this point the new Create a Map Wizard appears. The wizard has two main options (depending on the dataset selected) on the first screen:
1) Create a density map (heatmap and graduated circles) for your data
2) Create a thematic map (display your data in relation to geographic boundaries like states, counties, and postal codes or even custom uploaded shape files)
Step 3: Select Thematic Shape Map (the example problem is to display the average change in sales for states, counties, and postal codes)
Step 4: This screen will display if your organization has uploaded any custom geosets (shape files). These geosets can be used for thematic mapping if there is a common field in both datasets to map on. For more information on creating a thematic map using a custom geoset click here. Otherwise click on US Geography if presented the option.
Step 5: The next screen in the wizard allows the user to select how the data is visualized in the geographies. Two options are presented. The first (Number of Records) will display each geography that contains data on the map and will color the geography based on the total count of records that match that geography. The second option (Calculated Value of a Numeric Field) allows the user to present the geographies based on a calculated numeric value in the source data. For our example problem, we are tasked to display the average change in revenue between the two years so select the Calculated Value of a Numeric Field button.
Step 6: We must now tell SpatialKey what field we wish to do the numeric calculation on and what type of calculation we would like to apply. For our problem we need to calculate the average revenue change so select the Revenuechange field for the first drop down and Average (other options include Minimum, Maximum, and Total) for the second. Notice that the other numeric fields in the dataset are represented as well. When ready to go on press the Continue button.
Step 7: The finish screen appears next with a complete overview of the selections made. If satisfied with the selections, click the Finish button to view the created map.
Average Revenue Change by State
Changing to counties or postal codes
Depending on what granularity your data was geocoded to you can also view the data by counties and postal codes. By default the US Geography thematic map will switch to the most appropriate type (state, county, postal code) based on the currently selected zoom level. You can adjust or override this behavior using the layer controls in the report.
Change the thematic map by changing zoom level
To demonstrate the auto-switching by selected zoom level, zoom into an area of the country by using the map tools zoom slider or magnifying glass. Once zoomed in to a sufficient level the map will adjust (first to counties and then postal codes) if the data allows.
Zoomed in so counties show
Zoomed in so postal codes show
Change the thematic map manually
The layer controls allow for a user to manually switch between states, counties and postal codes. Not all boundary levels will be available at all times. This is determined by current zoom level and geocoding granularity of the data.
Step 1: Open the layer manager for the thematic shapes
Step 2: Make sure you are on the Visuals tab
Step 3: Click the drop down next to the Renderer selector
Step 4: Choose an available Geoset
Notice that after manually changing the type the Auto-switch as you zoom option is disabled.
Follow Us: