Okay, I’ve been struggling with this program for a month or two now.
I haven’t been able to find any instructional in-depth how to manuals anywhere.
The help files in the program itself are awful.
So, here’s what I’m trying to do:
I need to map a certain segment of our population by zip code. Simple enough to do and I’ve created a map with that information. It covers the whole state. However, the boss also wants the population in each zip code to show up on the map. I cannot figure out a way to do this. I tried inserting the population in text boxes, but the text boxes then cover up the rest of the information.
Next, I thought I would just have the pertinent info show in a legend off to the side. Nope, no can do.
Has anyone worked with this program? Can anyone provide me some tips?
I’ve never worked with this program, but if you give some more information I might be able to help. What state are you working on and how many zipcodes are there? How large are the zipcodes and what scale are you going to be viewing or printing your maps at?
Is Mappoint a GIS or just a simple mapping program? The web site doesn’t seem to help much. If it’s just a mapping program then I would say that you’ll have a problem with text boxes as that’s the point is to make that information the most visable so it will be on top. If however, it’s a GIS then in it’s nothing more then a database and it shouldn’t be a problem adding the zipcode stuff and having that be plotted on the map. The other idea would be to have a seperate printout with all the zipcode info on it. That might actually be the best way to go, you don’t want to put too much stuff onto a map, it makes it hard to read.
I don’t need every zip code in the state; just those our bennies live in; which is about 282 separate zip codes. I’ve already imported these as shaded areas for our state, with darker colors being a higher concentration of bennies, and the lighter color being less populated.
However, the boss wants the actual number of the population to show for each zip code, not just a legend to the left saying X color equals 1-9, X color=10-49, on up to a total number in a certain zip code being = to 620. The most data points you can have (using the wizard) is 8. Unfortunately, I have 67 different population numbers.
I’m not sure if it’s a GIS program or not. I know that it uses GPS and stuff. Until they can come out with a manual for users, I wouldn’t recommend it. We’re not all developers or programmers. It’s supposedly dummy proof, but there isn’t any flexibility.
The map wouldn’t, or shouldn’t be difficult to read if all that is included are zip codes and the population of each zip code. The only other layer I would add is a 30 minute drive time circle and a 100 mile radius. Graphically, I wouldn’t consider that a lot.
I think I’m going to end up exporting the map to Powerpoint and handjamming each population by zip onto a separate page. Shouldn’t have to do that, but I think that’s what I’m going to have to do.
The purpose of using this is to have ALL that info appear on one page, and not force people to refer to two different sheets or slides.
I don’t know this program, but I’m trying to come at it from a cartographic way. From what I can gather, this part seems to be good. It at least makes sense to me in my head.
Ahh the PHB problem. I had that problem at my last job, I was putting hundreds of buildings on city wall maps. I put them on there so it looked good and you could see them. PHB said, make the buildings bigger so we can see them. I did and it looked like crap. On your problem there is a reason there is only 8 different colors you can use, that’s because any more then that and the map becomes very hard to understand. The best way to show something using colors is by red=1-9, blue=10-19…
GIS means Geographical Information System. It’s used for things like you are doing now, trying to make comparisons based on whatever you can dream up. I’ve looked at the website and they don’t say a whole lot, and I’d almost say you’re not using it for what it was supposed to be used for. Doesn’t mean you can’t, it just makes it harder.
No it doesn’t seem like a lot. If you can do different items on different layers then you should be able to get one layer on top, then the next layer. I don’t know what a layer means to this program, but maybe using a text box is not the way to go since it seems they go on top of everything.
I have two ideas, don’t know if they will work though. First is if you can edit the zipcode numbers, add a second line under the zip. The second idea is if the zipcode is a layer, copy that layer and change the zips to the number you need. I don’t know if either of those options would work, but it might.
From the wiki entry it says it’s a lowend GIS, which I would think means there’s a way to do what you want without a textbox, but without using the program I can’t help much more.
I appreciate your taking the time to respond and offer suggestions. I’ve tried several variations of the layering thing.
The problem is that the program comes with set types of data headings. None of which can be adjusted or added to. :rolleyes:
Basically, I imported the state, zips, and count of zips from an excel spreadsheet. In order for it to be a shaded area map, I had to have a count of the zips. Each of these columns corresponds to a specific type field in the program.
As far as information for this program, yeah, you’re running into the same issue I am. There just isn’t a whole lot out there, other than it’s supposed to be “all that”. Believe it or not, I am attempting to use it for one of it’s intended purposes. Our goal is to manage our bennie population based on where they live and the distance they need to drive to receive care here. This program is SUPPOSED to help us achieve that.
Finally, my boss is actually a pretty good guy. Unfortunately, he just doesn’t know what the program entails. He’s seen earlier versions of this program, but the new version doesn’t work like the older versions, I guess.