Prism Map

image\prism.gifPrism maps draw each data linked polygon, polyline, or point as a raised prism, where the height of the prism is proportional to the associated data value. Vertical lines can be drawn on the prism sides indicating the position of each vertex along the area boundary. Prism maps can be tilted and rotated on the page for more effective displays. The prisms can also be colored with one of three different coloring methods.

 

Creating and Editing a Prism Map

Click the Map | Create Map | Prism command to create a prism map. Edit prism map properties in the Property Manager.

 

See Creating and Editing Thematic Maps for information on creating a map, changing a  map to another map type, and changing map properties.

 

Prism Map Properties

The Property Manager for a prism map contains General, Data Labels, Info, 3D Settings, and Map pages. Click the preceding hyperlinks for information on properties in each of the property manager pages.

 

Map Page

The Property Manager Map page has prism size, line, fill, and display properties.

 

Edit prism map properties in the Map page of the Property Manager.

 

Size

The Size group on the Map page sets the minimum and maximum prism heights. Define the minimum and maximum prism heights by typing a value in page units into the Minimum height and Maximum height fields. The prism heights can also be adjusted by clicking the . The minimum and maximum prism heights are applied to the boundary objects with the minimum and maximum data values respectively. All prisms with intermediate data values are scaled linearly between the minimum and maximum height.

 

Click the Map min height to data value of 0 to force the minimum height to be associated with a data value of zero regardless of the data minimum. The Use absolute data value property on the General page must be active to use the Map min height to data value of 0 option. When Use absolute data value is not active, the Map min height to data value of 0 is disabled.

 

Fill

Select a fill type in the Color method list. Click Classes, Boundaries, or Colormap to select a Color method.

 

When Classes is the selected Color method, prism objects are grouped in classes by data value, and independent fill properties are applied to each class in the Color Classes dialog. Click the button in the Classes field to open the Color Classes dialog.

 

If Boundaries is the selected Color method, prism objects use the fill color of the boundary objects used to create the map. A fill pattern or bitmap can be applied to the prism map in the Texture Mapping dialog. Click the button in the Texture field to open the Texture Mapping dialog.

 

If Colormap is the selected Color method, a gradient fill is applied to the prism map. Select a predefined color spectrum from the Colors list, or click the button to create a custom colormap in the Colormap dialog.

 

Click the White-wash prism walls to apply the Color method to the prism map faces only. The sides of the prisms will be white when White-wash prism walls is selected.

 

Line

The Line section contains options for displaying prism lines. Click the Show edges check box to draw lines along prism edges. Click the Show top edges only check box to show only the edge around the prism faces. Select a line color by clicking on the Color field and selecting a color in the Color Palette. Click the button to select a color or create a custom color in the Colors dialog. Click the Use boundary colors check box to apply the line color from the boundary objects to the prism map edge lines. When Show edges is not active, the Show top edges only, Color, and Use boundary colors properties are disabled.

 

General

Select the Display method for the prism map by clicking on the current selection and choosing Prism or Pyramid from the list. Click the Stack boundaries on map to show the base map above the prism map. When Stack boundaries on map is checked the Boundaries offset and Show bounding box options are available. Set the boundary distance from the tallest prism in the Boundaries offset field. Type a value in page units or click the buttons to set the boundary offset.  Click the Show bounding box check box to show the bounding box around the prism map.

 

 

See Also

3D Settings Page - Prism Maps