Pin Map

image\pinmap.gifPin maps show point locations on a map similar to placing push pins on a paper map. Pin maps are based on data files containing XY locations or primary ID (ZIP code, other) for each pin. Pin maps show point locations and can have associated labels. You can also classify pins based on variable information.

 

Pin locations can be based on coordinates, on five-digit ZIP code centroids, or custom location files. When based on coordinates, the coordinate locations must be contained in the data file. After you create a pin map, you can use the map as a symbol, pie, line graph, flow, or bar map, if the pins have been assigned an appropriate primary ID.

 

Creating and Editing a Pin Map

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

 

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

 

Pin Map Properties

The Property Manager contains General, Symbol, Coordinate System, Data Labels, Pin Labels, Info, and Map pages. Click the preceding hyperlinks for information on properties in each of the property manager pages.

 

Map Page

The Map page of the Property Manager has pin method, position, class, scale, and angle properties.

 

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

 

General

Pin methods and associated options are edited in the General section of the Map page. Select Uniform symbol, Proportional symbol size, Class by data, or Class by text from the Method list.

The Symbol column property can be changed when the Method is Proportional symbol size. A data column in the linked worksheet determines the symbol for each pin. Symbol color and size are edited on the Symbol page. Specify the data column containing symbol information by selecting it from the Symbol column list.

 

The Symbol frequency property determines which pins will be drawn on the map. A value of "1" shows every pin. A value of "3" shows every third pin. Set the Symbol frequency by typing a number into the input box or clicking the buttons. The Symbol frequency must be between 1 and 100.

 

Position

The Position section of the Map page has options map scale and position. The pin map data can have a different coordinate system and projection than the plot. The pin map and plot coordinate systems are set on the Coordinate System page of the Property Manager. Select the map layer to set the pin map coordinate system, and click the Map | Plot | Plot Properties command to set the plot coordinate system

 

Click the Overlay with plot check box to transform the pin map Coordinate System and place the pins in the correct position relative to the plot. Activating the Overlay with plot property does not change the data coordinate system, but only moves the pins.

 

Click the Scale map to page check box to scale the pin map to the page.

 

Classes

When Class by data or Class by text is selected in the Method list, the Classes section is available for editing. Click the button to open the Classes dialog and change class properties.

 

Symbol Scaling

When the Proportional symbol size method is used, the Min symbol size is applied to the pin with the smallest data value. The Max symbol size is applied to the pin with the largest data value. The remaining pins are sized proportionally between these two sizes. Edit the Min symbol size or Max symbol size by typing a number into the field, or clicking the .

 

Symbol Angle

Symbol angles can by applied to pins separately by linking to a data column containing values in degrees. Select the column for symbol angles in the Angle column list. Select None to use one angle for all symbols on the map.

 

The Fixed angle option allows you to set a symbol angle from 0 to 359 degrees. Positive angles rotate the symbol in the counterclockwise direction. The angle is applied to all the pin map symbols. The Fixed angle property is disabled when a data column is selected in the Angle column list.

 

 

See Also

Pin Placement Based on Location Files

Symbol Specifications in the Data File

Creating and Editing Thematic Maps

Pin Labels