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About data map types

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It is important to choose the most appropriate map type to display your data on the map. Each one of the nine map types can display information in a different way. Deciding which map type you should use depends on the type of data and the message you want the data to convey.

There are three general types of maps:

  • A map that displays locations without any associated numerical data. You should use one of the following maps for this type of data.

Pushpin Map

When you use a Pushpin Map to display your data, individual data points are represented as Pushpins on the map. Unlike Multiple Symbol Maps, Pushpin Maps display all the data points with a single symbol.

For example, this map was created with data from the MapPoint Tutorial and shows company locations. Each company is represented as a single Pushpin on the map.

Gg674742.BIZNAPushpin(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Multiple Symbol Map

When you use a Multiple Symbol Map to display your data, you can associate different symbols for a value or range of values for each point of data.

For example, this map was created with data used in the MapPoint Tutorial to associate a priority level for customers.

Gg674742.BIZNAMultipleSymbol(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

  • A map that has a single piece of numerical data associated with each location. You should use one of the following maps for this type of data.

Shaded Area Map

When you use a Shaded Area Map to display your data, the geographic areas by which you've chosen to display your data are represented by shades of color corresponding to values or ranges of values for those areas.

For example, this map was created in one of the exercises in the MapPoint Tutorial to show a range of sales figures across multiple geographic areas.

Gg674742.BIZNAShadedArea(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Sized Circle Map

In a Sized Circle Map, your data is represented by circles of varying size on the map. The larger the circle at a given location, the higher the value represented.

For example, this map was created using data from the MapPoint Tutorial and shows the volume of sales for each location.

Gg674742.BIZNASizedCircle(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Shaded Circle Map

When you use a Shaded Circle Map to display your data, information is represented by circles placed at locations on the map or at the center of each geographic area by which you are mapping your data. The shading of the circle represents the data value at that particular location or geographic area.

For example, this map was created in one of the exercises in the MapPoint Tutorial to display target customers.

Gg674742.BIZNAShadedCircle(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Multiple Symbol Map

When you use a Multiple Symbol Map to display your data, you can associate different symbols with particular values or ranges of values.

For example, this map was created using data from the MapPoint Tutorial and associates priority levels with a series of customers.

Gg674742.BIZNAMultipleSymbol(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

  • A map that has multiple fields of numerical data for each location. You should use one of the following maps for this type of data.

Pie Chart Map

When you use a Pie Chart Map to display your data, you can map up to sixteen numerical data fields to each location of data. The size of each pie segment corresponds to its value as a percentage of the whole.

For example, this map was created in one of the exercises in the MapPoint Tutorial to display the current inventories in a series of warehouses.

Gg674742.BIZNAPieChart(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Sized Pie Chart Map

When you use a Sized Pie Chart Map to display your data, you can map up to sixteen numerical data fields to each location of data. The size of each pie segment corresponds to its value as a percentage of the whole. The size of each pie chart corresponds to the sum of these values.

For example, this map was created with data from the MapPoint Tutorial and displays the current and total inventory at each in a series of warehouses.

Gg674742.BIZNASizedPieChart(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Column Chart Map

When you use a Column Chart Map to display your data, you can map up to sixteen numerical data fields to each location of data. Each data field is shown as a vertical column of varying size. The size of each column corresponds to its value.

You can also assign a different color to each column to make data fields easy to visually identify.

For example, this map was created using data from the MapPoint Tutorial and displays the sales trends of three companies for comparison.

Gg674742.BIZNAColumnChart(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

Series Column Chart Map

When you use a Series Column Chart Map to display your data, you can map up to sixteen numerical data fields to each location of data. Each data field is shown as a vertical column of varying size. The size of each column corresponds to its value.

For example, this map is created in one of the exercises in the MapPoint Tutorial to display the sales trends of one given company over time.

Gg674742.BIZNASeriesColumn(en-us,MSDN.10).gif

The table below describes some uses for each map type.

Map Type

Recommended to

Shaded Area

Compare a single numerical data field for larger areas such as states, counties, and ZIP Codes. This type of map is also useful for displaying non-numerical data associated with large areas.

Shaded Circle

Compare a single numerical data field at points such as cities and specific addresses. This type of map is useful for data that contains many records, because shaded circles may prevent overlapping and make your map easier to read. You can also use this map type to represent a second set of data on a Shaded Area Map.

Sized Circle

Compare a single numerical data field for concentrated areas such as addresses, cities, and points. This map type is useful to quickly compare data from one location to another.

Multiple Symbol

Display a single data field at points such as cities and specific addresses. You may want to use this map type to assign a different symbol for each range or value of data.

Pie Chart

Compare records with more than one field of numerical data per location. This map type is useful if you want display values that have been sub-divided.

Sized Pie Chart

Compare records with more than one field of numerical data per location. This map type is similar to the Pie Chart but the size of the pies is determined by the sum of the data fields. This type of map is useful when you want to compare the sum of sub-divided data values from one location to another.

Column Chart

Compare records with more than one field of numerical data per location. This type of map is useful for displaying data comparing different groups of information, as well as data containing negative numbers.

Series Column Chart

Compare records with more than one field of numerical data per location. This type of map is useful for displaying a series of data. You can use a Series Column Chart map to display numerical data that has changed over time.

Pushpin

Display a location on the map. This type of map is useful for mapping addresses and for displaying non-numerical data in Pushpin balloons.

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