Map charts

Map charts are commonly used to compare values and show categories across geographical regions, and are best utilized when the data contains geographic information (countries, regions, states, counties, postal codes, and so on).

Creating a simple map chart

  1. In the Chart Builder's Chart Types section, click the Map icon.
    Map chart icon

    The canvas updates to display a map chart template.

  2. Select a service to use for serving map images from the Map services drop-down list. The list provides options that cover specific global regions.
  3. Select a map chart Type from the drop-down menu. The following options are available, dependent on the selected chart type:
    Longitude
    Select a variable to serve as the longitudinal value from the drop-down list.
    Latitude
    Select a variable to serve as the latitudinal value from the drop-down list.
    Group
    Select a variable that groups the data point locations from the drop-down menu.
    Category
    Select a column variable that you want to visualize.
    Summary
    Select a statistical summary function. This is the method used for summarizing each category.
    There are two types of statistical summary functions. The distinction is important because it determines whether you need to specify a Value variable.
    • Functions that do not require a value variable. These are functions that do not require a variable. All count and percentage statistics are in this category. These statistics are available when there is no defined Value variable.
    • Functions that do require a value variable. These are functions that do require a Value variable. For example, the Mean function requires a variable on which the mean is calculated. These statistics are available when there is a defined Value variable.
    Value
    This field displays when a Summary function, that requires a value variable, is selected. Select a variable to serve as the value.

Additional features

Map service
Lists the services that are available for providing map images. See Map service options.
Type
Lists the chart types that are available to represent the data.
Longitude
Lists the variables that are available to serve as the longitudinal value.
Latitude
Lists the variables that are available to serve as the latitudinal value.
Group
Lists the variables that can be used to group the data point locations.
Category
Lists column variables.
Summary
Select a statistical summary function. This is the method used for summarizing each category.
There are two types of statistical summary functions. The distinction is important because it determines whether you need to specify a Value variable.
  • Functions that do not require a value variable. These are functions that do not require a variable. All count and percentage statistics are in this category. These statistics are available when there is no defined Value variable.
  • Functions that do require a value variable. These are functions that do require a Value variable. For example, the Mean function requires a variable on which the mean is calculated. These statistics are available when there is a defined Value variable.
Value
This field displays when a Summary function, that requires a value variable, is selected. Select a variable to serve as the value.
Tooltip info
Lists the variables that can be used the generate tooltip information when hovering over a data point.
Size map
Lists available size map variables. These variables use differing sizes to represent themselves in the plot points.
Primary title
The chart title.
Subtitle
The chart subtitle, which displays directly beneath the chart title.
Footnote
The chart footnote, which displays beneath the chart.