Interactive Atlas of Reproductive
Health: How to Use Interactive Maps and Tables |
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Define a dataset as the map view
The database for the interactive atlas is a collection of datasets that
are defined by their geography. For example a dataset of the counties
of the state of Georgia contains 159 records. Each record represents
one of the 159 counties. Additional information, that describes
the county (attributes)
is contained in or joined to that record.
The selections in the left menu bar on the first page of the interactive
part of the atlas allow the user to define the dataset or
map view for analysis. The dataset is referred
to as the
map view because it defines the extent of the specific
map features available for analysis.
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Click on Interactive Atlas at the top of the right menu bar to
begin.
Note: If the first page does not load properly then click refresh on
the browser menu bar.
Hint: Choices should be made in the order indicated.
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Define the map view by selecting different options from the five
dataset categories on the left menu bar.
1. Country.
(e.g., United States)
2. Reproductive health indicator.
(e.g., infant mortality)
3. Data collection time period.
(e.g., 1998–2002)
4. Feature
class of the analysis layer.
(e.g., counties)
5. Feature
class of the view.
(e.g., state)
Note: Once the "feature class of the view" is chosen,
the map image will automatically update to reveal the features available
in that feature class. For example, if you choose "state" as the
view feature class, then you should see a map of states.
- Click the specific feature on the map for the sixth dataset option
(the "target" feature for the map view). For example, if you choose
states as the feature class for the view, then you need to select a
specific state, such as Texas, as the target view.
The interactive map window will replace the dataset window, and, after
a brief pause while the server pulls the dataset, display the default thematic
map view. A new left menu bar will offer demographic and risk selections
for analyzing the data.
Explore geographic patterns for different demographic and risk groups
- Click on the category drop down menu to view the available selections
within a demographic or risk category.
- Click on a subpopulation to select it.
Note: Selections for demographic and risk categories must be made
in the numeric order of the categories. Changing a selection in one
category automatically resets the categories below it to the default.
Note:
The
text message "” appears at the top of the map when a
category selection is changed under the demographics heading. This indicates that the map display
and the demographic selections are not synchronized. The atlas does
not automatically redraw the display each time a change is made to allow
the user to make multiple changes. However, the user must then manually
"refresh" the display to view the changes.
- Click on the the redraw map button
to
redraw the current map. This is necessary if there are changes in the
demographic selections or if the map display becomes corrupted.
- Click on the Default map tool
to reset the map display to its original extent and the tool functions
to inactive.
- Click on
to
display the thematic values in table format.
- Click on
to
choose another dataset to analyze.
- Toggle between the map and table to analyze both the geographic
patterns and the range and distribution of the rates.
Getting additional information
Additional information about individual map features is contained in
the layer attribute table. To access this information
- activate the identify option
(the tool appears indented when it is active)
- click directly on the feature on the map display.
A window will pop up with information about that feature.
Note: The attribute files for thematic layers contain the feature
name and rate only. Outline layers such as county and state contain
selected census information. Line layers contain the information about
the line such as a road name and route number. Also, point layers contain
the name of the place and limited additional information.
Find a specific map feature
The Find list box is located next to the Find icon
on the tool bar. To locate a specific map feature
- Highlight the name of the feature in the drop down list by clicking
on it.
The map display will automatically refresh the map and highlight the
feature on the map display in bright yellow.
Navigate around the map display
The user can pan, zoom in, and zoom out using the navigation tools on
the tool bar.
To Pan the map view
- Click on the Pan tool
to activate the function.
- Click on the area of the map that you want to be the center
of the map display.
The application will automatically center the display based on where
the user clicked.
To Zoom in or Zoom out
- Click on the Zoom in tool
or the Zoom out
tool to activate the desired function.
- Click on the area of the map that you want to view closer (zoom
in) or farther away (zoom out).
The application will center the display where the user clicked, and
zoom in or zoom out proportionally.
Note: The zoom navigation tools perform proportional zoom functions
rather than click and drag functions.
Print or save the map or data to your computer
The user can print or save a PDF file of the map display. The user can
also print or save a copy of the table display as ASCII text or in a Microsoft
Excel file.
To print or save a PDF file
- Click on the Print tool
to display the map in a printer friendly PDF format.
- Use the Adobe Reader tools to print or save the file to your
local printer or computer.
To save the table information
- Right click inside the table format.
- Users with Microsoft Office 2002 or higher will have the option
of saving the table in Excel format.
- Users can also print the file to the local printer or save
to an ASCII file by selecting the print option and directing the
output to the appropriate printer or file.
Page last reviewed: 7/28/08
Page last modified: 1/29/07
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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