Relations

By clicking Relations on the Analyze menu, you activate a tool for visualizing relations between two areas or locations on a map (e.g. illustrating streams of commuters, migration trends, or the flow of purchasing power). Arrows or lines are generated to indicate the direction of flows between two areas or locations.

Structure of Input Data

In order to conduct a relations analysis between two locations, EasyMap requires access to a table containing data defining start and end points.This, of course, implies that the relevant table needs to contain columns which define both locations exactly, by supplying postcodes or geographic coordinates. Thus, unlike all other anaylses, at least two columns with area IDs (e.g. postcodes) are required to perform this analysis. If positioning is to be based on geographic coordinates, a total of four columns is necessary to conduct this analysis, as one pair of coordinates needs to be assigned for each location, one column for the latitude and one for the longitude.

It is not, however, necessary to define both starting points and end points in the same way: one location may be positioned by its postcode, and the other by geographic coordinates.

Creating a New Analysis

• Repeat the process for End of relations line, with the restriction that for Number is in column, a column other than the one for the beginning of the relationship is selected.
• Select the Analysis Relations aus.
• Select table with the data for the beginning and end of the relationship lines.
• Start the analysis from the menu Analyses > Relations.

Note: You can also insert your analysis via the menu bar Analyze. You get an analysis without predefined settings and value classes.

Setting the Properties of Relation Lines

Properties refers to all settings for calculating and displaying the analysis. You can select certain columns of the previously defined table to control certain aspects of the display (for example, the color). You also reach this settings dialog if you want to edit existing analyses.

The lines or arrows can be made dashing, color and line width dependent on different columns. For example, if the dashed line represents the means of transport used (car, public transport, bicycle), the width can be used to visualize the number of commuters and the color can be used to visualize the gender of the commuters.

Control dashing, color and line width from different data columns

• First select in the different sections Drawing, Color and Line width a Data column.
• In addition to statistics you can display statistical information (e.g. number of data records, min., max.) for the selected column.

Settings for changing:

Let the properties of the relations lines be controlled only by one column

If you want to control the properties of the lines in color, line width and dashing only from one and the same column, you must first link the analysis. The Color, Line Width and Dashing Link function can be found either in the Properties of the analysis (at the bottom of the Properties window) or in the context menu for analysis in the Contents control window. The structure of the properties window then changes.

Select column

In the area Display a Column can now be selected, which controls the features Drawing, Color and Line width simultaneously. These are combined in a class list.

Number of classes and classification method

You may base the style of lines on a classification. In the middle area, enter Classes, the Count for classes, and the method of automatic Classification or set here to User defined to edit your own classes. In addition to Analysis range, you can also specify an interval within which the values are to be taken into account. Values outside the interval always fall into the residual class "unclassified".

Editing Classes

In the lower area you can define the details (class list) of the analysis. Here you can use various commands to edit Classes and various design features (dashing, color or width of the line).

• The design characteristics and class boundaries can be edited by double-clicking in the relevant cell.

• For more information on editing classes, symbols, colors, and size/width, see here.

Determine the details of the analysis

You may edit further settings such as the begin and end style of the lines.

• To do so, open the Details section in the Properties. Here you may set the Begin Style and End Style of the lines. In most cases an arrow-shaped display is reasonable. A click opens a combo box with further alternatives.

In addition, you can specify whether the lines or arrows should be straight or curved from start to finish. Especially if the lines or arrows cover each other, a slightly curved representation of the lines can help.

• To do this, you can also specify a Starting Angle under Style. This determines how strongly the line or arrow is bent and how much it deviates from the direct air line. If the angle is positive (without "+"), the arrows at the starting point deviate from the air line to the right, if the angle is negative (with "-"), the arrows at the starting point deviate from the air line to the left.

Section Labeling

In the area line labeling the lines and arrows can be labelled data-dependently. For this purpose, e.g. start location, destination or values can be used. Only the columns of the data table used as the data basis for the analysis can be used for labeling.

In addition, you may also enter a standard text for all lines in the User-Defined Labeling box.

Note: How to insert symbol texts and how to influence the display of the texts can be found here.

Create tooltips for analysis

When crossing the lines on the map, you can display user-defined information about them.

Note: You can find out how to implement tooltips here.