If you already regularly import your business data into MapBusinessOnline, please move on. This blog post is for people just beginning to import their customer address spreadsheets or prospect lists into a business map.
Possibly, the most popular use of business mapping software is data visualization. âData visualizationâ is nothing more than viewing an address database against an accurate map. The ease with which you can do this in MapBusinessOnline is why many users claim we offer the best business mapping software available. You can import your business data into MapBusinessOnline using a paid subscription or the free trial. The free trial limits the user to 1000 locations. With the full-year subscription, you can import up to 50,000 records per map for MapBusinessOnline Standard and up to 250,000 records in MapBusinessOnline Pro.
Importing for Optimized Routing
Many organizations import location spreadsheets into MapBusinessOnline to set up optimized routing options. With the data imported, a user can select up to 150 addresses as stops in an optimized or as-presented route. A quick action button on the Data Window toolbar, labeled Add to Route, lets you instantly create a route to all stops or addresses in the Data Window view.
MapBusinessOnline only allows one Route on the map desktop at a time. However, a savvy user can create marketing lists out of imported datasets to make it easy to generate fast routes for optimization. Create and label those subset lists (up to 150 location records), select one, and click the Add to Route button.
Another tip: save a map with a new name once a route is in place on the map. Now, that route is saved under that map view. Go back to the parent map to quickly create and save a few more.
Mapping distribution centers within a logistics map.
Map Visualizations
To achieve data visualizations, you need no more technical capability than the ability to create, edit, and save an Excel spreadsheet. Make sure your address, city, zip code, and state data are allocated to separate columns in your spreadsheet. Each column should have a simple heading like âAddress,â âCity,â âState,â and âZip Code.â
Include any other pertinent data columns youâd like to add. Business users might include sales data, product data, type of accounts, or any other information that relates to their business. Ensure the spreadsheet does not include descriptive sentences or paragraphs above the data heading sections. Those descriptive sections tend to interrupt the import process.
Sample address spreadsheet – ready for import
Unique ID Column
Some of you may export your data from a customer service tool, a CRM, or an ERP system with customer numbers or a record ID. MapBusinessOnline does not require these fields but can be used to semi-automate the data update process. So, if youâve got unique ID numbers, go ahead and use them. The Unique Identifier field to match is in the second import dialogue page.
Plot Your Data
When you are ready, click the Dataset button under the Adding to Map section of the Master Toolbar. Navigate to your data and select it. As you click the next buttons, choose which sheet you want to import from your spreadsheet.
At the first dialogue page, confirm that the address function in MapBusinessOnline is accepting the address information in your spreadsheet. This page shows a twenty-line preview of your spreadsheet. I typically glance at this page to ensure the location placements all fit into place. I confirm that the State goes into the state bucket, the Zip Code into the zip code bucket, and so forth. Latitude and Longitude are shown here as well, in case you imported by lat/Lon.
Using Drive Time Map Visualizations to Analyze Shipping Patterns
The Five Flex Fields
The next and final dialog page in the importing process lets the user choose which column of your data will be in the Left-Hand column of the Data Window. Youâll see the Unique Identifier field here. Finally, the user can also choose which columns of your data will be represented in the five flexible fields of your pop-up label. Once the data is placed on the map these flex fields will be displayed when you hover your cursor over an imported data point or when you click on a point and the label displays.
Now import your data and view the data on the map background. Youâll see colored dots on the map, and the Data Window will pop open, showing your data layer in full spreadsheet tabular view in MapBusinessOnline. MapBusinessOnline will ask if you want to color-code – don’t feel obliged to do so. You can always color-code from the master toolbar later. You’ll see the symbol feature on the Data Window toolbar if you want to change the assigned symbol immediately.
Try It Again
If you donât like how your import went, delete the layer in Map and Data and start again. It just takes a couple of seconds. Or import the layer a second time; no one will arrest you.
Callouts are Labels
Once you see your data points on the map as colored balls, you can start thinking about color-coding the data or turning on the data callouts or labels.
Each point of your data will display a label when you touch or click the point with your cursor. To turn all Callouts or labels on, move your cursor to Map and Data and hover over your imported layer. Click the Edit Dataset Properties Gear and choose the Callout Tab on the right. Here, you can manipulate the Callout options like Compact Callouts and Open all Callouts.
Edit, Add and Delete
Finally, the user can add records to their imported data or edit and delete records in their data layer. Use their cursor to select one of their imported points. Choose the Edit Location Properties button or Delete selection options in the mini-toolbar that pops up. Delete is a pretty straightforward yes or no decision.
Editing a point is more complex. It opens a dialogue that includes the basic data fields associated with your map point. You can edit those fields.
To add a data point to your imported map layer, you can either:
1. Type the address into the address bar in the top upper left corner of the application and then click the Binocular button or
2. Choose the Add Location button from the Draw Layer tools located next to the Ruler along the master toolbar. Drop a point on the map where you want to add a record.
Once your point is established on the map, click the Copy Location to Dataset button, follow the dialog for adding a record to your dataset of choice, and add that location to the map. This is a multistep process. First, choose the Dataset to append, then choose to copy or add the location.
You are now an official MapBusinessOnline Data Import Wizard. Walk the Earth with your head held high.
_______________________________________________
Find out why over 25,000 business users log into www.MapBusinessOnline.com for their business mapping software and advanced sales territory mapping solution. The best replacement for Microsoft MapPoint happens to be the most affordable.
To access MapBusinessOnline, please register and then download the Map App from the website â https://www.mapbusinessonline.com/App-Download.aspx.
After installing the Map App, the MapBusinessOnline launch button will be in the Windows’ Start Menu or Mac Application folder. Find the MapBusinessOnline folder in the Start Menu scrollbar. Click the folder’s dropdown arrow and choose the MapBusinessOnline option.
The Map App includes the Map Viewer app for free non-subscriber map sharing.
Please read customer reviews or review us at Capterra, or g2crowd
Contact: Geoffrey Ives geoffives@spatialteq.com or Jason Henderson jhenderson@spatialteq.com
