Geomaps display data on a geographic map.
Geomap charts are useful if you want to compare your data geographically. There is a geographical database embedded in Web Intelligence and a matching algorithm to automatically match values of dimensions, merged objects or dimension variables with a location. When you match values with specific locations, you geo-qualify the values and their parent object so they can be rendered on a map. The geo-qualification can be done using either the name of a location, or its latitude and longitude coordinates.
NoteThe database contains location names in multiple languages, called exonyms. When you geo-qualify an object, Web Intelligence selects the exonym according to your preferred viewing locale (PVL). If you decide later on to modify your PVL, you will need to geo-qualify the object again so that the new PVL is taken into account.
Using geo dimensions
Geomaps rely on a geographical database to render your data.
Before you start using geomaps in you reports, you need to set up your data and go through the geo-qualification process so that the values can be bound to the geographical database. Geo-qualifying your data means that you match each value of an object with a specific location. Geomaps then use these locations to render your data on a map. The geo-qualification can be done using either the name of a location, or its latitude and longitude coordinates.
Geo-qualifying an object using a location's name
Web Intelligence uses an algorithm to match each value of the object with a geographic location. The search engine uses fuzzy logic to create three categories of values and automatically match them with locations:
You may select a different location in the drop-down list from the one selected by the automatic matching mechanism.
Geo-qualifying an object using a location's latitude and longitude coordinates
Latitude and longitude coordinates are two objects that must be available as dimensions, dimensions' attributes or variables. They can be any object that can be added to a dimension as a detail, and do not necessarily have to be the same type of object. You can have latitude coordinates as a dimension and longitude coordinates as a variable, for instance. However, make sure they both have Number as data type.