On this page, you will find a listing of topics for which we have printable, quick-reference cheat sheets available. These cheat sheets provide helpful tips and guidance for carrying out the noted function or operation in AWhere. Please click on the red PDF link under each topic heading to access the cheat sheet for that topic.
Mapping Addresses – Geo-Coding
Before they can be mapped, addresses must first be Geo-Coded. Geo-coding is a process that reads in physical address information (i.e. street address, town, state, zip code), and outputs latitude and longitude coordinates for the address. AWhere does not do geo-coding, but there are free geo-coding services available on the web (examples are listed in the PDF below). The output file from a geo-coding operation can then be used as the input file for AWhere’s 'Import Coordinates' Add-In, which will produce a point map layer in AWhere showing the locations of the addresses. The PDF document below explains how to Geo-Code addresses. For instructions on how to then import the addresses into AWhere, refer to PDF file in the “Import Coordinates” section below.
How to Geo-Code Addresses (PDF; 142KB)
Importing Latitude/Longitude Coordinates
A table of Latitude/Longitude Coordinates can be imported into AWhere to generate a point map layer of the locations. The table of coordinates might be the output of geo-coding addresses (see above), it might be output from a GPS, or may come from some other source. The PDF document below details how to import a table of coordinates into AWhere.
How to Import Coordinates (PDF; 182KB)
Data Connection – Link Your Spreadsheet to a Map
If you have a table of data for specific geographies (.e.g states, counties, zip codes, etc), you can use AWhere’s Data Connection tool to link that table of data to a map of those geographies, and thus be able to use AWhere’s visualization tools to view the tabular data in map and/or graphical form. You can do so by manipulating the map display settings in various ways (coloring the map features according to the data in the table, labeling the map features using the data from the table, etc). You also have various tools available within AWhere to perform analysis of your data from a spatial perspective (calculate regional statistics, aggregate features, look for spatial patterns/clusters, etc), thereby extracting information from your data that you would likely not have been able to ascertain by just looking at a spreadsheet. Note that you are not limited to data-connecting only to spreadsheets, you can also connect to databases, such as MS Access, SQL Server and Oracle.
The Data Connection itself is a very simple process, but you may need to do a bit of editing and formatting of your data table in advance. Instructions for how to establish a data connection between your data table and a map in AWhere are included in this PDF. If necessary, refer to the section below for tips on formatting your data table.
How to Connect a Spreadsheet to a Map (PDF; 99KB)
Formatting Spreadsheets for Use in AWhere
There are two functions by which you can bring spreadsheet data into AWhere: the Data Connection tool and the Import Coordinates Add-In. This PDF file contains helpful tips that you should employ when organizing and formatting a data spreadsheet that you intend to use with either of these two tools.
Tips for Formatting Spreadsheets for use in AWhere (PDF; 162KB)
AWhere Databases and Exchange Files - 'Best Practices'
These are some best-practice tips that you will want to employ in order to make your AWhere experience as trouble-free as possible. These tips pertain specifically to managing and using AWhere Databases and AWhere Exchange files.
‘Best Practices’ for working with AWhere Databases and Exchange Files (PDF; 60KB)
Creating a Customized 'Territory' Map Layer
For our licensed users, AWhere Inc. has data-sets available containing basic map layers of recognized political boundaries (e.g. Countries, States, Provinces, Counties, Districts, etc) for the U.S. and for other regions of the world. In addition, we have map layers that delineate other non-political entities, such as Nielsen Markets, USDA Agricultural Statistics Districts, U.S. Census Boundaries, U.S. School Districts, U.S. Congressional Districts, and Zip/Postal Codes; plus we have the capability to obtain many other such publicly-available boundary map layers that our users might require. A typical use scenario for a given boundary map layer would be for an AWhere user to ‘data connect’ (see above) a table to the map layer (the table containing data records that correspond to the features in the boundary layer).
But, what happens in a situation where you need a customized boundary map layer that shows areas/territories that are not delineated in an existing boundary map layer (such as those listed above)? An example would be a company’s sales territories. With AWhere, you may have everything you need to generate such a customized boundary map layer. Click on the link below to read a post on our online user-forum that talks about doing just this.
AWhere Forum Post: 'Creating your own Territory Map Layer'