Mapping

1

It Can be Like Magic

• Select your CenTrax file• Go to Discovery>Research

– Set a filter, or not– Choose Map

• Create the Summary File– Leave the default setting at the very top of the page– The Name and Description will be on the printed map– Choose a Theme and View

• These can be changed when you get to the map– Choose All States– Choose your COMBINED Assessment Area– Activate, customize as needed and Print

2

The Mistake

• You didn’t set the proper file active• You didn’t save your theme the last time you created a map• You didn’t save your view the last time you created a map• You didn’t choose All States• You didn’t select the correct Assessment Area

Set a CenTrax File Active

• The YEAR of the file determines the census tract boundaries and other demographic factors once you get to the map.

• If you plan to map your data, the file containing that data must be active.

• There are three fields that are required for a record to be properly displayed on the map:– Records must contain a valid geocode combination– Records must contain an action code– Records must contain a loan/deposit indicator

Do You need a Filter?

• If you want to display only specific Action Codes (just originations, just denials) you don’t need a filter.

• Everything else requires a filter.– Branch– Date Range– Product

• Go to Discovery>Research.– If a filter is needed, set it now.

• Click Map.

Create the Summary File

• The Summary file contains three things:– The data from the active file– The demographic data for the Summary Area States– The information about which tracts are included in the Assessment Area Tract

Group selected.

• IF you have a Map Theme or Map View you want to select from a previous session you can select them now.

• These can be changed as much as needed when you get to the map so if you don’t have one that suits your needs, don’t worry about it now.

The Map Displays

• If the map is ready like it is, print or image it.• If not, customize it.

Common ProblemsWhy is some of the map gray?

The gray areas are determined by the Tract Group you selected. If you meant for that area to be in color, you have to start over and pick the correct Tract Group. This feature only works for 2 fields: Assessment Area Income Level (Tract Income) and Assessment Area Minority Level.

Okay, so what if I don’t want to see the gray area at all? Can I get rid of it?

All you can do is try to Zoom the map to exclude as much as possible. You cannot completely get rid of it in most cases. Also, we don’t think you should. If you are putting your lending or deposit activity on there you will lose some context by eliminating these areas. And before you ask, no, you can’t change those colors.

What is that white area?

The areas in white represent states that were not selected when the Summary File was created. You can prevent this from ever being an issue by selecting All States.

I got an “error” that the summary file doesn’t contain any information.

That is a message, not an error. That means one of two things:

1. Your active CenTrax file doesn’t contain Action Codes, Loan/Deposit indicators, Geocode or some combination of these.

2. You aren’t showing an area where you have data. Move the map to one of your assessment areas.

If you get an error you need to call us here in Tech Support so we can work through it together.

Customizing the Map

• There are only a few icons you will need to use here.– Locate– Zoom– Map Theme & Map Views– Print or Image

Locate

• To move the map to a new area you have not previously mapped and SAVED click the Flashlight icon.

• Because your Assessment Areas are typically based on County boundaries, choose County.

• Select the State from the drop down list and then the county from the alphabetical list of counties.

• Click OK and the map will redraw.

SAVE THIS VIEW

• You can save as many views as you need.• This will save you time on your next session.

Modify the View

• Zoom In• Zoom Out• Pan the Map

SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE

It will save you time on every other mapping session if you will SAVE your views.

• You will never be able to ZOOM the map the same way again

• Practice the zoom tools, it is the only way you will get good at them

• If you zoom too far, use the “Undo” arrow in the top tool bar to go back

Set the Theme

• What should the color represent?• What should the symbol represent?• You don’t have to do both.• What layers should show and what labels do you want?

• Choose a Color• Choose a Symbol (or Clear)

– Same choices available for both– Don’t mess with the Ranges– If the field is numeric (number of applications) do you want to Exclude Zeros?

• Auto means the map decides if the layer draws or not, if in doubt, use ON.

SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE

It will save you time on every other mapping session if you will SAVE your theme.

• You will probably only have a few themes you will ever use:

•Number of apps by Tract Income

•Number of originations/purchases by Tract Income

•Number of apps by Tract Minority Level

•Number of originations/purchases by Tract Minority

• You should only need to maintain your branches, not create them from scratch.

Print it Out

• Two options:– Print to paper using the Printer icon

• Be sure to select Landscape as the orientation– Print to Image File using the Camera icon

• Great for adding to PowerPoint or Word Documents

Reuse It

• The idea behind saving your Themes and Views is to use them from the beginning and to Recall them during an ongoing mapping session.

• Click the View icon (the globe) and choose Recall View• Click the Theme icon (first one at the top) and choose

Recall Theme

Practice Makes Perfect

• HMDA2012• Home Purchase Only• Applications (symbol) by Assessment

Area Income Level (color)–Exclude Zeros–Show and label your branches

• One map for each of the three assessment areas–Do NOT use the Flashlight icon

• Create & Save image files

• CRA2012• Revenues < $1 million only• Applications by Tract Income

–Do not show your branches• Allegheny County & Westmoreland

County• Save to Image file

• Make the necessary adjustment so that Westmoreland County, PA will be in color

• HMDA2012• All Records• Denied Applications (symbol) by

Assessment Area Minority Level (color)– Exclude Zeros– Show and label your branches

• Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties– Do NOT use the flashlight icon

• Create and Save Image Files