Layer Types

Creation of Layers

The advanced users of type Author/Creator can manage (create, edit, delete) layers thanks to a rich and easy to use wizard offering:

• Rich renderer: symbols, color palettes, proportional circles, multiple indicator pie chart diagrams with variable size, labels
• Advanced settings: color, size, thickness of lines and contours, transparency...
• Several methods of discretization: unique value, range of values, quantile, natural breaks
• Analysis on layers of points, lines or polygons

Managing layers (create, edit, delete) is done using the Layers Wizard called from the layers menu. It is only localized in English, French, German & Spanish.

To create a new layer, click on the add button, and then click on the "Layer" point of the menu appearing.

To edit an existing layer, click on the edit button, that becomes available by clicking on the layer name.

To delete an existing layer, click on the delete icon, accessible in the same manner as the edit button.

The Layer Wizard appears in a new tab, listing the different types of representation available.

Select a representation in order to access the parameters.

Each available type of layer is detailed individually in the corresponding chapter.

Layer Types

Selection of the Layer Type

Depending on the available data, the user can select the type of layer desired to appear on the maps. However, all the data do not support all the types of layers.

The following table suggests a review of possible presentations of data according to its type:

Data Type	Example	Representation Mode	Galigeo Layers
Qualitative	Type of point of sale: wholesale or retail, Regional alert level	Individual	Symbols, Unique values, Pie charts
Quantitative	Turnover by sector, Number of stores in a region	Proportional	Symbols, Proportional circles, Flow, Pie charts
Quantitative relative	Nitrate levels, Success levels of mailing	Relative, ordered	Color ranges, Symbols, Flow, Pie charts

This table is only an indicator of good practices, the selection of layers remains the responsibility of the report user.

Layer with a Default Symbol

This type of visualization allows displaying all of current data on a map layer with the same renderer.

This type of layer applies to polygon, line and point layers.

The creation of this type of layer is done by following the next steps:

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Enter the name of the layer. It is the name that appears in the list of layers and in the legend.

Step 2: Select the Data Set

Select, from the dropdown list, the data set on which the analysis will be performed.

Step 3: Select the Symbology

Choose a symbology type:

• Fill colours and borders: One can change the default rendering colour of each object of the layer, the fill type (Solid or hashed), and the colour and width of the border.
• Vector Symbol: to choose an SVG symbol, its color, its size, and its offset for each objects of the layer.
• Image from the library: to choose the image we wish to use, and the offset relative to the point. The + button allows the import of new symbols. The vector symbols have to be in SVG format, and the images in PNG format.

The PNG images have to have a size lower than 200x200 and to be of RGB type. It is possible to define the colour of an SVG symbol with the condition that there is no colour assigned already for different "paths" of the XML. It is also possible to define the value "currentColor" instead of a colour. This will allow choosing the parts of the symbol that are colorable.

Step 4 (Optional): Use the ArcGIS Native Symbology

When the selected query is based on an ArcGIS layer (see Data panel > Mapping Wizard), it is possible to configure the layer to use the symbology defined on the ArcGIS Server.

In the case that the rendering of the ArcGIS Server layer is based on a field (classBreaks and UniqueValues), it is necessary to have a field having the same name in the dataset, so that the layer works.

Step 5 (Optional): Use as Mask Layer

Only available if the Geographical Level selected relies on polygons. When enabled, instead of showing the polygons colored as usual, it will crop them out, and use the outer boundaries as a mask.

Setting the Transparency

Move the gauge button to change the transparency of the layer.

Step 6: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Enter in the Group Name field the name of an existing group or of a new group where the new layer will be inserted.

Step 7: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Layer by Gradient Colors (or Range Color)

This type of layer enables the distribution of numerical data in several value ranges according to manual or statistical discretization. To each value range will correspond a renderer on the map.

This layer type can apply to polygons, lines, and points.

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Enter the layer name. It is the name that appears in the list of layers and in the legend.

Step 2: Select the Data Set

Select, from a drop down list, the data set to represent.

Select the classification field:

Only the numeric data fields are visible in this list.

Step 3: Select the Calculation Method and the Representation

The different representation classes as well as the labels associated to each one of them are displayed in the table once done the selection of the field to represent.

Selection of the calculation method

There are 5 value ranges calculation methods available:

• Quantiles: this method divides automatically the values in a manner that each range has an identical number. The boundaries are automatically calculated (and recalculated at every query refresh).
• Equal Interval: this method divides automatically the values in intervals of the same size.
• Natural Breaks (Jenks method): this method divides automatically the values in homogeneous intervals defined by the reading of the bar chart of frequencies of the series.
• CK-means (default method): This method partitions the data into k ranges so as to have an optimal and deterministic distribution.
• Manual: this method allows to define manually the range of values.

Selection of the representation type

One can choose an already predefined colour gradient, or distribution of colours by clicking on the button. A palette of available colour representations will appear.

One can choose one of the predefined colour distributions, or define a custom gradient by going to the Custom tab, or copy an existing one from an already created layer by going to the Copy from Existing tab.

Symbol Propagation

The propagation icons situated at the right of the symbols allow the fast propagation of symbol property in order to be more efficient. According to the type of symbol, it is possible to propagate the type, the colour, the size, the border or the offset (for lines).

Adding/Deleting of classes

Click on the left/right buttons to increase/decrease the number of classes.

Limit the number of ranges inferior to 10. A too large number of classes often generates a map very difficult to read.

At the adding/deleting of a class, the ranges are automatically recalculated. The eventual manual modifications (color, symbol) are lost.

Step 4: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Step 5: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Layer by Individual Colors

This type of layer allows displaying of data that have a single value through colored symbols.

This type of representation is applied mostly to fields of alphanumeric values (strings), however it is also usable on numeric fields.

The number of individual values is limited to 50. However, when there are over 10 different values, every unique value maps becomes difficult to read.

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Step 2: Select the Data Set

In this list are visible both alphanumeric fields and numeric ones.

Step 3: Select the Representation

The table with the color distribution is displayed. The labels can be modified by the administrator. To switch to edition mode, simply click on the label and enter the desired text.

This type of layer is used to classify an indicator based on the single values available in the current dataset (after filtering). In case a dataset contains new values that are missing from the original classification, then the new objects are represented colorless on the map. If the auto readjust checkbox is checked, the layer will automatically readjust when the dataset is updated.

Step 4: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Step 5: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Layer with Proportional Symbols

This type of layer makes it possible to distribute the numerical data proportionally according to their values.

This type of layer can be applied to the various types of objects contained in a geographic layer (points, lines, polygons).

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Step 2: Select the Data Set

In this list are visible numeric ones.

Step 3: Select the Fill Color, the Reference Value, the Reference Size, the Maximum Size (optional) and the Scale

With the help of these controls one can set the color the symbols will be filled, the reference value, the reference size and, the maximum size (optional) of the representation of the symbols.

For more detail on the meaning of those fields, you can click on the help button.

Step 4: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Step 5: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Layer by Pie Charts

This type of representation allows the display of several indicators using pie charts.

This type of representation applies mainly to fields with numerical values.

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Step 2: Select the Data Set

Step 3: Select the fields to be represented in the pie charts

Select a field in the drop down list and click on the + button to add it to the representation. Repeat the above operation until you entered all fields you wish to represent in the pie chart.

Step 4: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Step 5: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Layer with Flows

This type of layer works in the same way as the one by Range of Color with the difference that the quantities are represented in the form of flows between two points.

Here are some examples of use cases:

• Analyze the financial flows, of merchandise or persons between different sites, factories, ports...
• Analyze the movement of people or migration between countries, regions, counties

The Flow layer needs the following prerequisites:

• The flows are mapped on one and only one existent dataset of points (shops, sites) or polygons (counties, countries)
• The BI query data have to contain the origin and destination dimensions formatted as follows:

Origin Dimension	Destination Dimension	Indicator
CodeWWW	CodeXXX	1000
CodeYYY	CodeZZZ	1500

• The joins have to be configured on the two geographical dimensions (origin, destination)
• The query has to have two geographical dimensions (the first being the start and the second being the destination data)

In case one wishes to create a flow layer based on an imported dataset, in the MAPPING tab there have to be 2 mappings done, one on the start dimension and a second one done on the destination dimension.

Step 1: Enter the Layer Name

Step 2: Select the Data Set

When defining a flow layer, the author decides which are the origin and destination mappers.

Step 3: Select the Calculation Method and the Representation

The same calculation methods as for Gradient Colors are available: Quantiles, Equal Interval, Natural Breaks, CK-means, and Manual.

Step 4: Enter the group name where the layer will be inserted

Step 5: Validate the Layer Creation

Click on the [Save] button in order to display the created layer on the map.

Labels Creation

It is possible to associate labels to any of the layers.

This type of representation allows the displaying of one or several indicators on the map.

All types of layers have a section for labels:

Step 1: Enter the Label Content

Click on the + to get the list of available indicators and select those that are necessary.

It is possible to insert custom text in order to format the label. The use of HTML tags is not supported in the labels with the exception of the <br> tags in order to insert a line feed.

Step 2: Select the Font Size

Step 3: Select the Font Color

Step 4: Set the Horizontal/Vertical Offset

Using the +/- buttons, set the horizontal/vertical offset of the label.

Step 5: Set the background color of the label

If it is desired to have a background for the label text, check the box and specify the background color.

If a layer has a label declared, the icon is displayed in the Layers panel, allowing the toggling of the labels display.

Tooltip Creation

It is possible to configure customized tooltips for a layer. The tooltips work in the same manner as the labels and allow the displaying of a formatted text when hovering with the mouse.

Contrary to the labels, the tooltips support HTML formatting that allows an advanced customization.

Layer Groups Management

By default, the layers are grouped by the data set name on which they are based.

These groups are customizable from the Layer Wizard, or one can change their names directly in the Layers panel.

For each layer, the author has several possibilities:

1. Choose an existing group (the existing groups are suggested in the drop-down list). At the layers panel, the layer will appear in the selected group.
2. Define a new group name. A new group will appear on the layer panel and will contain the layer that is about to be edited.

A group is deleted as it does not contain any layer.

Every group has a main switch that can turn the whole group, i.e. all the layers inside the group, on or off with one click.

An author hovering with the mouse over the group name: a pencil edition button will appear, and if it is clicked, the edition of the group name will be enabled.

If, after the edition, there will be another group with the same name, then a merging suggestion message will be displayed, through which the modified group can merge with another existing one.

Webservices

The author can add webservices by entering the URL of the service or of the layer. This functionality allows to enrich a map with geographical data coming from an external service in a rapid mode (ArcGIS or WMS).

Webservices management is accessible from the map burger menu > Settings > Data > Webservices.

To add web services to the catalog (shared across all maps), see Adding Web Services to the Catalog.

For each layer it is possible to:

• customize the name, the category and the URL
• choose the visibility status by default (visible/invisible)
• choose to display the legend
• define if the info-window displays the layer attributes (if available)
• filter the layer according to an existing prompt (by selecting the field that needs to be fed)
• delete it from the list
• move it up and down inside the group (this order will be reflected in the Layers panel)
• the groups can also be moved up and down and relative to the layers in the Layers panel using the arrow buttons in the group header
• whole groups can also be deleted using the recycle bin button in the group header
• groups names are editable
• manage the labels visibility (if the layer is supported) through the labels icon associated to every layer (in the Layer management panel)

Warning: in order that the labels on Webservices to be able to be managed dynamically through the user interface, it is necessary that the "dynamicLayers" parameter of the map service to be supported.

The adding of a Webservice is done by:

1. Entering the REST URL of a layer from ArcGIS Server

For instance: http://showme.galigeo.com/arcgis/rest/services/USA/MapServer/1

1. Indicating the URL of the service to be added, in which case all the layers of the service are added automatically

For instance: http://showme.galigeo.com/arcgis/rest/services/USA/MapServer/1

In order to be faster, it is possible to get the set of Webservices from another map using the button "Copy Webservices". This operation replaces the Webservices of the current map with those of the selected map.