Classes

Many analyses allow you to assign color, size, or other display properties to illustrate your data by generating classes. This involves summarizing data in groups (so-called classes), and assigning the same display styles to each group.

Note: If you have inserted an analysis via the control window data, three color classes are automatically stored. You can change this in the global Options.

Numeric and Alphanumeric Classification

The data type determines the evaluation of the classes. You can see the data type in the selection list of the Column ("A" stands for alphanumeric columns,"1" for numerical columns). If you have selected a numeric column, the classifcation is based on numeric principles. However, if you have selected a column with the data type "Text", the evaluation is carried out lexically (according to dictionary sorting).

Note: If, for example, a column that actually contains numbers is inadvertently not marked as a number column during data import, easymap will treat it like "text" and sort numbers lexically! For example, a class from 1 to 2 would then contain the value 15!

Methods for Creating Classes

Statistics knows numerous methods of class formation. In easymap you can use the most common ones. The following methods are available for creating classes:

Note: With automatically generated classes, it can happen that classes are omitted due to the data situation. If you have put a lot of effort into the properties of the classes (for example, defining the design characteristics, descriptions), we recommend that you set the classification type to user-defined so that nothing can change in the class structure. However, dynamic adaptation to data changes will then no longer take place.

The class list

The class list displays each class as a row. There is always a remainder class that determines the display of unclassified values (these are all values that do not fall into any of the defined classes). Furthermore, there is always at least one correct class.

If an automatic class calculation is active (that is, a classification type other than user defined) and you make manual changes to the classes, the classification type automatically jumps to user defined.

Class List Columns

Display features The columns displayed in the class list are variable. With differentiated analyses, only one design characteristic (e.g. color) is always displayed in the first column; with simple analyses, all design characteristics concerned (2-3) are displayed in the first 2-3 columns. The design characteristics can be edited by double-clicking in the respective cell.
class limitations

Normally there is a From and a Up to column where you can set the interval that covers the class. While the first value still falls into the class, the last value does not.

However, if you use the classification type Attribute, only one column Value is displayed. A data value falls into this class if it is equal to this value.

You can also define open classes. In this case, the interval is limited to only one side. To do this, enter * in the cell or delete the value. You can also open both boundaries, so that all values fall into this class.

Frequency This shows how many data records falls into each of the classes for the current setting.
Sum This displays the sum of all the data records that fall into each of the classes for the current setting. The column is only displayed for summarizable data and not when using the classification type Attribute.
Caption You can specify an alternative name for the class that can be used in legends.

Note: You can also enter multi-line texts. You can use one of the following shortcuts to insert a line break: Shift+Return, Ctrl+Return or Alt+Return.

Sorting the Classes

The columns of the class list can be sorted to change the order in legends. The classes are then also processed in a different sequence.

A data value is always assigned to the first matching class!

Analysis area

Normally, easymap considers all data values (i.e. the value range from minimum to maximum) when creating equally distributed and equidistant classes. However, if you do not want to consider extreme values when creating classes, you can do so by specifying an analysis range. The use of an analysis range is also useful for defining numerous equidistant classes that are graded as integers. For example, to define 20 classes in hundreds starting from zero, simply select the analysis range from 0 to 2000, 20 classes, and then select Equidistant for classification.

Edit classes

The various layout attributes of classes, the boundaries of the individual classes or the caption of the classes for the legend can be adjusted individually. To do this, simply click in the field that you want to change and select a different symbol or enter a different value for the class boundary.

Note: To change several objects at the same time, press the Ctrl key and select the corresponding fields in the list.

For editing and saving classes, colors, size/width etc. easymap also offers various functions that simplify class editing.

In certain situations, easymap displays warnings in the value class list to alert you to possible unintended situations:

  • The value for "From" must be smaller than the value for "Up to": No value would fall into this class. You should correct the class boundaries.
  • There is more than one class whose lower/upper limit is open: In this case, the first class found would always "win" for very small or very large values.
  • The value range of this class overlaps the value range of another class: This can only happen if "Allow Gaps" is activated. The warning indicates that the class intervals of two classes overlap. In this case, the first class identified would always "win".

Save and load classes

In the menu classes you can save your settings of the classes (class boundaries, colors, class names etc.) and load them again for further analyses. This is useful, for example, if you need to create a series of similar, comparable maps with different selections. Such a class file (*.xml) can be reloaded with Load classes....