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I would like to view the US map by its zip code regions. My goal is to show sales by zip code where each zip code area is colored reflecting sales volume ranges. Can this be done with MapPoint?

Thanks for your help

Yes you can. Set up a data file (Excel or Access are easiest although there are other options) with one row per zipcode, with a column for the zipcode and a column for your sales data.

Then select Data -> Import Data Wizard on the menu. This should guide you through the import process.
You will need to select Shaded Area and Zipcode.

Richard

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Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
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I am so new that is not even funny. Doing project at work. I am so frustrated. All I need for now is to map sales reps name, city/state and zipcode and I need to have different colors per sales rep. When I did what you suggested above zipcode wasn't offered in the "select the data field or column to map". Name and ID was all that was offered. I have some sales reps handling several states. So when it ties to the name of course it says that there are several names that are the same. Anyway. Sorry I went on and on I am just soooo frustrated and have been searching and just want to get this project done.
thanks

What are you trying to do? Plot zipcodes using different color for each sales person?

The territory option might be worth investigating.

What form is your data? Is it in excel? If so, you'll need a column for the name, and a column for the zipcode.
I suggest the first row in the spreadsheet has column headers "Name" and "Zipcode" which might help you when you have to select the data columns in the data import wizard.


Richard

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Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
Pre-Order MapPoint 2009 today: http://www.mapping-tools.com/mappoint2009

thank you so much for helping me. i am sorry i am a pain. i have ordered a book but.... well you know how deadlines are. this is how i have the spread sheet in excel setup. i have used several different ways of doing this data and calling the columns different things. when i import this data on the far left it shows the different colors on the names next to the sales reps but those colors are not showing up in the map. if i just knew how to put the different colors for each sales rep would be great. also i have some guys that have a portion of a state!!!!ugh.... thanks again
name state Zipcode
Candler VA 24578
Farinella NY 11743
Goodman NC 28270
Heck NJ 08054
Kirk SC 29205
Lipchak PA 15017
Lydon MA 02081
Saylor FL 33486
Schaefer GA 30066
Taylor FL 33594
Weeks FL 32413
Yazujian NJ 08822

I've managed to do it

I cut and pasted your data into a text file and inserted some commas.
An Excel spreadsheet would definitely be easier if you have it like that.
I assume that you also have a lot more data? What I get is pretty sparse - a handful of zipcodes spread across the country.

When you do the Data Import Wizard, it should detect three columns: name, state, zipcode.
When I did it, MapPoint only automatically auto-detects the State.
Select "Other Data" for the name.
Select "Zipcode" in the combobox for the zipcode column. It should autodetect this, but you have some 4-digit zipcodes which is confusing MapPoint. You may want to pad with zeros if Excel will let you.

Select Shaded Area.

Then select "F1" as the data field or column to map.
And Show the Data by "ZIP Code".

You will then get a warning message that you have more than 8 categories. Basically you can only use 8 colour shades in your map.


Territory doesn't have this limit of 8. It works in a similar way, but you need to select the first column as "Territory Name" (default is "Skip Column"), and select the zipcode as the zipcode.

The Help file should also help you out. I find it useful to print pages and then read them - I have yet to believe in EBooks
The Dummies book (I assume it is the one you have on order) is probably a better introduction to MapPoint's abilities than the help, although it has its limitations if you want to advanced stuff like programming.



Richard

__________________
Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
Pre-Order MapPoint 2009 today: http://www.mapping-tools.com/mappoint2009

Thank you so much richard. I will go try that. I really appreciate all your help.

Hi Richard. Thanks again for all your help. I tried to create an excel spreadsheet that had, State, County Territory and Zipcode. But everytime I add the zipcode as a column my map won't show the different colors for each state. I took the zipcode out and walla I got all kinds of pretty colors even when I had duplicate sales reps for different states. oh well. i am not sure how to do this yet. i am still waiting for the book. thanks again.

It sounds like you might be trying to plot two things at the same time?
Eg. shaded zipcodes and shaded states?
Clearly you can't do that
(you could put pushpins or shaded spots on shaded states, but excluding pushpins you can't map two different things in the same way)

You might be able to get shaded territories on top of shaded States, although I haven't tried that.


Richard

__________________
Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
Pre-Order MapPoint 2009 today: http://www.mapping-tools.com/mappoint2009