Coordinates - Maps

At this point it is to consider which information should be displayed and where the relevant geographical coordinates will be obtained from. Geocoordinates are needed to draw a point or a surface on a map. NPGeoMap uses latitude and longitude to display information. The world is divided into 360 meridians and 180 parallels. Longitude passing through north and south pole, latitude runs parallel to the equator.

Geographical information can be and visualized by:

oPoints (Markers) pinpoint an exact location (e.g.: Vienna, London) and are defined by latitude and longitude.
Example: 48.207645; 16.373880

oSurfaces (Polygons) are collections of points that describe the outer border of an area (country, province, sales district, etc.).

oLines connect two points, these points must also be defined by latitude or longitude.

To obtain coordinates, the following options are available:

oMethod 1 - Marker
If your address database is complete with latitudes and longitudes, use these for very accurate localization results.

oMethod 2 - Marker
In most cases, these exact coordinates are not available in common databases, but geographic descriptions such as country, city, address and postcode are most time. In this case your data can be connected with the postcode code database of the world's major countries (that employ a postcode system). Use postcode, country, and other information to obtain a unique ID and link the address to the geographical coordinates contained in the ZIP code database. This ZIP code database is available for download on www.npgeomap.com.
Example: GEOCOORDINATES; REPRESENTATION METHODS

oMethod 3 - Marker
Addresses can be geocoded and completed (with latitude and longitude = coordinates) using the NPGeoCoding add-on. The output-file produced with NPGeoCoding (.csv, ...) can be embedded into the QlikView load script in the same way as described in Method 2 for the postcode file.

oMethod 4 - Polygons
The world's major countries, with their provinces and districts, are included in the NPGeoMap map installation file. Other maps can be generated from shapefiles (available online, for most countries and most time free of charge) using the NPMapMaker add-on. With the free version of NPMapMaker (download from website), shapefiles can be converted into NPGeoMap files and, if the resolution is too high, they can be scaled down. With the full version, data can be edited extensively (modify columns, etc.) and maps can be created based on company-specific aspects (sale areas, EMS districts, etc.). Created maps are saved in the NPGeoMap format within the folder "Maps" in the extension directory.

oMethod 5 - Lines or Great Circles
They connect two points (Markers), defined by latitude and longitude (starting point), and latitude and longitude (endpoint).