General Instructions

1. Choose the "Select Map Type" and select the desired combination of map attributes from the top row of menus.

2. Choose "Quick Map" for a default map with five legend categories.

3. You can create weighted maps by dividing the attributes selected in the top row of menus by the population for the geographic area shown in the bottom right menu. For example, you can choose a Minnesota by county map and select children age 0 to 17 and divide by the total population in the county.

4. In previous steps, your map will have a default title generated by stringing your menu selections together. You may wish to enter a more explicit title. In this case, you could enter the title "Children as a Percent of County Population" in the map title box before you generate the map.

5. You can enter approximately 100 words of descriptive information in the comments box. The text will be automatically centered in a vertical column. You can not enter double quotes in title or comment box.

6. Once you select an option to weight a map you must hit the "Reset" button to return to mapping nonweighted (raw) numbers.

Making Your Own Legend

1. Users can define their own legend by selecting the "Defined Legend" option.

2. Before you select that option, you may wish to see the data variables in order to determine the number of classes and where the break points will be. Select "Show Report" to see the data values. Note, the statewide MCD level data shows only one county at a time. When you select "Define Legend" it will provide you with the minimum, maximum, median and mean for data set.

3. Define your legend by entering the maximum value (does not include commas, dollar signs or percentage signs) of your lowest category (class). Do the same for up to five categories. The last category requires a value equal to or higher than the largest in your data set. Your legend will be automatically generated.
The text in the legend can be different than the text generated by specific break points. After each maximum value in a category, enter desired legend text. For example, rather than showing "0 to 19" you might want to say "Less than 20". You might also want to use descriptive titles such as "Above Poverty" and "Below Poverty".

4. You need to have at least two categories in the map. There is an option to automatically drop a category if selected range has no values.

Downloading Data

Any variable used to generate a map in Datanet Web can be downloaded in a CSV (comma separated variable) file and imported into a spreadsheet or other mapping packages. Data to be downloaded can be previewed by selecting "Show Report". The MCD and Tract maps preview data for one county at a time but the entire file will be downloaded. MCD level data includes a value for the portions of cities in each county (For example, St. Cloud consists of three variables). The data should be mapped with a boundary file consistent with the 2000 Census.

"Tips for Mapping"

"I didn't get what I expected." Double check the options that you selected, including the variable you divided by. Be aware: JavaScript are used to change the menu of variables to weight maps. Talk yourself through the logic of your selection.

"All I got was a grey map." You most likely had the same number in the denominator as the numerator. Select a subpopulation in the numerator, such as only persons over age 65, and map it.

"How do I map other variables?" Mapping modules are under construction that will cover most commonly used variables. The interactive mapping menus require compatible data with common universes. Data can be mapped from different modules by downloading the information to spreadsheets and using other mapping systems.