GMaps Plugin shape data options enable additional methods for importing and displaying both polygons and line routes. Each option uses the Map Data Overlay property differently to reduce property sheet complexity while ensuring the most robust development methods.
CSV with Latitude/Longitude Data
When polygon data originates in a latitude/longitude format, you can store the data within a CSV file. The resulting performance gain enables GMaps Plugin to consume and display up to three times the data volume compared to storing data within the dashboard SWF file. The Map Data Overlay property will be bound to a single cell containing a URL. The URL will point directly to a CSV file containing Lat,Long data for each shape or route.
The Map Data Overlay property should be linked to a single URL. The URL will point directly to a CSV file containing Lat,Long data for each shape or route.
Example: http://yourserver/shapefile.csv
IMPORTANT NOTE: When using the CSV file for shape data, a single series can only contain a single URL within the Map Overlay Data property. You can NOT be use multiple CSV file URLs. There should be a 1-1 relationship between series and CSV file URLs.
Shape (.SHP) Files
Learn how to incorporate ESRI shapefiles directly into your dashboard
GMaps Plugin supports direct connectivity to shape files .SHP which provides significant performance increase for rendering detailed polygon shapes, thematic maps, or routes within GMaps Plugin. The Address Data property will be bound to a single cell containing a URL. The URL will point directly to a .SHP file containing data for the shape(s).
http://yourserver/shapefile.csv
IMPORTANT NOTES: When using a SHP file for shape data a single series can only contain a single URL within the Map Overlay Data property. You can NOT be use multiple SHP file URLs. There should be a 1-1 relationship between series and .SHP file URLs.
TIP: Not all web servers will support .SHP as a file type. The .SHP extension can be modified to “.TXT” which can also be referenced by GMaps Plugin.
Latitude/Longitude Source Data (Excel binding)
GMaps Plugin can utilize latitude,longitude or address data within within the Xcelsius model to draw shapes and lines on the Google Map during SWF runtime. When binding the Map Overlay Data property, select a single column containing the data required to draw shapes, where each cell in the column is a data point.To draw multiple shapes in a single series, insert a line break between all shape definitions.
TIP: Use Latitude/Longitude values rather than addresses to define polygon shapes within GMaps Plugin for optimal performance.
NOTE- When defining latitude/longitude pairs, you will need to format it into a single column with a comma separator. If your data source returns latitude and longitude in separate columns, you will need to concatenate them in an adjacent cell before linking them to the Map Overlay Data property.