Introduction to Map Properties

On a map chart, a base layer displays the map tile. Overlay layers add data on top of the base map.

The WebFOCUS request output provides the measure values and the location names or latitude and longitude values of the areas to be overlaid with colors or symbols. The colored areas or symbols form one overlay layer.

The Esri map engine provides additional overlay layers that you can choose to add to the map chart. These additional overlay layers can be either:

• Tile (demographic) layers. These layers consist of pre-aggregated demographic data available on an Esri server, which may be a local server.
• Dynamic feature layers. These layers provide demographic data that is aggregated dynamically.
• Reference Feature layers. These layers place symbols on the maps. WebFOCUS uses them to outline areas on the map.

WebFOCUS supports one base layer and one WebFOCUS overlay layer. If you use the Esri map engine, you can add multiple demographic and feature layers.

WebFOCUS is licensed to access Esri ArcGIS maps, which exist on an Esri server or a local server from Esri. If you are licensed to use a different map provider, you can access their maps instead.

In addition, free Mapbox© OpenStreet© maps are installed with WebFOCUS. You can use them for Leaflet map charts, if you are not able to import the Esri maps into your system.

The connection between geolocations and the fields in your data source are implemented by specifying a URL to a JSON, ESRI, or geoJSON location file (also called an endpoint) for Leaflet maps, and a geoJSON or ESRI endpoint for Esri maps.

WebFOCUS provides JSON location files, but you can add additional locations or different types of location files by adjusting the map properties to point to the files you want.

Location endpoints contain lists of major political subdivisions (such as state and city) along with the latitudes and longitudes that define the borders of the subdivisions.