Spider Chart & Map Info

How to generate a spider graph in map-info? To create the Spider Graph in Mapinfo, there is a MBX- Mapbasic Program- that comes installed with it, we just need to enable it. Basically, the tool draws lines between objects- which can be a table or a union of two tables.

When these lines are drawn, a new table is created according to the corresponding values in the same column, that can be color coded and with a new column that shows the length of each line.

Usually 3 tables will be used:

1- Sites: Reference only, with some random sites.2- Sectors: A table with information sectors, with a NAME field with CellID information sector.3- Sample Data (DT Data): which contains data from a drive test. In reference to today’s example, the most important

thing here is not the DT data info, as the signal level. Only one field is important, indeed essential- the NAME field, containing the CellID. It is this field that will allow the union of this table with a table of sectors – Sectors.

Regardless of what the indicator is analyzed at the spider graph allows to draw the lines between the tables and data sectors. To enable this tool, go to the Menu Tools (1) > Tool Manager (2)

At Tool Manager, select the option to load (enable) this tool- Spider Graph (1). If you want this tool to be loaded automatically, whenever the Mapinfo is open, also check the Autoload option (2).

Now you can open the interface of the tool that creates a Spider Graph, by accessing Menu: Tools (1) > Spider Graph (2) Spider Graph (3)

In the new window, we must make some choices, but they are very intuitive.

First, choose the source and destination table (1) and (2). In this case, our table is the origin Sectors with sectors data. Also, for each of these tables we should indicate the chosen field that is common to both, and that will be used for match (3) and (4). In our case, in both tables the fields were called NAME, and contains the CELLID for the cells.

And we can select (5) which fields we want to include in the new table is created. (To select more than one field, use the Control Key).

Note that you will still have the option to set the unit of measure (Units) and also highlight the options Color Code. Results, coloring each line grouped by a common field of color, and Add Line Distance option to include the length line.

Creating Lines on the Create Button from the main interface of the program Spider Graph, you will be prompted for a name for the new table, which can be anyone. Here saved as spider_graph.tab only to facilitate demonstration.

Okay, now it becomes much easier to understand how such a graph can help us.

The spider graph allows us to check at each point what is a dominant cell, if a sector is serving a wrong area- signal spurious, if there is cable swaps etc.

And we can show it a little better by right clicking on the map, choosing Control Layer, and enabling some labels (1)

Finally, note that the spider graph was saved as new table, and was automatically added to the workspace. So we can do all operations such as creating a thematic map on it i.e. changing colors, shapes etc. among other attributes of the lines of Spider Graph based for example on the values of the indicator analysis or the distance (length) of each line.

And we can also create thematic maps for indicators in our analysis.

Summary: Using the spider graph tool

The Spider Graph tool draws lines between objects in a single table, or the objects from two tables based on a join. It then creates a new table of lines that connect the objects from the origin table to the destination table based on matching column values. By default, the lines are color-coded based on their table of origin. Also by default, the new table includes a distance column that stores the length of each line.

To use spider graph tool:

1- Use the Tool Manager to make sure that the Spider Graph tool is loaded. 2- With the appropriate Mapinfo tables open, select Tools > Spider Graph to activate the tool. Note: the Spider Graph tool

works with mappable vector tables only. It can not be used with raster image.3- From the Spider Graph dialog box, select the origin table from the left drop-down list. Then, select the column name

that will be used to join the origin table to the destination table. 4- Select the destination table from the right drop-down list. Then, select the column name that will be used to join the

destination table to the origin table.5- Select the columns to include in the resulting table. To select multiple columns, hold down the CTRL key while you

click. If no columns are chosen, Spider Graph will automatically include the join columns specified for the origin table.

6- By default, the Spider Graph tool will color-code the resulting lines and add a distance column to the new table to record the length of each line. If it is not desired to have these features, clear the appropriate checkbox. The distance lines will use units of miles by default. To change this, select another distance unit from the UNITS: drop-down lsit.

7- Click Create Lines and enter a new name for the resulting table in the Save Copy As dialog box.8- In the Save Copy As window, use the Save In: drop-down list to select the target folder for the resulting .TAB file. In the

File Name: Area, type a file name for the resulting table.9- Click Save.