Define Thematic Style

While creating or modifying a named layer using a vector named table, Spectrum Spatial Manager allows you to apply themes on the layer. This feature helps in customizing layers used in maps for specific usages. Spectrum Spatial Manager supports the creation of layers with two types of themes: Individual and Range. The style options will be available based on the geometry of the selected named table.
Note: The feature of Define Thematic Style appears only when you have selected a vector table to create the layer.

Range Theme

Theme Type and Columns
  • Thematic Type: It allows you to select a theme type. The available themes are Individual and Range:
    • Individual: Select a column from the table to apply the theme and click Apply Changes.
    • Range: Select a column from the table then choose the thematic style settings.
  • Column: It allows you to select a column from the named table you selected.
Thematic Settings
Note: These settings apply only when the Thematic Type is Range.
Method: Choose an option from the Method drop-down to select how the ranges are created. You can choose from five different methods:
  • Equal Count: Each range contains approximately the same number of records. If the number of records is not evenly divisible by the number of ranges, Spectrum Spatial Manager places the remaining records into the most appropriate ranges.
  • Equal Ranges: The difference between the top and bottom values in each range is the same.
  • Natural Break: The range breaks are determined according to an algorithm such that the difference between the data values and the average of the data values is minimized on a per range basis. This reduces error and enables you to obtain a truer representation of your data.
  • Standard Deviation: The middle range breaks at the mean of your data values, and the ranges above and below the middle range are one standard deviation above or below the mean.
  • Quantile: Determines the distribution of a variable across a segment of your data (for example, population). When you choose Quantile, a Quantiling box appears at the bottom of the dialog box. Choose the field or an expression you want to perform the quantiling operation on from the drop-down list.
Color Palette: Select a color from the color palette. You can select a sequential or diverging palette:
  • Sequential: A sequential palette ranges between two colors where one of them is the main color. You can select from multi-hue and Single hue palettes. You must click Apply Changes to see the updated preview.
  • Diverging: A diverging palette range between three colors where all three are distinct. You can pick a color scheme from the palette. Click Apply Changes to see the updated preview.
Intervals: Choose the number of intervals you want from the drop-down. The minimum number of the range is 2, and the maximum number is 16. The default is 3 intervals.
Round by: Select the nearest value to round off the values. The value of Round by varies according to the type of column. The applicable changes can be seen in the Preview by clicking the Apply Changes.
Ignore zeros or blanks: Select to ignore the values that are either equal to zero or are blank in the table.
Show Border: Select to display the border of the layer. The Show Border appears for a table if the geometry type is Polygon. In case of a line, there are settings for line width and style.
Style: This option is available if the geometry type in the selected table is a line or point. Click and select a style from the style picker control.
Line Width: Specifies an integer value for the width (thickness) of the line. This option appears for a table if the geometry type is line. Select the unit of line width as Pixel or Point.
Apply Changes: Click Apply Changes to save the thematic style changes and update the preview.
Customizing Legend
Legend order: It determines the order in which range and value labels (for ranged and individual values maps) and field labels (for all other thematic maps) appear in the legend.
  • Ascending: The ranges are displayed from the lowest to highest value.
  • Descending: The ranges are displayed from the highest to lowest value.
Show in legend: Select to display the selected range in the legend.
>= Value: This column indicates the inclusive lower bound of the range. The data values in the range interval are greater than or equal to the minimum value of the range. The range intervals are displayed so that the minimum value of one range, and the maximum value of the range above it in the list box, are the same number. The records that have that value are counted in the range interval where the value represents the minimum value. For example, one range is 26.2 to 30.9, and the range below it is 30.9 to 31.8. The record (or records) with the value 30.9 is counted in the range interval, 30.9 to 31.8 because 30.9 represents the minimum value in that range interval.
< Value: This column indicates the exclusive upper bound of the range. The data values in the range interval are less than the maximum value of the range, except for the last range, where the values are <= to the maximum value. For example, you have four ranges, and the values in the fourth range are 30-40. A data value of 40 falls into the last range.
Label: This column displays the ranges selected in the >= Value and < Value columns. You can edit the description to be displayed in the legend.
Style: This column indicates the currently selected style range. You can edit the color by clicking the style, which opens a dialogue from where you can select new colors in Hex, HSL, or RGB.
Cancel
Click to cancel the operation and returns you to the map.
Create
Click to create a thematic map based on either the default or customized settings.

Individual Theme

Theme Type and Columns
  • Thematic Type: It allows you to select a theme type. The available themes are Individual and Range:
    • Individual: Select a column from the table to apply the theme and click Apply Changes.
    • Range: Select a column from the table then choose the thematic style settings.
  • Column: It allows you to select a column from the named table you selected.
Thematic Settings
Note: These settings apply only when the Thematic Type is Individual.
Vary Color: Select this option to modify the colors for a selected style.
  • Color Palette: Click to select a color palette.
  • Style: This option is available if the geometry type in the selected table is a line or point. Click and select from the style picker control.
  • Line Width: It specifies an integer value specifying the width (thickness) of the line. This option appears for a table if the geometry type is Line. Select the unit of line width as Pixel or Point.
  • Show Border: Select to display the border of the layer. The Show Border appears for a table if the geometry type is Polygon.
Vary Style: Select this option to modify the style for a selected line.
  • Use this Color: Click the color to open a color picker control. The control allows you to select a color in RGB, Hex, or HSL formats. Click Ok to consolidate the changes, and you return to the main screen. Click Apply Changes to see the updated preview.
  • Line Width: It specifies an integer value specifying the width (thickness) of the line. This option appears for a table if the geometry type is Line. Select the unit of line width as Pixel or Point.
  • Show Border: Select to display the border of the layer. The Show Border appears for a table if the geometry type is Polygon
Ignore zeros or blanks: Select to ignore the values that are either equal to zero or are blank in the table.
Apply Changes: Click Apply Changes to save the thematic style changes and update the preview.
Customizing Legend
Legend order: It determines the order in which range and value labels (for ranged and individual values maps) and field labels (for all other thematic maps) appear in the legend.
  • Ascending: The ranges are displayed from the lowest to highest value.
  • Descending: The ranges are displayed from the highest to lowest value.
Show in legend: Select to display the selected range in the legend.
Label: This column displays the ranges selected in the >= Value and < Value columns. You can edit the description to be displayed in the legend.
Style: This column indicates the currently selected style range. You can edit the color by clicking the style, which opens a dialogue from where you can select new colors in Hex, HSL, or RGB.
Cancel
Click to cancel the operation and returns you to the map.
Create
Click to create a thematic map based on either the default or customized settings.