Introduction

A Layer on the map that has had its visual style altered to represent data associated with that map layer. For example, a Layer might contain suburb boundaries and have associated information about the total population of each suburb. A Thematic can be applied to this Layer so that each suburb is displayed in a different color depending on how large the population of the suburb is.

A Ranged thematic map groups all records into ranges and assigns different colors, symbols, patterns or line style. For example, if you want to visualize the population of the world by growth rate, you would shade countries according to their reported growth rate amounts.

An Individual thematic map show points, lines, or boundaries that are shaded by individual values contained in a particular field. You can use both numerical and nominal values in individual values maps. Individual thematic map is useful when you want to emphasize categorical differences in the data rather than showing quantitative information For example, types of stores in a given area, zoning classifications in a given area etc.

Graduated symbol map uses symbols to represent different values. The size of the symbol varies according to the values in the field. For example, use graduated symbols to show the number of housing units in the city.