Attaching a GeoPack to a view field

GeoPacks include geographical information that can work with your data without having to be incorporated and stored in your database.

GeoPacks have one or more levels of geographical data. When there are multiple levels, the data is structured in a logical hierarchy. Each level of the hierarchy contains geographical labels of different formats and a geographical field containing a Point (and sometimes a Polygon). The pack can also have demographic metrics, which are associated with the lowest level of the hierarchy and are automatically aggregated up depending on the hierarchy level you are using at the time.

To use a GeoPack, you must attach it to a field in a view. When you attach the GeoPack to a field, its data directly corresponds to a field in your database. When field is used in a report, the pack data (geometry and demographic metrics) are incorporated into the reports along with the existing categories and metrics.

Geographical labels

To identify the levels of data in the pack and link the pack to your own data, geographical labels are included and displayed in multiple formats. A simplified version of the Australian Postcode GeoPack contains the following three-level hierarchy:

1. State
2. Local Government Area (LGA)
3. Postcode

Some levels of this hierarchy may have different ways to identify the geography. For example, the State level can be identified by its full name, or using a three-letter code. In this case, multiple geographical labels for the State field: State Label and State Code. An example of possible label fields for this pack would be:

These label fields are used to link the pack data to your source data, and as such, you must select the label that matches the formatting in your source database. For example, if you are linking on the State field and your data is stored as VIC, you would link on the State Code field. If your data is stored as Victoria, you would link on the State Label field.

Geographical fields

After you link the pack using geographical labels, the geographical fields become available in Remedy Smart Reporting(Smart Reporting). Each level of the pack hierarchy contains one geographical field, which contains a centroid Point (and can also contain Polygons), depending on the pack design.  A user can select the geographical field and add it to a map. Depending on the map type, Smart Reporting uses the Point or Polygon, where available.

Demographic metrics

The demographic metrics available in the pack are fields that explore various values associated with census demographics available in the geographic area.

Continuing with the same simplified Australian Postcode GeoPack from above, it contains various different fields of census information. Most packs contain many demographic fields, but this simplified example contains two: Total Population and Median Age:

The demographic metrics provide additional levels of context to your mapping. Then, you can compare your data with census information for richer analysis.

To attach a GeoPack to a view

1. On the Smart Reporting console, select Browse > Views.
2. Open the view to which you want to attach the GeoPack.
   Make sure that it is in Edit mode.
3. On the view details page, click on the Prepare tab.
4. In the Available Fields panel, click the menu of the field that you want to use as the placeholder for the GeoPack.
   
5. Click Link To GeoPack.
   

6. On the GeoPack screen, select the GeoPack you want to link.

   Note

    If you have not imported the pack into the system, click Not here? and upload it through the current screen.

7. When the content and origins of the pack are displayed, select the level of geography you want to link your field to from the Geography drop-down list.

   This information is populated on the basis of the GeoPack you selected. Some packs may have one level, and others may have several levels. Select the geography that exactly matches the data in your field.  

   A preview table with the selected geography, compared to the contents of your field, is shown. If the pack contains multiple aliases for the selected geography, you must select the appropriate alias format to match your data.

   For example, if using the Country field, your data may be stored as an ISO Code,  and you must make sure you select that format from the pack, rather than Country Name.

   When you select the format, the two columns on the preview table may not match exactly. However, the format of the two columns must match. For example, if using an Australian Postcode field, ensure both columns have 4 digits.

8. If the selected level is not at the top of the hierarchy, specify the Link Type when prompted.

   The following three options are available:

   Type	Description
   None	Select this option if the geography level in the pack contains unique pairings to that of your data.
   Hierarchy	Select this option if the geography level in the pack requires other levels to be defined to create a unique link and you do not have fields in your view that match the other levels of the pack hierarchy. Select the pieces of data in your pack the field data belongs to. The rest of the pack is ignored.
   Field	Select this option if the geography level in the pack requires other levels to be defined to create a unique link. For example, you may have two cities in a pack with the same name. To differentiate them, you must include a link on the country name. You must also link the parent level with a matching field in your view.

9. Click Save. 
   The field icon is now a pin, instead of a dimension or metric icon.
   

You can now use your linked pack data through the report builder. When adding fields on the Data page of the builder, your linked field is displayed as a folder containing all of the pack data, which you can add to your report the same way you add other fields.