Market Analysis Automation (Use What You've Got!)
Market Analysis Automation (Use What You’ve Got!) Susan L. Zwillinger Director, Training & Customer Services Thinformation, Inc. / A WEC Company
ESRI Business GeoInfo Summit May 1-2, 2006
Abstract: Market Analysis Automation: Use What You’ve Got In a local real estate market, sometimes the market can change quickly. This means that you need to use your existing market analysis tools, including the use of automation, to analyze the market faster than the competition. Companies that can get the analysis to the key decision makers faster will be the ones that succeed. The window of opportunity to buy, sell, lease or develop a property might be open for several months or only a few days—timing an opportunity is critical. This presentation will describe how styles, map templates, the Business Analyst Toolbox and Model Builder are used to automate several analytical processes such as defining the market area, estimating demand, and calculating potential revenue. Business Analyst users don’t need to be programmers, but they should take advantage of the tools available to them to get the highest possible return on their investment in business intelligence. 2
Discussion Points Our Goal Use ArcMap features and automation tools to improve the efficiency of market analysis.
Our Results Why you should use Market Analysis Automation
Our Methods Three Techniques for Efficient Market Analysis
3
Results of Market Analysis Automation Time to create a site analysis report: Reduced by half—roughly 3.5 hours to 1.5 for one company’s site selection process. Number of clicks: Reduced from hundreds of clicks to 10 for a market analysis report. Number of times users make the mistake of forgetting to turn on a map layer required for a map: 0 4
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Everyone probably uses layer files . . . A simple right click of a map layer to create an LYR file. LYR files can be imported from one layer to another using the Import button in the Layer Properties dialog window.
5
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Sometimes layer files can’t be used due to data differences. When you can’t use a layer file, create a symbol and save it in a style file.
6
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files What happens if you don’t use them?
7
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Using default colors for market areas can result in the same color being used for adjacent areas, making map interpretation unclear. Manually changing symbols is easy but inefficient. Solution: Create the settings once and then reuse through styles and layer files.
8
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Creating a symbol for a specific market name, territory, or community tapestry group is EASY.
9
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files You can create and manage styles through the Style Manager. Your personal styles folder is installed under C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\ESRI\ArcMap. The ESRI Styles folder is installed in the \bin\Styles folder where you installed ArcGIS.
10
ArcMap Tools menuÆ StylesÆStyle Manager For details, see the ArcMap Help Files.
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Match the name of your symbol style to a value in your market area map layer (the name or ID) and you can use the “Match to symbols in a style” option when setting layer symbology.
12
2
1
3
Technique #2: Use map template files Create a new folder to store all your custom MXT files. Create in c:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ bin\Templates
Develop map template files (MXT) ArcMap File menuÆSave AsÆselect file format MXT and give your MXT a name.
16
Technique #2: Use map template files Convert dynamic legends to static graphics when symbols are standardized and consistent. Right click the legendÆ“Convert To graphics”
Group layers for a specific map template into one group. Select all layers, right clickÆ”Group” Rename the group layer to match the MXT.
17
Technique #2: Use map template files Creating a map only requires three clicks One to turn on the appropriate group layer Two to select the “Change Layout” button
18
Technique #2: Use map template files Three to select the map template.
19
Technique #2: Use map template files Take the automation one step further and create a menu using VBA code.
20
Technique #2: Use map template files Select a map or report from a list
21
Technique #2: Use map template files Reminder: You can change the location of style files and templates using a utility program that ESRI provides in your installation directory. C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ Utilities\AdvancedArcMapSettings.EXE
23
Technique #3: Use Models Build a model using Model Builder and the Business Analyst tools in the Toolbox Creating a model is EASY!
24
Technique #3: Use Models First, create your own Toolbox to make it easy to find and share your automation. Right click on the ArcToolbox icon and select “New Toolbox”
25
Technique #3: Use Models The location of your toolbox can be changed by selecting the ArcMap Tools menuÆ OptionsÆ Geoprocessing tab
26
Technique #3: Use Models Second, create a new model Right click on your toobox and select NewÆModel
27
Technique #3: Use Models Drag and drop the tools you need into your model window
28
Technique #3: Use Models Specify the input and output variables by clicking on the tool.
29
Technique #3: Use Models Programmers, can export a model to VB script and then include the code in a map document or a map template. Model menuÆ ExportÆTo ScriptÆ VBScript
35
Start where you are Use what you have Do what you can -Arthur Ashe American social activist, the first black winner of a major men's singles championship. (1943-1993)
Questions? Author Contact Information: Susan Zwillinger Director, Training & Customer Services Thinformation, Inc. 1370 Washington Pike, Suite 304 Bridgeville, PA 15017 Phone: 412-257-8774 x27 Fax: 412-257-8815 [email protected] www.thinformation.net
ESRI Business GeoInfo Summit May 1-2, 2006
Abstract: Market Analysis Automation: Use What You’ve Got In a local real estate market, sometimes the market can change quickly. This means that you need to use your existing market analysis tools, including the use of automation, to analyze the market faster than the competition. Companies that can get the analysis to the key decision makers faster will be the ones that succeed. The window of opportunity to buy, sell, lease or develop a property might be open for several months or only a few days—timing an opportunity is critical. This presentation will describe how styles, map templates, the Business Analyst Toolbox and Model Builder are used to automate several analytical processes such as defining the market area, estimating demand, and calculating potential revenue. Business Analyst users don’t need to be programmers, but they should take advantage of the tools available to them to get the highest possible return on their investment in business intelligence. 2
Discussion Points Our Goal Use ArcMap features and automation tools to improve the efficiency of market analysis.
Our Results Why you should use Market Analysis Automation
Our Methods Three Techniques for Efficient Market Analysis
3
Results of Market Analysis Automation Time to create a site analysis report: Reduced by half—roughly 3.5 hours to 1.5 for one company’s site selection process. Number of clicks: Reduced from hundreds of clicks to 10 for a market analysis report. Number of times users make the mistake of forgetting to turn on a map layer required for a map: 0 4
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Everyone probably uses layer files . . . A simple right click of a map layer to create an LYR file. LYR files can be imported from one layer to another using the Import button in the Layer Properties dialog window.
5
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Sometimes layer files can’t be used due to data differences. When you can’t use a layer file, create a symbol and save it in a style file.
6
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files What happens if you don’t use them?
7
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Using default colors for market areas can result in the same color being used for adjacent areas, making map interpretation unclear. Manually changing symbols is easy but inefficient. Solution: Create the settings once and then reuse through styles and layer files.
8
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Creating a symbol for a specific market name, territory, or community tapestry group is EASY.
9
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files You can create and manage styles through the Style Manager. Your personal styles folder is installed under C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\ESRI\ArcMap. The ESRI Styles folder is installed in the \bin\Styles folder where you installed ArcGIS.
10
ArcMap Tools menuÆ StylesÆStyle Manager For details, see the ArcMap Help Files.
Technique #1-Styles and Layer Files Match the name of your symbol style to a value in your market area map layer (the name or ID) and you can use the “Match to symbols in a style” option when setting layer symbology.
12
2
1
3
Technique #2: Use map template files Create a new folder to store all your custom MXT files. Create in c:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ bin\Templates
Develop map template files (MXT) ArcMap File menuÆSave AsÆselect file format MXT and give your MXT a name.
16
Technique #2: Use map template files Convert dynamic legends to static graphics when symbols are standardized and consistent. Right click the legendÆ“Convert To graphics”
Group layers for a specific map template into one group. Select all layers, right clickÆ”Group” Rename the group layer to match the MXT.
17
Technique #2: Use map template files Creating a map only requires three clicks One to turn on the appropriate group layer Two to select the “Change Layout” button
18
Technique #2: Use map template files Three to select the map template.
19
Technique #2: Use map template files Take the automation one step further and create a menu using VBA code.
20
Technique #2: Use map template files Select a map or report from a list
21
Technique #2: Use map template files Reminder: You can change the location of style files and templates using a utility program that ESRI provides in your installation directory. C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ Utilities\AdvancedArcMapSettings.EXE
23
Technique #3: Use Models Build a model using Model Builder and the Business Analyst tools in the Toolbox Creating a model is EASY!
24
Technique #3: Use Models First, create your own Toolbox to make it easy to find and share your automation. Right click on the ArcToolbox icon and select “New Toolbox”
25
Technique #3: Use Models The location of your toolbox can be changed by selecting the ArcMap Tools menuÆ OptionsÆ Geoprocessing tab
26
Technique #3: Use Models Second, create a new model Right click on your toobox and select NewÆModel
27
Technique #3: Use Models Drag and drop the tools you need into your model window
28
Technique #3: Use Models Specify the input and output variables by clicking on the tool.
29
Technique #3: Use Models Programmers, can export a model to VB script and then include the code in a map document or a map template. Model menuÆ ExportÆTo ScriptÆ VBScript
35
Start where you are Use what you have Do what you can -Arthur Ashe American social activist, the first black winner of a major men's singles championship. (1943-1993)
Questions? Author Contact Information: Susan Zwillinger Director, Training & Customer Services Thinformation, Inc. 1370 Washington Pike, Suite 304 Bridgeville, PA 15017 Phone: 412-257-8774 x27 Fax: 412-257-8815 [email protected] www.thinformation.net
