Combining Objects Using Column - MapInfo_Pro - 2023

Combine Objects Using Column allows you to modify geographic data to create new map objects that contain data about the group. This feature is similar to redistricting in that it groups objects together, but goes beyond redistricting to combine a copy of the relevant objects while leaving the original objects untouched.

To access Combine Objects Using Column:

1. On the SPATIAL tab, in the Edit group, click Combine, and Combine Objects Using Column. For example, you have a layer of states. You want to combine the state boundaries to create sales territories. The data record associated with each state looks like this:

   SALES_REP	STATE	CUSTOMERS	AVG_SALES
   Benita	West Virginia	1782	24231.4
   Benita	Ohio	121	33265.0

   • SALES_REP: Sales representative assigned to that state
   • CUSTOMERS: Number of customers per state
   • AVG_SALES: Average spent per customer

     You would like to aggregate the data in the following manner:

   • SALES_REP: Combine all records that list Benita as the sales representative
   • CUSTOMERS Sum up the number of customers in the sales territory
   • AVG_SALES: Average the amount spent per customer in the sales territory

     When performing a Combine Objects Using Column operation, you must specify which column contains the grouping information. In the preceding example, the grouping information is located in the SALES_REP column. We want to combine all of Benita's individual territories into one large territory.

2. Choose the appropriate column from the Group Objects by Column popup. In our example, you would choose the SALES_REP column from the Group Objects By Column popup. MapInfo Pro combines all records that have common data in the column. In other words, MapInfo Pro combines all records that have the same sales representative.
3. Specify the table and the grouping column.
   • If you chose <New> from the Store results in table drop-down list to create a new table for the combined objects, a series of dialog boxes prompt you to create the new table.
   • If you specified an existing table, you need to specify how to combine the data. To aggregate your data, click Next to display the Data Aggregation dialog box.
     
     

     

     
     
4. Once you have completed both dialog boxes, click OK. MapInfo Pro combines the records based on the column specified in the Group Objects By Column list. MapInfo Pro also aggregates the data and combines any objects associated with the records.

To combine objects using a column:

1. Open at least one native MapInfo Pro table.
2. On the SPATIAL tab, in the Edit group, click Combine, and Combine Objects Using Column to open the Combine Objects Using Column dialog box.
3. Choose the objects from the table you want to combine.
4. Choose the column you want the objects to be grouped by.
5. Choose the table in which you want to store the results.
6. Click Next to open the Data Aggregation dialog box.
7. Specify computations in the Data Aggregation dialog box.
8. Choose OK, and the objects will be combined.

If you specified a field where all values are unique for each object, no groups will be created.