How to Edit MapBusinessOnline Sales Territories

Because almost any business in any industry creates sales territories, I’ve penned a few articles on how to create territories using MapBusinessOnline Standard and Pro:

This link takes you to our help documentation on creating and editing territories.

With this article, I’d like to address the general process for editing existing territories using MapBusinessOnline. Territories change; stuff happens, so you need to be able to edit sales territories.

Remember first that MapBusinessOnline territories are always based on an alignment map layer such as:

  • Census tracts
  • City Limits
  • Counties
  • Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)
  • School Districts
  • States
  • ZIP codes (5 and 3 digit)

This means that editing territories entail selecting one or more of these map layer units (ZIP codes, for instance) and applying an Operation from a list of options. The operations are the click options presented to edit territories. Operation options are listed below:

  • Add to the territory.
  • Move to the territory.
  • Update the territory.
  • Merge Territories (Requires selecting territories, not individual map alignment layer objects.)
  • Intersect with a territory.
  • Remove from a territory.
  • Remove from all territories except.
  • Create a new territory.

Incremental Editing of Territories

I will use the ZIP code for this article as the map layer alignment unit. All edits of territories work the same way regardless of the map layer alignment unit selected. Here’s the step-by-step process for incremental territory editing:

  1. To edit a MapBusinessOnline territory, use your mouse cursor to select a ZIP code.
    1. If the ZIP code is already part of the territory, you’ll be presented with selecting the whole territory or just the ZIP code. Select the ZIP code.
    2. Hold down the shift key and select more ZIPs with a series of mouse clicks if you want multiple ZIP codes.
  2. The operations list mentioned above is presented. Select the operation you would like to apply. Add to, for instance.  Now the menu will display a list of territories you can add to. Select the territory target and click Edit.
  3. MapBusinessOnline then presents the adjusted Data Window view of the territory edited. This is for user verification.
  4. To Undo your territory edit, click the Blue Back Arrow at the top of the application, just to the right of the Search Map box. You’ll see both Undo and Redo Arrows there.

Understanding the impact of each edit operation is helpful:

  • Add to – Adds the selected set to your selected territory.
  • Move to – Adds the selected set to the suggested territory and removes them from the previous territory. This is my most used editing operation.
  • Merge – Combines the coverage areas of selected territories and provides options for deleting or leaving an outline of the old territory.
  • Update – Converts a selected set into the selected territory as if you were creating a new territory. The original territory selection is now gone.
  • Intersect – Updates selected territory to include only map layer objects that intersect with the selected set.
  • Remove from – Removes the selected set from a selected territory.

Editing Territories in MapBusinessOnline

The above selection processes can also be accomplished using a Search Tool polygon, freeform, or radius search tool to gather map layer objects. Once an area of ZIP codes is selected, the Popup Menu offers the option to Edit Territories. Proceed as noted above.

TIP: I use incremental ZIP code selection when editing small ZIP codes in challenging areas, like around a bend in the Mississippi River, where ZIP codes are small and numerous. Polygon search tool ZIP selection is more convenient for large fields of ZIP codes over vast areas. Then use incremental editing to fine-tune your work.

Editing a Territory’s Map Properties

To select a territory for color or name adjustments, select the Territory Label. MapBusinessOnline then presents a popup menu. Click the Properties button and proceed with edits to Fill or Territory Name.

Click the Label tab to append data to territory labels. Here you will also find tools to edit Font size, Bold, and Positioning. Label box controls are also here. Read more on Editing Labels using MapBusinessOnline.

There is a Territory Label control on the Data Window toolbar as well. With the Territories layer selected in Map and Data, click the Manage Regions button. Here, with the Territories dropdown layer selected, the map editor can delete selected territories or change names for multiple territories quickly.

Please note there is also a Merge Territory button on the Data Window toolbar. Select multiple territories to merge territories using this button.

Adjustments to the Map Look and Feel

Alternatively, a map editor can hover over the Territory Layer in Map and Data and click the Edit Map Layer Properties button to access map look and feel controls, including:

  • Borderline thickness and color controls.
  • Hide internal boundary control.
  • Fill Transparency controls.
  • Labels are also accessed from these editing controls. (See the Label tab.)
  • Intersection or Overlap Controls.

Experiment with these controls to find ways to enhance your business map.  Borderline, fill, and transparency controls can create a more pleasing map. Labels help explain your map’s meaning. Hide internal boundaries remove ZIP code boundaries, and focus the viewer on territory boundaries. Seek to keep things simple and clean.

Read more about map visualization optimization.

Addressing Overlap & Checking Your Work

Territory intersection or overlap is controlled in Edit Map Layer Properties and Map Options, both within Map and Data. Here the Territory Options tab allows the map editor to turn on overlap controls. Click Territory Options to Highlight territory intersections on the map and to adjust the color shade of the overlapping areas.

I usually highlight overlapping territories in bright red or black.  The apparent color shade alerts the map creator that an overlapping territory exists. Overlapping territories can then be fixed or addressed per company rules.

Even if your company doesn’t allow overlap (in general, territories are not created with overlap), it’s a good idea to turn it on to check your work. An overlapping territory will be oblivious and may indicate an incorrect territory assignment.

MapBusinessOnline provides an easy-to-use sales territory management tool. Editing those territories is easy and fast. Choose a territory management tool that suits your sales organization’s rules, workflows, and style. Consider MapBusinessOnline as your territory mapping solution.

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Discover why over 25,000 business users log into www.MapBusinessOnline.com for their business mapping software and advanced sales territory mapping solution. The best replacement for Microsoft MapPoint happens to be the most affordable.

To access MapBusinessOnline, please register and download the Map App from the website – https://www.mapbusinessonline.com/App-Download.aspx.

After installing the Map App, the MapBusinessOnline launch button will be in the Windows Start Menu or Mac Application folder. Find the MapBusinessOnline folder in the Start Menu scrollbar. Click the folder’s dropdown arrow and choose the MapBusinessOnline option.

The Map App includes the Map Viewer app for free non-subscriber map sharing.

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Contact: Geoffrey Ives at geoffives@spatialteq.com or Jason Henderson at jhenderson@spatialteq.com.

 

About Geoffrey Ives

Geoffrey Ives lives and works in southwestern Maine. He grew up in Rockport, MA and graduated from Colby College. Located in Maine since 1986, Geoff joined DeLorme Publishing in the late 1990's and has since logged twenty-five years in the geospatial software industry. In addition to business mapping, he enjoys playing classical & jazz piano, gardening, and taking walks in the Maine mountains with his Yorkshire Terrier named Skye.
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