How to configure a Map Chart widget

Last updated: June 21, 2023

The Map chart widget allows you to display a chart based on data from either a selected Saved Search or the Dashboards Post list widget. The map shows selected topics per country or state based on the selected map (e.g., World, Europe, North America, South America). 

Prerequisites

For the Map Chart widget to work, the following must be in place:

• The portal taxonomy must include a "geography" or "market" field with specific countries or states.
• A portal Administrator must add the countries or states you want to include in the Map Chart widget in Admin > Map Chart Categories. 
  
  

Preparations in Admin

Before configuring the Map Chart widget on your Dashboard, you need to make preparations on the Map Chart Categories page in the Admin module.

These preparations require that you are Superuser Admin with access to the Admin module. If you need help, contact Wide Narrow Support.

1. Go to Admin > Map Chart Categories.
2. Click on the New map chart category button.
3. Type or search a category from the taxonomy in the Category search bar. Then search and select a corresponding category to display on the Map chart widget. Click Save.
4. Repeat step 3 for each country you want to include in the Map chart widget.

Select specific countries or states. Avoid categories that denote collective names (e.g., global, EMEA, Asia). 

Add the widget on the Dashboard

To create a shared Dashboard Widget that can be used on several dashboards:

1. Navigate to the Dashboard overview page, click Widgets in the top menu, and then the New Widget button. 
2. Select Chart in the top menu and click Add on the Map chart card.

To create a widget only available for a specific Dashboard:

1. Navigate to the Dashboard overview page, click the settings icon on a Dashboard card, and select Manage widgets.
2. Click the blue Add/New Widget button at the top right of the Dashboard page and select an area to position your widget (top, right, or left).
3. Select Chart in the top menu and click Add on the Map chart card.
   
   

Configuring the widget in Dashboards

Name: The name you type will be the widget's title on the Dashboard. Choose a name that clearly explains what the widget is showing.

Map type: In the drop-down list, select the map to display in the widget (World, Europe, North America, South America). The data will be displayed as colored countries or states on the map.

Data source: Select a saved search you wish to base the map chart on from the drop-down list. If you don't select "All posts," ensure that the selected Saved Search includes posts categorized by country or state. Note that the saved search must be a system-saved search. Private and Shared Saved Searches are not selectable.

Period: Select the time you wish to reflect in the chart: the number of days, months, or years.
The recommended time period is three months.

Chart colors: The data points' colors in the map chart derive automatically from the Dashboard "Chart colors" setting. You cannot control the colors for a specific chart. Go to Dashboard >Settings > Edit > Chart Colors to change the chart colors. 

User Access: Only superusers with Admin privileges can create brand new Dashboards. Admins may, however, grant other superusers the authority to modify and update existing Dashboards. Superusers who are permitted to change Dashboards can also add new Dashboard Widgets.