How to Create a Map From Excel Data

MapPoint will help you create maps from Excel.

Although Microsoft Excel can create a variety of graphs and charts, creating maps is not one of the spreadsheet's options. For Excel 2000 and later, Microsoft created MapPoint to integrate with Excel and create maps. MapPoint is a powerful tool that can help you create information-rich maps that can be integrated not only with an Excel spreadsheet, but also with GPS devices as well. MapPoint uses your existing Excel worksheet data to create a map that can be pasted into most Microsoft products, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Excel 2000 or later
• Microsoft MapPoint

Instructions

1. Ensure that your date is organized neatly. Data that will transform well to maps is clearly organized into rows and columns, with column headers. For example, you might have a list of cities (with the column header "City"), a list of ZIP codes ( header "ZIP codes"), and a list of the number of people who live in those ZIP codes (header "people").

2. Copy the data in your worksheet. Click on the top right cell and drag the mouse over to the bottom right cell. Click "Ctrl-C" to copy the data.

3. Press "Ctrl-V" in MapPoint. Microsoft will paste your data into a map. MapPoint will recognize your pasted data as geographical data, and will open the "Data Import" wizard.

4. Select the type of map you want to create. Click "Finish."

5. Click "Edit" in MapPoint. Click "Copy" to select the detailed map,

6. Click "Ctrl-V" to paste the map into the Excel worksheet. Excel pastes the map into the worksheet as a bitmap.

Tips & Warnings

• To copy the legend in addition to the map, select "Copy Map" from MapPoint when you go to copy the map from the "Edit" menu.

References

• Microsoft: Create a Map

Resources

• Microsoft: MapPoint