topic Re: Symbology based on more than 1 field in Data Management Questions

Symbology based on more than 1 field

KajVan_der_Hallen — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:54:47 GMT

Hi all! I've a question.

Assume that I've a data input with some location data, some other stuff and a field Name and two fields Type1,Type2 (wich are 2 boolean fields).

Now, I've put this information on a map, but I want to use the next symbology:

Color based on the name (3 possibilities: '1': red, '2': blue, '3': green, and Type defines the symbol that's used (4 possibilities here)

Now, is there an other, easier way to realize this than making for each name value a group layer, and within each of those grouplayers, again 4 grouplayers for each Type-bool possibilitie? Because in reality, there are more than just 3 options in the name field so it's a lot of work this way..

~Kajvdh

Re: Symbology based on more than 1 field

LucasDanzinger — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:46:11 GMT

I'm not familiar with how your data are all set up, but could you concatenate the two fields together using the Field Calculator? You could do this by creating a new Text field, opening the Field Calculator and making an expression that said [Field1] & "" & [Field2]. Then you could symbolize based on Categories. Sorry if this isn't what you are looking for, but I figured I would give it a shot.

-Luke

Re: Symbology based on more than 1 field

AnthonyGiles — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:58:27 GMT

Kajvdh,

I'm not quite sure how you want to display your data but you can apply symbology on more than one attribute field, see unique values, many fields:

http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s50000003m000000.htm

You can then also organize unique value categories

Regards

Anthony

Re: Symbology based on more than 1 field

KajVan_der_Hallen — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:03:05 GMT

Kajvdh,

I'm not quite sure how you want to display your data but you can apply symbology on more than one attribute field, see unique values, many fields:

http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s50000003m000000.htm

You can then also organize unique value categories

Regards

Anthony

Yes, but that way I have a lot op unique values. If I could just base the symbol icon on FIELD1 and the symbol color on FIELD2 and let those 2 symbol styles merge (color & icon) that would save me a lot of time.

Re: Symbology based on more than 1 field

JoshuaDamron — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:08:55 GMT

Kajvdh,
So far as I know ArcGIS can't do exactly what you are asking for, however there are work arounds.

I've come across situations which may be similar to yours where I wanted to create symbol combinations of shape and color based on the values in two fields (a simple example could be mapping flower farms with a shape to depict their specialty flower and a color to show if they take cash, credit or both). Figuring out a way to do this without going through the headache of populating all the symbology combinations by hand can be tricky (though the style manager makes this much easier).

Assuming you are tracking with me, a way to do this is to have one field be the "Type" (shape) and the other be the "Color" (color). Symbolize your features with a shape based upon type and have the symbology be transparent/see through. Now add your shape file/feature class to your .mxd again and place this duplicate layer beneath the original in the table of contents. Symbolize the duplicate layer based upon the color field and select the color background or halo you want for each symbol type.

Now you have a bunch of symbology combinations on your map with very little leg work... Now the legend is the real tricky part...

Hope this helps!