How To Group Zip Codes In Excel

Microsoft Excel is very skilful at taking certain information and adapting them into your current data. From the diverse types of charts that Excel tin plot, the map is what we are going to talk virtually in this article. This feature of Excel helps you lot to brand comparisons among geographical regions.

Permit'due south get started learning how Excel does this step by step.

us-zip-code-generator-in-excel

How to Map Zip Codes from Excel?

Having the data is the very showtime pace to create a map chart. Provide your existing data to Excel; write them manually or copy-paste from a source. You tin even do that with geography data types as an easier alternative.

import-geographical-data

We volition see it through the steps. Also, information technology should be stated at this point that Excel creates map charts based on either value or category. Value map shapes and colors the chart based on the values, such every bit aggrandizement rate; category map on the other hand based on categories, such as countries.

1. Set the information

Open your Excel. Enter your data into the spreadsheet with Null codes and values; write them or copy from somewhere and paste.

If y'all adopt to do that with geography data type; input your data which includes geographical values, so go to Data > Data Types > Geography.

excel-data-type-geography

Your data will be converted into a geography data type. You tin can and so add columns to the information, like population or tax charge per unit.

2. Create the map nautical chart

One time you finish arranging your data, select the cells you want to turn into the map.

Then on the Insert tab, go to Charts > Maps > Filled Map.

excel-data-type-geography-2

Here Excel reads the Nil codes yous entered and creates a map chart based on them. Relatively depression values are represented by calorie-free colors and higher values are shown with darker colors.

3. Ostend

Your to-be map chart will be previewed. Afterward the preview, click "Ok" to confirm.

excel-data-type-density-map

Excel will give you the map nautical chart based on value or category depending on your data.

4. Customize

Excel arranges the colors by default; however, yous can format the map chart in your style using design tools. Open the formatting tabular array past double-clicking on the map chart. Y'all will see the options that you lot can customize. excel-data-type-density-map-customization

Filling, colors, and other types of formatting could be edited here. Also, if yous double click on the map, you will see another button on the right that is used to format the map itself.

You can edit map projection, map area, and map labels. Y'all can decide how much of the map y'all want to show, or which geographic names you prefer to display.

Limitations of Creating Map Chart in Excel

Excel does have some limitations. We ameliorate mention them so that we know what the obstacles would be and how to be more careful using Excel.

limitations-of-excel-map-chart (1)

Map nautical chart characteristic is only available in the latest versions of Excel. If yous accept Microsoft 365 or 2019, you will be able to reach that function. However, older versions require using an add-in for that.
You need an internet connexion to connect to the maps online or to get data from the spider web and insert them into the maps.
If y'all don't provide high-level information about your location, Excel might not recognize the place. Map charts don't support specific details like street address or coordinates.
Map charts don't back up multi-dimensional displays. You can not practise that without the 3D Map feature of Excel. It allows 1-dimensional only.

Recommended Resource: All US States Cipher Codes & Counties Population List

Someka Us Null Lawmaking Map Generators! How to Use information technology?

Thankfully, prepare templates exist for us users. If you lot do non have one of the latest versions of Excel or y'all are having issues with using add-ins, a template will generate the zip lawmaking map for you. Don't worry nearly finding the map section in the worksheet; utilize the template and make things quicker.

Let'south become everything straight.

Someka U.s. Null Code Heat Map Generator is a customizable Excel template created for converting data into heat maps past zilch codes. It is available for all 51 states of the The states, plus Washington DC.

us-zip-codes-excel-template

The working logic of the template is basically taking your information and giving information technology dorsum to yous visualized in a heat map shape. It creates color-coded maps over Nix codes according to the color value y'all decide.

See how you can use the template post-obit the right steps.

Step 1: Determining the information

Earlier starting to adapt your data into the template; you lot demand to arrange them according to the template. You need to sort your information in Excel.

sort-excel-data

Enter your data into a worksheet, select the cells with data, correct-click and select Sort > Smallest to Largest.

Footstep two: Put your ain values into the data department

The template consists of 3 master sections: map, information, and settings. You starting time building your territory map by inserting your relevant information. There are "nada codes", "texts" and "values" columns in the data section, where you lot are expected to enter your ain data.

import-excel-data-1

You can do that either manually or by copying and pasting from other sources. Write the values you have; and then you tin movement onto the next step.

Step 3: Choose your limits for painting in the settings part

To adjust the appearance of the map, the template has color options in the settings section. The map arranges the colors from light to dark according to how you decide limits. First, you choose which color range you will use for the map.

Go to the colour palette and select what you want. On the right next to the palette, you will encounter the data range department in which you decide limits. In this box, you set your minimum and maximum limits. Each range corresponds to the tone of the selected colour.

map-settings

The tool automatically looks for in which data range your values stand, and visualizes the relevant nada codes in the corresponding color tone. Every bit the value grows, the colour gets darker. For instance, values in between 0 and 300 would exist light blue, and the range 600-900 would exist much darker, and and then on.

Step four: Customize

A great feature of this template is that it allows users to edit their map as they want. Yous can practise your customizations by changing the preferences in the settings function.

1. Color palette

Under the color palette, there are five different options available. Choose the one y'all want by clicking "select" under those colors. Additionally, y'all can create your own color palette if you don't adopt to employ the existing ones.

color-settings

To do that, click the prison cell y'all would like to change, go to the tab to a higher place and choose from the colors. Then that cell will be filled with the colour yous just chose. Once it is filled with the new one, click on "select".

2. Color & Legend Settings

If you lot want to make more changes virtually color, yous will find the "Color & Legend Settings" box at the left lesser in the settings section. Hither you can change the background or naught code colors, and also choose the fable advent.

color-legend-settings

To change the groundwork color, fill the jail cell with the colour yous prefer.
To change the zip code border color, select from the drop-down carte du jour next to it either white, grey or blackness.
Nether the zip lawmaking border color, no value zip color places. This color will be displayed on the zip lawmaking area where there is no value in the information section. Yous can modify it in the same style as changing the groundwork color.
The last function in this box is the legend display. There are ii options under the drop-down menu: show or hibernate. If you hibernate, the legend won't appear on the map created.

iii. Text Settings

Here you choose what to display in the zip code expanse. If yous select no text, so on the zip lawmaking areas in the map there will be just colors. Display zip codes will show the default zip codes and the display text pick will show your own texts that you put in the data section in the first place.

map-settings-2

Afterwards arranging all your information and making your customizations, the only thing left is to run the template. Click on "paint" and your heat map will be built instantly.

Boosted Benefits of The Template

Within the template, yous will have instructions that guide y'all along the way. You tin turn on or off these instructions if you prefer. Another advantage of this template is that it allows you lot to utilise colored maps outside of the template also. Y'all can export the info to PDF, or re-create and paste them into a PowerPoint presentation. Feel free to utilise these editable maps every bit variably as you want.

You might want to take a look at some other template of Someka, which is as much useful as this one: U.s. Counties Heat Map Generators. More narrow downed and more specific heat map generator.

FINAL WORDS:

We covered how to map aught codes in Excel, and likewise how it is possible inside a ready-to-use Excel template. Despite the limitations of Excel itself, you tin benefit from Excel by using the templates and reach excellent results. The advantages of Microsoft Excel are countless if you lot manage to use information technology properly.