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Use the data browser

In this topic

  1. Find and select variables
  2. Create and save variable lists
  3. Use custom and shared data
  4. Create a custom variable
  5. Create an advanced custom variable
  6. Understand variable calculations
Note:

ArcGIS Community Analyst is being retired. See Deprecation notice for ArcGIS Community Analyst: Transition to ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App for more information.

The data browser is an in-app interface that categorizes and displays all the data variables available in ArcGIS Community Analyst. A variable is a demographic measurement represented as a count, percentage, or index value. To learn more about the available data, see Data in Community Analyst.

You can access the data browser within the following workflows:

  • Color-coded maps
  • Smart map search
  • Suitability analysis
  • Void analysis
  • Threshold areas
  • Build reports
  • Build infographics
  • Benchmark comparisons

Find and select variables

Once you have opened the data browser using one of the workflows above, you can browse, search, and select variables by doing the following:

  1. Browse variables by doing any of the following:

    • Click a category (such as Population) or a quick-search filter (such as New and noteworthy) to view the variables it contains. You can click List view List and Card view Card view to change the way categories are displayed. Inside a category, continue to browse by clicking a data collection or using the drop-down filter menus.

    • Click a tab:
      • Standard variables—Variables included with Business Analyst
      • My variables—Variables added by you using custom data setup
      • Shared variables—Variables shared with you by your organization members
      • Other variables—Variables from map layers, site attributes, chart attributes, and proximity data
    • Use options in the Explore section:
      • Explore—Return to the main browsing page.
      • All variables—View all variables shown in the data browser.
      • Favorites—View variables you have saved as favorites.
      • Custom variables—View your custom variables.
      • Saved lists—View your saved variable lists.
  2. Search for variables in the data browser by entering a search term or variable ID in the Search for variables or keywords field. Optionally, use the All variables drop-down menu to refine your search using All variables, Standard variables, My variables, or Shared variables.
    Tip:

    You can search only for variables that match your search terms by clicking Settings Settings and unchecking the Find related variables check box. By default, the data browser performs a semantic search, returning variables related to the search terms you entered.

  3. Filter and sort data browser search results using the drop-down menus, which may include:
    • Keyword—In the Enter any keyword search field, enter a search term and click Enter.
    • Calculation—Select or de-select available variable calculation methods.
    • Year—Uncheck a year to remove it from the search results.
    • Dataset—Uncheck a dataset to remove it from the search results.
    • Gender—Uncheck a gender to remove it from the search results.
    • Source—Select or de-select data sources.
    • Click the More filters button to see additional filter options, which vary depending on the data in the results.
    • Click Reset to reset the filters to their default settings.
    • Use the Calculation drop-down menu to set the calculation type for the search results.
    • Use the Sorted by drop-down menu to sort the search results by Name (A-Z), Name (Z-A), Popularity, or Variable category.
  4. To view a variable's metadata, hover over Info Information.

    The Info pop-up displays all metadata for this variable, including the name, vintage, calculation information, data source, and variable definition.

  5. Select variables in accordance with the workflow you are performing. Optionally, choose a calculation method for each variable, displaying the selected variable as a count, percentage, average, index, or reliability estimate. Do any of the following:
    • Smart map search—You can add up to 10 variables. Review the variables in the Selected variables cart. You can remove and adjust variables or save the list for future use. Click Apply.
    • Color-coded maps—Select one variable. It is immediately shown on the map.
    • Suitability analysis—You can add up to 20 variables to create a criteria list. Review the variables in the Selected variables cart. You can remove and adjust variables or save the list for future use. Click Apply.
    • Void analysis—Select one variable by which to normalize results. It is immediately applied to the summary table.
    • Threshold areas—Select one variable. It is added to the analysis.
    • Build reports—Drag variables to the report template. You can select multiple variables at one time by pressing the Shift key and clicking the variables.
    • Build infographics—You can add up to 50 variables. Review the variables on the Selected variables cart. You can remove and adjust variables from the list. Click Next.
    • Benchmark comparisons—Select a variable to add to the Selected variables cart. You can remove and adjust variables or save the list for future use. Click Apply.

Create and save variable lists

Once you have selected variables, you can save the list for future use in workflows. All saved variables, including variable lists and custom variables, are stored in Saved lists, accessible from the main page of the data browser.

Depending on the workflow you are performing, you can do any of the following to save a variable list:

  • On the Selected variables cart, click Save list. The Save variable list window appears. Name the list, choose an icon to represent the list, and click Save.
  • In smart map search, click Save list on the main page.
  • When creating custom benchmark comparisons, you can click Save list in the Add variables window.

Use custom and shared data

If you have added custom data, or others in your organization have shared data with you, it is displayed in separate tabs in the data browser. You can browse, search for, and select variables within the currently selected tab.

You can access data in any of the following tabs:

  • The Standard variables tab displays data that comes with ArcGIS Community Analyst.
  • The My variables tab displays any custom data you have added.
  • The Shared variables tab displays data others in your organization have shared with you.
  • The Other variables tab displays variables from map layers, site attributes, chart attributes, and proximity data.

Create a custom variable

The data browser allows you to create variables that focus on a specific type, range, or combination of data. You can create a variable based on age, household income, home value, housing units, or race. Custom variables are stored in the Custom variables list.

To create a custom variable, do the following:

  1. In the data browser, click Create a custom variable.

    The Create custom variable window appears.

    Note:

    Consider these factors when creating custom variables.

    • Some variables are not available for creating custom variables, including ACS data variables. The ACS margin of error (MOE) estimates cannot be aggregated to other databases for custom calculations.
    • Some custom variables may not be statistically accurate. For example, calculations are not meaningful when combining adult- and household-based variables or when applying the AVG (average) operator to median variables.

  2. Click Age variable, Household income variable, or Other popular variables.
    • If you selected Age variable, choose a year, age range, and gender for the variable.
    • If you selected Household income variable, choose a year and household income range for the variable.
    • If you selected Other popular variables, click the category you want to use. Use the slider handles or check boxes to define the variable.
  3. If you are creating a color-coded map, click Save & add. If you are using smart map search, click Add.

    The Save custom variable window appears.

  4. Create a name for the variable and click Save.

Create an advanced custom variable

You can build a custom variable by selecting variables from different categories and using mathematical operators to combine them. Once created, the custom variable is saved in the Custom variables list. To create an advanced custom variable, do the following:

  1. In the data browser, click Create a custom variable.

    The Create custom variable window appears.

  2. Click Advanced custom variable.
  3. Browse or search for variables in the data browser.
  4. Add a variable by dragging it into the Assemble your custom variable section or selecting variables and clicking Add selected variables.
  5. Select an operator by clicking it. Choose from the following:
    • Standard mathematical operators: + - * / % ^ ( )
    • Add number—Use a constant number in the custom variable calculation. For example, if you want to multiply a variable by 2, click * and click Add number and enter the number 2 in the number field.
    • Add sum—Calculate the sum of multiple variables. Drag variables into the SUM field. Click OK.
    • Add average—Calculate the average of multiple variables in the custom variable calculation. Drag variables into the AVG field. Click OK.
  6. Repeat as needed to create an equation for the advanced custom variable. Build mathematical expressions using parentheses. To reorder items, drag variables and operators in the Assemble your custom variable section. To remove an item, hover over it and click Remove Remove.
  7. When you are finished, save the variable. If you are creating a color-coded map, click Save & add. If you are using smart map search, click Add.
  8. In the Save custom variable window, enter a name for the variable and specify the number of decimal places to use for calculation.
  9. Click Save.

    The variable you created is stored in the Saved variables list in the data browser. You can edit the variable by clicking Edit this variable Edit.

Understand variable calculations

A variable can be displayed as a count, a percentage, an average, an index value, or a reliability estimate. The data browser displays the available calculation options as buttons next to each variable:

Count

If you select Count, the analysis shows the estimated count of the variable in the areas defined on the map.

Percentage

If you select Percentage, the analysis shows the variable as a percentage value rather than a count. The percentage is expressed as a ratio to a base value, such as total households or total population, and multiplied by 100. For example, the percentage value for the variable Households with an Internet Subscription is the number of households with an internet subscription, divided by the total number of households in the area (this is the base value).

You can view the percent base variable by hovering over the Info button Information.

Average

This option is available for variables in the Consumer Spending database. If you select Average, the analysis shows the average amount spent per household annually.

Index

If you select Index, the analysis shows an index value indicating how the amount of the variable in the areas defined on the map compares to another value, such as the nationwide average.

There are three types of indices:

  • Index of value—The variable value for the area divided by the variable value for the entire country. For example, the index for Average Household Size is calculated by dividing the Average Household Size value for the specific area by the Average Household Size for the country.
  • Index of percent value—The variable percentage for the area divided by the variable percentage for the entire country. For example, the index of Households that Own 2+ Dogs is calculated by dividing the percentage of Households that Own 2+ Dogs in the specific area by the percentage of Households that Own 2+ Dogs at the country level.
  • Index of average value—The variable average for the area divided by the variable average for the entire country. For example, the index of Health Care Spending is calculated by dividing the average household Health Care Spending in the specific area by the average household Health Care Spending at the country level.

You can view the index type for a variable by hovering over the Info button Information.

Reliability

This option is available only for American Community Survey variables. If you select Reliability, the analysis shows Esri's reliability score, which is based on the American Community Survey's margin of error (MOE) information for the data in the areas defined on the map. The reliability score indicates Esri's confidence in the estimate, based on the MOE provided. There are three reliability scores: high reliability, medium reliability, and low reliability.

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In this topic
  1. Find and select variables
  2. Create and save variable lists
  3. Use custom and shared data
  4. Create a custom variable
  5. Create an advanced custom variable
  6. Understand variable calculations