# Selecting using longitude and latitude variables

When configured, using longitude and latitude variables from your System explorer, it is possible to turn any map shape into a selection that exactly matches the shape you draw.

If you wish to work with an underlying map shape you can, for example, select Layer 1 and add a Geographic Variable, but this functionality has the advantage of also working without a map shape - see screenshots below. In this example, let's use Postal Area.

## Selecting with longitude and latitude

1. From the FastStats Toolbox, click and open a new **Map**.
2. Select the **Layer 1** tab and drag **Postal Area** onto the **Drop your geographic variable here** drop-box.
3. **Build** the map.
4. Return to the Map tab and select a tool - e.g. **Rectangle** - and draw your shape over the target area.

   Once selected, an item will be entered under the Selections section of the Layers panel:
5. **Build** the map display.
6. Select **Add Layer** from the Map toolbar.

   In the Layer 2 tab:
7. Set the Map Type to **Plot Map**.
8. Drag your **Latitude** variable onto the **Drop your geographic variable here** drop-box.

   The Second Geographic Variable drop box will auto-populate with the **Longitude** variable:

   Return to the Map tab:
9. **Right drag** from within Rectangle 1, hover over Layer 2 to open the window and then drop the selection onto the **Return all people** drop-box.

   > **Note**
   >
   > You will not be able to drag and drop the selection unless you have built the display as per step 6 above.
10. **Build** to generate the display.

    Without a shape file, the display can still be generated:

    FastStats selects and returns any person falling within or on the boundary defined by the Rectangle shape drawn.

    To create a selection of these people:
11. **Right drag** from within the Rectangle 1 shape and drop onto your workspace.

> [!NOTE]
>
> The above functionality is available from the Q1 2021 software release and, once configured, at login you will be given the choice of setting a default left-drag to use this feature, rather than the right-drag referred to above.

See also:

- [Selecting from the map](<https://help.apteco.com/en/faststats/visualisation/map/bing-maps/selecting-from-the-map/index.md>)
- [Selecting using shape files](<https://help.apteco.com/en/faststats/visualisation/map/bing-maps/selecting-from-the-map/select-using-shape-files/index.md>)