Point to Point Wizard: Update Variable

Here you can enter the name of the variable that you want to create.  Alternatively, drag on an existing variable that will be overwritten.

When working with multiple centre points, you see the red 'Note' text, as per the screenshot below:

Here [centrepoint] should be used within the variable description to automatically pull through and include the centre point as part of the variable name. This use of [centrepoint] is especially helpful when you have a series of centre points that will generate multiple virtual variables.

Add any other description to this, as required. For example:

  • Enter Description from [centrepoint] (Postal District) max 30 mins DT

All the records in the selection are grouped by the different values of the specified geographic variable.  Then the distance or drive time of each group is calculated from the centre point - up to a maximum, if set - and reported along with the overall progress.

To overwrite an existing virtual variable drag it onto the Drop the variable to overwrite here drop box.

If you are working on an Enterprise version of FastStats, you can check the Modify Security Attributes box to access and amend the Security options for your variable(s).

IMPORTANT: Billable transactions apply for Bing Maps - see Bing API for more information.

Added in Q3 22

To provide new functionality for geographic mapping functions, billable Bing transactions apply. Each licensed user is credited with 6,600 transactions per year, sufficient for most normal use. For example, an initial calculation using a Point to Point wizard request for 4 centre points, each with 16 zones per point, resulting from setting a 0-80 minutes drive time at a 5 minute accuracy creates 64 billable transactions. Subsequent data refreshes would be free.

Transactions over and above the allocated 6,600 per year are supplied at 1.5 pence each. To protect against unintentional spend on billable Bing transactions, warning messages and maximum volume checks are displayed.

Confirm Bing Transactions

You must acknowledge and confirm the number of Bing transactions required to create and/or update the virtual variable(s).

Geographic variable

Here, the number of API requests will often be the number of zones, or the cardinality of the geographic variable used. If a maximum drive time is specified, this maximum is applied and only the locations reachable in that time are counted. If multiple centre points are defined, each one is calculated separately to give the total number of transactions.

Latitude and longitude variables

Once you have chosen your variable description, clicking Finish will open a dialog that confirms the number of Bing API requests needed to create the variable(s).

The following screenshot is based on the example above - four UK postcodes defined as centre points, with 16 zones per point, resulting from setting a 0-80 minutes drive time at a 5 minute accuracy:

Although the initial calculations are chargeable, subsequent data refreshes are free.

Too Many Bing Transactions warning

If you try to proceed when your permitted maximum is exceeded, you will see the following message and should contact the relevant person within your organisation:

 

Click to return to Notes