Contents
Release Overview
InstantAtlas Desktop 6.9.0 is predominantly focused on enhancements and bug fixes to the HTML5 templates. There are some changes to the InstantAtlas Desktop Tools and the Excel Data Manager but no changes to the Flash templates.
Key Enhancements
Enhancements to the HTML Edition Templates
Improved legend classifications
When using one of the standard legend classifications, the legend classes are now displayed without a ‘gap’ between the classes, using ‘>’ symbols as a prefix for the legend class labels instead. This is fixing issues where features were apparently falling into a wrong legend class.
It is still possible to use the old way of classifying the legend by enabling the relevant setting in the General Properties of the Designer.
New component: Dimensions Explorer
The Dimension Explorer is a highly customizable component that allows for filtering of indicators based on predefined dimensions or categories. In difference to the Data Explorer which lists all themes, indicators and dates in a tree like structure, this component will only display indicators that meet the specific filter conditions selected by the end user.
The Dimensions explorer is particularly useful if you have a large number of indicators that can be categorised by different dimensions such as gender or age group.
Detailed information about how to set up this new component can be found in the support article Using the InstantAtlas Dimension Explorer.
Box and whisker functionality in Time Series – Line Chart
It is now possible to show box and whisker plots on each data point of the Time Series – Line Chart. The values get calculated automatically by the dynamic report out of all available indicator values for all areas for the respective date. A separate tooltip shows these values.
Sorting the data table differently for different indicators
The administrator of a dynamic report can now define for each indicator which data table column should be used to sort the table. This is done through the Metadata sheet in Excel. The two new properties are called ‘sortColumnName’ and ‘sortDirection’. They will overwrite the global config.xml file settings.
Defining additional data table columns on an indicator basis
Previously, if an administrator wanted to define table columns depending on the indicator selection through the ‘Metadata’ sheet of the Excel workbook, the column definition from the Designer would be ignored. The administrator needed to add all columns to the data table via the Metadata sheet (even feature names and indicator values). From version 6.9.0 onwards the column definition from the Designer is preserved and columns defined through the Metadata sheet get added to the data table to the right. This means common columns (those that are the same for all indicators) can be set up through the Designer and only those that are indicator specific need to be defined in the ‘Metadata’ sheet.
Further enhancements
- All time series chart tooltips now support the use of associates and feature metadata properties. It is now also possible to use conditional statements such as ‘equals’, ‘notEquals’, ’empty’ and ‘notEmpty’ for Time Series Charts just like in the tooltips of the map or bar chart.
- The continuous legend can now be fixed between a minimum and a maximum value using the metadata property ‘customBreaks’.
- It is now possible to build the legend by taking into account all dates of the indicator rather than only the selected date. This means people can still use one of the pre-defined classifications but the legend classes won’t change when the time animation is played.
- Images set to ‘Auto-size’ in the Designer can be set to keep their aspect ratio while still resizing when the browser window size changes. This feature can be enabled by closing the padlock icon in the Designer (see next section below).
Enhancement to the Publisher
Support for Shapefiles with Z and/or M coordinates
The Publisher now supports Shapefiles that contain Z and/or M values in the coordinates. Previously shapefiles with Z and/or M values had to be modified outside of InstantAtlas using a GIS software package to remove the Z and/or M values. This is now no longer necessary.
Enhancement to the Designer
Locking the aspect ratio of images
The image properties now have a little padlock icon next to the Width and Height settings. This icon can be opened and closed by clicking on it.
Closing the padlock has two results:
- Changing the width of an image will automatically adjust the height of it according to the image’s aspect ratio.
- If the ‘Auto-size’ check box is ticked, the image will keep its aspect ratio in the dynamic report while still resizing when the browser window size changes.
Most images such as logos will benefit from having the padlock icon closed, however if you do not wish for the aspect ratio of the image to be preserved (e.g. for banners) you can simply open the padlock icon to stretch the image to the desired dimensions.
Enhancements to the Excel Data Manager
Option to turn off all data validation to speed up data export
It is now possible to export the data from your Excel workbook without any data validation. The ‘Advanced’ tab of the Output Options dialog has gained a check box to turn all data validation off.
This can significantly speed up the time it takes to export a large amount of data, however any errors that might exist in the excel workbook will not be picked up and the resulting data file will fail in the dynamic report. We suggest you only use this option if exporting your data takes more than 30min and if you have been able to export it at least once with data validation switched on.
Key Bug Fixes
Bug Fixes to the HTML Edition Templates
- It is now possible to print dynamic reports from within Internet Explorer and Edge.
- It is again possible to use the Designer to add further components into a dynamic report created with the Election Result template in another language than English.
- Comparison areas can again be added as lines to the Population Pyramid Chart
- Pie Chart segments again highlight properly when hovering over respective legend classes.
- The map zoom no longer changes when the browser window size is changed or the map component is maximised and restored.
- Lines as base geographies can again be set to show different line width depending on the indicator value.
Bug Fix to the Publisher
- Project files containing background layer information can again be loaded into the Publisher
Bug Fix to the Batch Publisher
- It is again possible to update data files into a set of already published reports without needing to republish all reports again.
Bug Fix to the Excel Data Manager
- Exporting data from multiple iadatasheets no longer throws a ‘Runtime Error 70’.
Versioning
Please find below a list with the current version numbers of all InstantAtlas Desktop software parts. A star indicates the parts that have been updated in this release:
| Installer | 6.9.0 * |
|---|---|
| Publisher | 6.9.0 * |
| Designer | 6.9.0 * |
| Style Editor | 6.9.0 * |
| HTML Templates | 6.9.0 * |
| Flash Templates | 6.7.1 |
| HTML Profile Template | 6.5.0 |
| Excel Data Manager | 6.9.0 * |
| Access Data Manager | 6.7.1 |
Upgrading to 6.9.0 (applies to customers only)
- Access the Resource Library by logging in to InstantAtlas Online at https://online.instantatlas.com/customers/resource-library
- If you have not already registered for an account you should click the New User option.
- Download the installer file (.exe) from the Desktop Maintenance area to the computer(s) with your current InstantAtlas installation(s).
- Double-click the file to run the installer. Choose a language for the installation. The standard installation is recommended for most users. The advanced installation essentially allows you to install additional language features (French, German and Spanish).
- Navigieren Sie zu https://online.instantatlas.com/customers/resource-library um sich bei der InstantAtlas Ressourcensammlung einzuloggen.
- Falls Sie sich noch nicht registriert haben, sollten Sie auf den Link „New User“ klicken.
- Laden Sie die Installationsdatei (.exe) aus dem Maintenance-Bereich herunter und speichern Sie diese auf dem Computer auf dem derzeit InstantAtlas installiert ist.
- Starten Sie die Datei mit einem Doppelklick. Wählen Sie eine Sprache für die Installation aus. Für die meisten Benutzer wird empfohlen, die Standardinstallation durchzuführen. Die erweitere Installation ermöglicht Ihnen hauptsächlich, weitere Sprachmodule (Französisch und Spanisch) zu installieren.
- Navige a https://online.instantatlas.com/customers/resource-library para entrar en su cuenta Biblioteca de Recursos InstantAtlas
- Si no tiene una cuenta Biblioteca de Recursos, haga clic en la opción New User.
- Descargue el fichero de instalación (.exe) en el ordenador(es) con su instalación(es) actual de
- Haga clic-doble en el fichero de instalación. La instalación estándar conviene a la mayoría de los usuarios. La instalación avanzada sobre todo permite la instalación de otros idiomas (francés o alemán).
Compatibility Notes
Compatibility Between Reports of the Same HTML Template but Different Versions
You may wish to publish a version 6.9.0 HTML dynamic report to benefit from the enhancements/bug fixes but retain the data and custom design that you created for an older HTML report. Of the files that contain the data/design, some can be safely copied over from an older report while others cannot. The table in the sections below show which files can safely be copied into a version 6.9.0 report.
| File | Notes |
|---|---|
| Data files (data.js and supporting theme files) | Yes, can be copied to a v6.9.0 report |
| Stylesheet (default.css) | Yes, can be copied to a v6.9.0 report. Note that the old style sheet will not contain new settings which were introduced in newer versions.1 |
| Configuration file (config.xml) | Yes, can be copied to a v6.9.0 report. Note that the old configuration file will not contain new settings or components which were introduced in newer versions. If you wish to make use of these, please use the Configuration File Converter within the Resource Library to update your old config.xml file. |
1 If you are using map labels and your old stylesheet is of version 6.6.0 or 6.6.1 you will not be able to copy it into a 6.9.0 report as the labels may not appear as expected.