Are you looking to create visually impactful and insightful geographical data visualizations in Excel? The 3D mapping feature in Excel allows you to do just that, by providing a dynamic and interactive way to view and analyze your geographical data. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of viewing 3D maps in Excel, so you can bring your data to life and gain new insights.
First, make sure you have an Office 365 subscription, as the 3D mapping feature is available only in certain versions of Excel. Once you have the right version, you can begin by opening your Excel workbook and selecting the data that you want to visualize. This could be geographical data such as country names, cities, or geographical coordinates.
Next, navigate to the Insert tab on the Excel ribbon, and select the 3D Maps option from the Tours & Layer group. This will open the 3D Maps tool, where you can start building your geographical visualization. You can add layers to your map, such as region, heat, or custom regions, to create a rich and informative visualization.
Once you have added your data to the map, you can start customizing the visual aspects of the 3D map. You can adjust the color scheme, the height and thickness of the data columns, and even add labels and annotations to the map. This level of customization allows you to tailor the visualization to best communicate your insights.
Furthermore, the 3D mapping feature in Excel also allows for interactivity, by enabling you to rotate and tilt the map to view it from different perspectives. This can be useful for gaining a deeper understanding of the geographical patterns and trends present in your data.
In addition, you can create scenes in the 3D map, which are essentially snapshots of specific views or perspectives of the map. This can be helpful for presenting different aspects of your data to others, or for comparing different geographical patterns within the same visualization.
Finally, once you have created and customized your 3D map, you can save it as a separate 3D Maps tour file, which can be shared and opened by others who have access to the 3D mapping feature in Excel.
In conclusion, the 3D mapping feature in Excel is a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing geographical data in a dynamic and interactive way. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can harness the capabilities of 3D maps to bring your data to life and gain new insights into your geographical data.
