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Use the data browser

In this topic

  1. Browse and select variables
  2. Search variables
  3. Create and save variable lists
  4. Use custom and shared data
  5. Variable calculations

Available with Business Analyst license.

The data browser is an in-app interface that categorizes and displays all the data variables available in the selected data source. You can access the data browser within the following tools and workflows:

  • Create a color-coded layer
  • Enrich a layer
  • Generate grids and hexagons
  • Perform a suitability analysis
  • Create threshold areas
  • Measure polygon overlap
  • Build infographic templates
  • Build report templates
  • Run benchmark comparisons

Browse and select variables

Once you have opened the data browser using one of the workflows or tools above, you can browse available variables in the following way:

  1. Click a category.

    Variables in the data browser are grouped into categories. Not all categories are available in every country and region.

  2. Click a subcategory.

    The variables in the subcategory are listed. To view information about a variable, hover over Info Info. You can select a variable group from the Variables list or click the Expand arrow Collapsed next to a group to view the variables inside.

  3. Depending on the workflow you are using, click a variable or check the check box next to a variable to select it. Optionally, click Favorite Favorites to mark any variable as a favorite for quick access through the Favorites list, accessible in the left pane of the data browser.
    Note:

    Variables saved as favorites are only listed in the data browser, and are not listed as items in the Catalog pane under Favorites.

  4. When you are finished choosing variables, click OK.

Search variables

You can search for variables within categories and subcategories or by using keywords. You can do any of the following to search for variables:

  • Search the entire data browser from the main page, or browse to a category to search within it. In the Search Variables field, type your search terms or a variable ID and press Enter. If enabled, the data browser performs a semantic search, returning variables related to the search terms you entered.

  • Optionally, search only for variables that match your search terms by clicking Settings Editor Settings and unchecking the Find related variables check box Semantic Search.
Note:

For information on enabling semantic search for local and online data, see Semantic search.

Create and save variable lists

Once you have selected variables, you can save the list for future use. Lists you create and save are stored in Variable Lists, accessible in the left pane of the data browser. Variable lists are also displayed as items in the Business Analyst folder in the Catalog pane.

Note:

The variable lists available depend on the current Business Analyst data source.

To save a variable list, do the following:

  1. Select variables in the data browser.
  2. Click Selected Variables Selected Variables to view the list of variables you selected.
  3. Click Save List.
  4. In the Save Variable List window, type a name for the variable list and click OK.

Alternatively, some workflows and tools allow you to save the list of variables you have selected in the workflow pane. Below the selected variables, click Save List.

Add a variable list to a project

The Catalog pane displays all your ArcGIS Pro content, including Business Analyst variable lists. To add a previously created variable list to a specific project, do the following:

  1. In the Business Analyst folder in the Catalog pane, right-click a variable list in the Variable Lists folder.
  2. Click Add To Favorites.
  3. At the top of the Catalog pane, click the Favorites tab, right-click the variable list, and click Add To Project.

Add a variable list to new projects

You can automatically add a Business Analyst variable list you created to all new projects you create in ArcGIS Pro.

  1. In the Business Analyst folder in the Catalog pane, right-click a variable list in the Variable Lists folder.
  2. Click Add To New Projects.

    The variable list is added to project favorites and to all new projects.

Use custom and shared data

You can access custom data and data shared with you in the left pane of the data browser:

  • If you are connected to a local or custom data source, click Custom Data to browse, search for, and select variables within custom data.
  • If you are connected to an online data source, click My Content or Shared Content to browse, search for, and select variables within custom data.

Variable calculations

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

Note:

To access reliability estimates, margins of error, and confidence scores in the data browser, you must turn on the Show 'margin of error' toggles button when you set the Business Analyst data source.

Count

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

Percentage

If you select Percentage, the analysis uses 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 icon Info.

Average

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

Index

If you select Index, the analysis uses 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, multiplied by 100. 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, multiplied by 100. 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, multiplied by 100. 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 icon Info.

Reliability

This option is available only for American Community Survey variables. If you select Reliability, the analysis uses the Esri reliability score, which is based on the American Community Survey 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. Reliability scores are as follows: high reliability, medium reliability, and low reliability.

Related topics

  • Set up a local Business Analyst dataset
  • Data Source (Environment setting)
  • Set up custom data
  • Understand data apportionment

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In this topic
  1. Browse and select variables
  2. Search variables
  3. Create and save variable lists
  4. Use custom and shared data
  5. Variable calculations