Creating a rate chart based on zip-to-zip zone using Google Maps.
Step-by-step guide
- Google “Google Maps” and select the first option.
2. Type in the location you would like to create GeoZone's for.
3. Next select click on the “Hamburger menu” at the top left and select “Your places”
4. Select “Your Places” from the drop menu.
5. Select “Maps” on the right side of the menu.
6. Click “Create Map” at the bottom of the window.
7. Double click on the words “Untitled map” at the top left of the screen and give the map a familiar name and click “Save”.
8. Double click on the words “Untitled Layer” to change the name to something familiar.
9. Zoom in to the area you would like to create zones for by either:
Scrolling the mouse wheel forward until you reach the zoom level you are comfortable with.
Use the + - buttons at the lower right of the screen.
***Note***: If you need to move the map, make sure you are clicked on the “hand icon” and left click+hold to move the map to your desired location.
Once you have the area you would like to create your zones in, click the “line selection” button on the toolbar and select “draw a line”.
10. Draw a box around the area you would like to include in your zone.
11. Verify the zip codes you have in your selected area, as you can see below there are 5 zip codes involved in the area selected above.
You will have add the polygon to each zip code in order for it to be utilized correctly in your rate chart.
12. Upon completion of drawing the box you will see a pop up that will allow you to name the zone and enter notes after renaming, click “Save”.
13. To add more zones, simply click on the button labeled “Add layer” and follow steps 7-10 for as many zones as you would like to create.
14. When finished adding all the zones you require, you will need to export your zone maps in order to add to X Dispatch.
a. Click on the three dots to the right of your maps name and select “Export to KML”.
b. On the pop up click the arrows export the zone you named previously. Ensure to check the box at the bottom next to “Export to a .KML file.....”
Once you have made your selection, click on the blue button “Download”.
c. Once you have downloaded all of your zone maps you can close Google Maps.
***NOTE*** Ensure you know the location of the .kml file as you will need this to import into X Dispatch.
Importing zone files into X Dispatch
1. Open X Dispatch and navigate to Maintenance → Zones.
2. Search the zip codes you have included in your polygon.
3. Once your zip code is returned, navigate to the very last column on the right named "Polygons". Click on the box to open the prompt.
4. Select the appropriate zone .kml file for your zip code and click "Ok"
5. Once you have selected the file, you will see the name in the "Description" box. Click "Ok".
***NOTE*** If you make a mistake and need to change the zone map follow below.
a. Click on the box labeled "Replace".
b. Select the appropriate replacement file and click "Open".
c. When the file has been uploaded you will see the difference in the "Description" box, click "Ok".
6. Navigate to the empty "rate zone" box you would like to use with the rate zone chart and define a familiar code.
7. Navigate to the "Rate Chart" section under "Maintenance → Rate Charts".
8. Select the specific rate chart you would like to add to the zone.
9. Once the rate chart is open, ensure the "Chart Type" is set to "Zones". Then select the "Rate Zone" to match the column you selected in the "Zones" tab (i.e. "Rate Zone 2"). Then click "Ok".
10. If you need to make geographic rate adjustments click on the "Geographic Adjustments" tab.