How to Create a Group

CONTENTS

The contents of this tutorial are outlined below. If you already know what you’re looking for, click on a link to advance to a specific section or STEP!

1. Click + Add New Group.
2. Name your new Group.
3. Select a Dollar Year.
4. Select a Data Year.
5. Choose a selected Region.
 

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial is designed to walk you through the process of creating a Group in IMPLAN. The procedure begins and ends at the IMPACTS screen (featured image).

Featured_image_-_The_IMPACTS_screen.pngFeatured image: The IMPACTS Screen

SOME BACKGROUND…

Below is a brief discussion about the process of creating Groups in IMPLAN.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for anybody who doesn’t know how to create a Group in IMPLAN. Groups provide the tool with specific details about the regional economy in which your study’s real-life event will occur and are essential in enabling it to calculate your impact results. Follow THE STEPS herein to delve into one of the simplest (but most crucial!) tasks in any analysis with IMPLAN: creating Groups.

Why is this process important?

Groups play a central role in enabling IMPLAN to calculate your study’s impact results because they provide a mathematical context in which to consider the contents of your study’s Events. While Events are uniquely representative of the real-life economic activity your study’s analyzing, Groups are uniquely representative of the economy in which that activity will take place. Understandably, IMPLAN can’t estimate the economic effects of a given real-world occurrence without first knowing what the condition of the economy in which it occurred was prior to it occurring. So, Groups provide the tool with mathematical “snapshots” of regional economies in order to lay a foundation upon which to carry out the tough number-crunching that delivers your study’s results. For this reason, you’ll need to know how to create them in order to see your own analyses through to completion.

Do I need anything before I can do this?

At first, yes. But later, no. What we mean is, the very first time you create a Group in IMPLAN, you’ll need to have already successfully selected at least one Region in the tool. Otherwise, there won’t be any preformed regional economic models in it for you to populate your Group with. But, after selecting any Region just one time, it will become available for you to insert into any Group you create from that point on. So, as you continue to use IMPLAN over time—conducting more and more analyses, examining more and more regional economies, compiling an increasingly diversified collection of selected Regions—creating Groups will become easier and easier!

Will I need to do this often?

Yes. The same as with creating Events, analysts performing true impact analyses (that is, modeling the effects of a given change in production) will need to use Groups in order for the tool to calculate their study’s results. However, as is explained above, creating Groups in IMPLAN becomes easier over time because as your use of the tool continues, the growing collection of saved Regions inside it remains available to you when populating your Groups. Honestly, while creating Groups is just as important to the overall success of your study as selecting Regions or creating Events, it’s by far the easiest of the three procedures. You’ll be fine—seriously, it’s a cinch.

THE STEPS

The procedure to create a Group in IMPLAN begins and ends at the IMPACTS screen (see featured image). The instructions below include links to other user’s guide tutorials and/or articles which may prove helpful in the vent that you encounter any roadblocks during the course of your analysis. If challenges persist, visit the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES section for a more extensive selection of supplementary material.

1. Click + Add New Group.

At the IMPACTS screen, click + Add New Group (see fig. 1) in the Groups section.

Fig._1_-_The_Groups_section_-_Click___Add_New_Group.pngFig. 1

Upon doing so, a box of editable fields will appear (see fig. 1.a). To learn about the contents of the Groups section, see Exploring the IMPACTS Screen.

Fig._1.a_-_The_Groups_section_-_Editable_fields_box.jpgFig. 1.a

2. Name your new Group.

Inside the Groups section, click into the “Group title” field (see fig. 2) and enter the name of your new Group.

Fig._2_-_The_Groups_section_-_Name_your_new_Group.pngFig. 2

3. Select a Dollar Year.

After naming your new Group, click into the Dollar Year menu (see fig. 3) and select a year from its dropdown list. By default, it will populate with the current year.

Fig._3.a_-_The_Groups_section_-_Opened_Dollar_Year_menu.pngFig. 3

4. Select a Data Year.

After selecting a Dollar Year, click into the Data Year menu (see fig. 4) and select a year from its dropdown list. By default, it will populate with the year of the most current IMPLAN dataset available.

Fig._4.a_-_The_Groups_section_-_Opened_Data_Year_menu.pngFig. 4

5. Choose a selected Region.

After selecting a Data Year, click into the Region menu (see fig. 5) and choose a selected Region from its dropdown list. You must select a Data Year before IMPLAN will allow you to choose a selected Region.

Fig._5.a_-_The_Groups_section_-_Opened_Region_menu.pngFig. 5

Alternatively, you can bypass scrolling through the dropdown list and choose a selected Region by entering it’s name directly into the search bar (see fig. 5.a) at the top of the opened menu.

Fig._5.a_-_The_Groups_section_-_The_Region_menu_search_bar.jpgFig. 5.a

To “scale” the contents of your Group (multiply them proportionally during the calculation of impact results), click into the “Group scaling factor” field (see fig. 5.b) and customize it to your liking.

Fig._5.b_-_The_Groups_section_-_The_Group_scaling_factor.jpgFig. 5.b

Upon doing so, the scaling icon will appear blue (see fig. 5.c) at the top of the Group.

Fig._5.c_-_The_Groups_section_-_The_Group_scaling_factor_customized.jpgFig. 5.c

After choosing a selected Region, you’ll have successfully created a Group!

END OF PROCEDURE

WHAT NEXT?

IMPLAN is designed to allow for analyses to be launched or resumed from multiple points of entry. So, you can choose to start or continue your studies from whichever stage best fits your needs—your process doesn’t have to be linear! However, if you’re brand new to IMPLAN and need some guidance, or would just prefer some professional advice, we’re happy to offer our suggestion about what to do next.

WHAT WOULD IMPLAN DO?

If you’re performing your first impact analysis, then after creating a Group, we suggest officially running your analysis by initiating the calculation of your study’s impact results by the tool. This procedure occurs on the IMPACTS screen. If you feel like running your analysis is the right “next step” for your study, the resources below will a.) help you continue becoming comfortable maneuvering the IMPACTS screen and b.) guide you, step by step, through the process of actually running your analysis.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Below are some additional resources which may prove helpful when formulating a personalized itinerary for your study.

ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

Related to:  Credentials

Related to:  IMPLAN Dashboard

Related to:  Regions

Related to:  Events

Related to:  Groups

  • To learn about the contents of the Groups section, see Exploring the IMPACTS Screen.
  • For instructions on creating Groups in IMPLAN, see How to Create a Group.

Related to:  Running analyses

Related to:  Results

Related to:  Projects

How to Create an Event

CONTENTS

The contents of this tutorial are outlined below. If you already know what you’re looking for, click on a link to advance to a specific section or STEP!

1. Click + Add New Event.
2. Name your new Event.
3. Select a Type.
4. Select a Specification.
5. Enter a Value.
6. Click SAVE.
 

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial is designed to walk you through the process of creating an Event in IMPLAN. The procedure begins and ends at the IMPACTS screen (featured image).

Featured_image_-_The_IMPACTS_screen.pngFeatured image: The IMPACTS Screen

SOME BACKGROUND…

Below is a brief discussion about the process of creating Events in IMPLAN.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for anybody who doesn’t know how to create an Event in IMPLAN. Events are used to communicate the details of your study’s real-life event to the tool and are essential in enabling it to calculate results. Follow THE STEPS herein to conquer one of the primary tasks in bringing IMPLAN’s most robust analytical capabilities to life: creating Events.

Why is this process important?

An Event is arguably the most important element of any impact analysis performed with IMPLAN. When estimating the effects of real-life economic activity, IMPLAN relies on Events to communicate the unique quantitative characteristics of that activity so it can apply them to preformed computerized models of the regional economies in which it’ll occur. In this way, the tool is able to mathematically mix-and-match Events with a wide array of economic models and provide you with the most exhaustive impact results in the game. Trust us, if there’s one thing in IMPLAN that you really want to put in the time to learn inside and out, this is that thing.

Do I need anything before I can do this?

Well, kind of. Events can literally be created in the software with little to no preparation on the part of the analyst. But, without any data pertinent to the real-life economic activity your study is analyzing, the value or utility of that Event is negligible. Yes, the tool’s extremely powerful—so much so, in fact, that it can even calculate impact results using as few as just one data point from an analyst. However, the less you tell IMPLAN about a given event, the less it knows. And the less it knows, the more it has to assume. And the more it has to assume, the less reliable its results can ultimately be in providing insights into that event’s economic impact. So, it’s always best to provide IMPLAN with as much information about your study’s real-life event as you possibly can if you want the most valuable results possible in return.

Will I need to do this often?

Yes. We’ve established that Events in IMPLAN represent real-life economic activity occurring out in the world. So naturally, most Events you create in the tool will decrease in value over time thanks to the ever-changing nature of both people and economies. Given that Events are only as helpful as they are relevant, you’ll likely need to create new ones frequently in order to ensure that they most accurately reflect the current state of the economic activity your study’s analyzing.

THE STEPS

The procedure to create an Event in IMPLAN begins and ends at the IMPACTS screen (see featured image). The instructions below include links to other user’s guide tutorials and/or articles which may prove helpful in the event that you encounter any roadblocks during the course of your analysis. If challenges persist, visit the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES section for a more extensive selection of supplementary material.

1. Click + Add New Event.

At the IMPACTS screen, click + Add New Event (see fig. 1) in the Events section.

Fig._1_-_The_Events_section_-_Click___Add_New_Event.pngFig. 1

Upon doing so, a box of editable fields will appear (see fig. 1.a). To learn about the contents of the Events section, see Exploring the IMPACTS Screen.

Fig._1.a_-_The_Events_section_-_Editable_fields_box.pngFig. 1.a

2. Name your new Event.

Inside the Events section, click into the Title field (see fig. 2) and enter the name of your new Event.

Fig._2_-_The_Events_section_-_Name_your_new_Event.pngFig. 2

3. Select a Type.

After naming your new Event, click into the Type menu (see fig. 3) and select an Event Type from its dropdown list.

Fig._3_-_The_Events_section_-_Select_a_Type.pngFig. 3

Alternatively, you can bypass scrolling through the dropdown list and locate an Event Type immediately by entering its name directly into the search bar (see fig. 3.a) at the top of the opened menu.

Fig._3.a_-_The_Events_section_-_The_Type_menu_search_bar.jpgFig. 3.a

4. Select a Specification.

After selecting a Type, click into the Specification menu (see fig. 4) and select an option from its dropdown list. The options available will vary depending on which Event Type you selected from the Type menu. To learn about the contents of the Specification menu, see Exploring the IMPACTS Screen.

Fig._4_-_The_Events_section_-_Select_a_Specification.pngFig. 4

Alternatively, you can bypass scrolling through the dropdown list and locate an available option immediately by entering its name directly into the search bar (see fig. 4.a) at the top of the opened menu.

Fig._4.a_-_The_Events_section_-_The_Specification_menu_search_bar.jpgFig. 4.a

5. Enter a Value.

After selecting a Specification, click into the Value field (see fig. 5) and enter a data point from your study’s real-life event that’s relevant to the selections you made in the Type and Specification menus.

Fig._5_-_The_Events_section_-_Enter_a_Value.pngFig. 5

To continue populating your Event with details from your study’s real-life event, click the “Additional Options” menu (see fig. 5.a) and select Advanced from its dropdown list.

Fig._5.a_-_The_Events_section_-__Additional_Options_.jpgFig. 5.a

Upon doing so, more editable fields will appear (see fig. 5.b) inside the Events section.

Fig._5.b_-_The_Events_section_-_Expanded_editable_fields_box.pngFig. 5.b 

6. Click SAVE.

After populating your Event, click SAVE (see fig. 6). Upon doing so, your Event will be saved inside the Project you’re working in.

Fig._6_-_The_Events_section_-_Click_SAVE.pngFig. 6

After clicking SAVE, you’ll have successfully created an Event!

END OF PROCEDURE

WHAT NEXT?

IMPLAN is designed to allow for analyses to be launched or resumed from multiple points of entry. So, you can choose to start or continue your studies from whichever stage best fits your needs—your process doesn’t have to be linear! However, if you’re brand new to IMPLAN and need some guidance, or would just prefer some professional advice, we’re happy to offer our suggestion about what to do next.

WHAT WOULD IMPLAN DO?

If you’re performing your very first impact analysis, then after creating an Event, we suggest creating a Group to provide IMPLAN with specific details about the regional economy in which your study’s real-life event will occur. The same as with creating Events, the procedure for creating Groups occurs on the IMPACTS screen. If you feel like creating a Group is the right “next step” for your study, the resources below may a.) help you continue becoming comfortable maneuvering the IMPACTS screen and b.) guide you, step by step, through the process of actually creating a Group.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Below are some additional resources which may prove helpful when formulating a personalized itinerary for your study.

ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

Related to:  Credentials

Related to:  IMPLAN Dashboard

Related to:  Regions

Related to:  Events

  • To learn about the contents of the Events section, see Exploring the IMPACTS Screen.
  • For instructions on creating Events in IMPLAN, see How to Create an Event.

Related to:  Groups

Related to:  Running analyses

Related to:  Results

Related to:  Projects

How to Select a Region

CONTENTS

The contents of this tutorial are outlined below. If you already know what you’re looking for, click on a link to advance to a specific section or STEP!

1. Click REGIONS.
2. Locate and click a geography.
3. Click CREATE IMPACT.
4. Name your new Project.
5. Click SAVE.
 

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial is designed to walk you through the process of selecting a Region in IMPLAN. The procedure begins at the IMPLAN Dashboard (see fig. 1) and ends at the IMPACTS screen (fig. 5.a).

Featured_image_-_The_REGIONS_screen.pngFeatured image: The REGIONS Screen

SOME BACKGROUND…

Below is a brief discussion about the process of selecting Regions in IMPLAN.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for anybody who doesn’t know how to select a Region in IMPLAN. IMPLAN can’t calculate impact results without first knowing the specific regional economy in which your study’s real-life event will occur. So, every time you conduct an impact analysis with IMPLAN, you’ll need to tell it where your study’s event will take place by selecting a Region. Thankfully, IMPLAN makes this extremely easy to do by offering a large interactive map which lets you complete the process visually. So, selecting a Region is not only easy, but fast! Follow THE STEPS herein and you’ll master selecting Regions in a matter of minutes.

Why is this process important?

If you’re looking to run an actual impact analysis with IMPLAN, then there’s just no way around selecting Regions. That said, not every analysis performed with IMPLAN is a full-blown impact analysis. Some analysts simply use IMPLAN to compare the regional economic profiles of different locations to one another; no calculations needed! Other analysts choose to introduce IMPLAN into their day-to-day operations in order to have heaps of comprehensive regional economic data within arm’s reach at all times. But, if you’re interested in going a step further and actually estimating the economic “ripple effects” of a given event throughout a geography, then you’re talking about true impact analysis. And for that, the tool has to first know which regional economy to focus on. So, if you ever want to take full advantage of IMPLAN’s awesome analytical power, you’ll need to know how to select a Region.

Do I need anything before I can do this?

Nope. Aside from simply knowing the regional economy in which your study’s real-life event will occur, you don’t need to “bring anything to the table” in order to select a Region in IMPLAN. In fact, the tool’s so versatile that it can even allow you to begin your study without definitively knowing that yet. But, if we’re getting technical (which, of course, we are—it’s kind of our thing), then in order to complete the specific procedure described in this tutorial, you’ll need to at least have some desired regional economy in mind.

Will I need to do this often?

Yes. Isolating regional economies is a fundamental component of all impact analyses, so every time you use IMPLAN to conduct one yourself, you’ll need to tell it which economy you’re studying. However, in spite of this, when you choose to select a Region is completely up to you and can be carried out at any time during your process. Perhaps you prefer to complete all your study’s research and data collection first, and then wait until some point down the road to select an official Region? Okay. Perhaps every time you take on a new assignment, you prefer to immediately log in, select a Region, and then save it so you can revisit it later when you’re done researching and collecting? Okay. Either way, regardless of your preference, IMPLAN’s answer is, “Yes”.

THE STEPS

The procedure to select a Region in IMPLAN begins at the IMPLAN Dashboard (see fig. 1) and ends at the IMPACTS screen (fig. 5.a). The instructions below include links to other user’s guide tutorials and/or articles which may prove helpful in the event that you encounter any roadblocks during the course of your analysis. If challenges persist, visit the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES section for a more extensive selection of supplementary material.

1. Click REGIONS.

At the IMPLAN Dashboard, click REGIONS (see fig. 1).

Fig._1_-_REGIONS.pngFig. 1

Upon doing so, you’ll arrive at the REGIONS screen (fig. 1.a).

Featured_image_-_The_REGIONS_screen.jpgFig. 1.a

2. Locate and click a geography.

At the REGIONS screen, locate the geography in which your study’s real-life event will occur and select it by clicking it on the map (see fig. 2).

Fig._2_-_Selected_geography.pngFig. 2

Alternatively, you can bypass the map tool altogether and locate and click a geography by entering its name directly into the Regions search bar (see fig. 2.a). To learn about the map tool and/or the Regions search bar, see Exploring the REGIONS Screen.

Fig._2.a_-_Regions_search_bar__geography_located_in_dropdown_.jpgFig. 2.a

3. Click CREATE IMPACT.

In the Selected Regions section, click CREATE IMPACT (see fig. 3).

Fig._3_-_CREATE_IMPACT.pngFig. 3

Upon doing so, the Name New Project prompt will appear (see fig. 3.a).

Fig._3.a_-_Name_New_Project_prompt.jpgFig. 3.a

4. Name your new Project.

At the Name New Project prompt, click into the empty field that says ‘Enter Project Name Here‘ and enter the name of your new Project (see fig. 4).

Fig._4_-_Name_New_Project_prompt_populated.jpgFig. 4

5. Click SAVE.

After naming your new Project, click SAVE (see fig. 5).

Fig._5_-_SAVE.jpgFig. 5

Upon doing so, you’ll automatically be redirected to the IMPACTS screen (fig. 5.a).

Fig._5.a_-_The_IMPACTS_Screen.pngFig. 5.a

Upon arriving at the IMPACTS screen, you’ll have successfully selected a Region!

END OF PROCEDURE

WHAT NEXT?

IMPLAN is designed to allow for analyses to be launched or resumed from multiple points of entry. So, you can choose to start or continue your studies from whichever stage best fits your needs—your process doesn’t have to be linear! However, if you’re brand new to IMPLAN and need some guidance, or would just prefer some professional advice, we’re happy to offer our suggestion about what to do next.

WHAT WOULD IMPLAN DO?

If you’re performing your very first impact analysis, then after selecting a Region, we suggest creating an Event to communicate the details of your study’s real-life event to the tool. This procedure occurs on the IMPACTS screen. If you feel like creating an Event is the right “next step” for your study, the resources below may a.) help you become comfortable maneuvering the IMPACTS screen and b.) guide you, step by step, through the process of actually creating an Event.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Below are some additional resources which may prove helpful when formulating a personalized itinerary for your study.

ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

Related to:  Credentials

Related to:  IMPLAN Dashboard

Related to:  Regions

  • To learn about the contents of the REGIONS screen, see Exploring the REGIONS Screen.
  • For instructions on selecting Regions in IMPLAN, see How to Select a Region.

Related to:  Events

Related to:  Groups

Related to:  Running analyses

Related to:  Results

Related to:  Projects

How to Log in to IMPLAN

CONTENTS

The contents of this tutorial are outlined below. If you already know what you’re looking for, click on a link to advance to a specific section or STEP!

1. Enter your username or email address.
2. Enter your password.
3. Click LOG IN >.
 

INTRODUCTION

This tutorial is designed to walk you through the process of logging in to IMPLAN. The procedure begins at the Log in screen (featured image) and ends at the IMPLAN Dashboard (fig. 3.b).

Featured_image_-_The_Log_In_screen.pngFeatured image: The Log in Screen

SOME BACKGROUND…

Below is a brief discussion about the process of logging in to IMPLAN. For more information about credentials, see How to Reset Your IMPLAN Password.

Who is this tutorial for?

This tutorial is for anybody who doesn’t know how to log in to IMPLAN. Brand new to IMPLAN and have never logged in before? Don’t worry, it’s crazy easy. Follow THE STEPS herein and you’ll be running analyses in no time.

Why is this process important?

Every single user is required to log in to IMPLAN each time they use the software. New users? Longtime users? Yes. And yes. In order for anyone to use IMPLAN, they must first log in. So, before you can start exploring the absolute playground of analytical possibilities inside, you’ll need to log in too.

Do I need anything before I can do this?

Yes. Before you can log in to IMPLAN, you must first have valid and active credentials. Valid IMPLAN credentials consist of two components: a username and a password, both of which are exclusive to each individual user. To acquire a username and password, you must first have an active IMPLAN data subscription. To purchase a data subscription, visit IMPLAN.com or contact us directly at (800) 507-9426.

Will I need to do this often?

Technically, yes. But, IMPLAN makes logging in laughably convenient by offering you the option to let the tool remember your password after you’ve logged in for the first time. This way, every time you find yourself at the Log in screen in the future, just click the big blue LOG IN > button and you’re in!

THE STEPS

The procedure to log in to IMPLAN begins at the Log in screen (see fig. 1) and ends at the IMPLAN Dashboard (fig. 3.b). The instructions below include links to other user’s guide tutorials and/or articles which may prove helpful in the event that you encounter any roadblocks during the course of your analysis. If challenges persist, visit the ADDITIONAL RESOURCES section for a more extensive selection of supplementary material.

1. Enter your username or email address.

At the Log in screen, click into the empty field that says ‘username/email‘ (see fig. 1) and enter your username or email address.

Fig._1_-_The_Log_In_screen_-_Enter_your_username_or_email_address.pngFig. 1

2. Enter your password.

After entering your username or email address, click into the empty field that says ‘your password‘ (see fig. 2) and enter your password.

Fig._2_-_The_Log_In_screen_-_Enter_your_password.pngFig. 2

3. Click LOG IN >.

After entering your username or email address, and your password, click LOG IN > (see fig. 3).

Fig._3_-_The_Log_In_screen_-_Click_LOG_IN__.pngFig. 3

If any of the credentials you’ve entered are incorrect, an error message that says ‘WRONG USERNAME OR PASSWORD‘ (see fig. 3.a) will appear. For instructions on resetting passwords, see How to Reset Your IMPLAN Password.

Fig._3.a_-_The_Log_In_screen_-_Error_message.pngFig. 3.a

Upon clicking LOG IN >, you’ll arrive at the IMPLAN Dashboard (fig. 3.b).

Fig._3.b_-_The_IMPLAN_Dashboard.pngFig. 3.b

Upon arriving at the IMPLAN Dashboard, you’ll have successfully logged in!

END OF PROCEDURE

WHAT NEXT?

IMPLAN is designed to allow for analyses to be launched or resumed from multiple points of entry. So, you can choose to start or continue your studies from whichever stage best fits your needs—your process doesn’t have to be linear! However, if you’re brand new to IMPLAN and need some guidance, or would just prefer some professional advice, we’re happy to offer our suggestion about what to do next.

WHAT WOULD IMPLAN DO?

If you’re performing your very first impact analysis, then after logging in to IMPLAN, we suggest becoming familiar with the IMPLAN Dashboard. The IMPLAN Dashboard is a streamlined location from which you can visit many of IMPLAN’s most important screens and serves as a “hub” from which to launch or resume studies in the tool. If you feel like familiarizing yourself with the IMPLAN Dashboard is the right “first step” for your study, the resource below may help you become comfortable maneuvering it.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Below are some additional resources which may prove helpful when formulating a personalized itinerary for your study.

ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

Related to:  Credentials

Related to:  IMPLAN Dashboard

Related to:  Regions

Related to:  Events

Related to:  Groups

Related to:  Running analyses

Related to:  Results

Related to:  Projects