Using ArcGIS Layout View Rob Sippel Geospatial & Numeric Data Librian April 2017
What are Geographic Information Systems (GIS)?
Typical Stages of ArcGIS Use Data Gathering Analysis Map Production/Publication
ArcMap Screens: Data View
ArcMap Screens: Layout View
Changing Layout Orientation Depending upon the area you are mapping, you may wish to switch your map orientation from “Portrait” to “Landscape” (or vice versa). Either expand the “File” drop-down menu at the top of the page or right-click in the map area. Select “Page and Print Setup…”. Set the Page (not Paper) orientation.
Resizing your map frame When you are in the Layout view, your work will appear within a Layout frame. Within the Layout frame, your map will appear in a Map Frame. If you wish to change the dimensions of your Map Frame: Activate the “Select Elements” tool on the tools toolbar (looks like a black arrow ). Click within the Map Frame to select it. Click-and-drag on the blue boxes along the edge of the Map Frame to resize the frame.
“Tools” Toolbar vs. “Layout” Toolbar The “Layout” toolbar can only be used when ArcMap is in Layout view (otherwise, its icons are grayed out) Many of the “Layout” icons look similar to the “Tools” icons. However, the “Layout” icons act upon the entire layout frame.
Inserting Standard Map Features Insert common map features using the drop-down “Insert” menu. Common map features include: Title Legend North Arrow Scale bar Scale text
Map Titles To add a title, use the “Selection” drop-down menu at the top of the page. Once a title box has been added to a map, change its settings by: Right-clicking on the title box. Selecting “Properties…” Click on the “Change Symbol…” button. Make adjustments to commonly changed font settings. Click on the “Edit Symbol…” button for additional editing options.
Map Legends Add a map legend using the “Selection” drop-down menu at the top of the page. Data layers in map Data layers selected for legend To show a data layer in the legend: Select the layer in the left-hand box. Click on the right-facing arrow icon To remove a data layer from the legend: Select the layer in the right-hand box. Click on the left-facing arrow icon “Preview” button to see what your legend will look like.
Modifying layer names By default, the layer names in the Table of Contents will be the same as the files that the user imports into the model. Sometimes, the default layer names are difficult to understand. However, names can be changed to more intuitive names. Slowly double-click on the name that you want to change in the Table of Contents. Make any desired changes (e.g. change “stpark_dec15” to “State Parks). Changes in the name will be automatically reflected in your map layout view.
North Arrows Add a North Arrow using the “Selection” drop-down menu at the top of the page. Lots of choices
Scale Bars Add a Scale Bar using the “Selection” drop-down menu at the top of the page. Style Options Define units (e.g. miles, kilometers, etc.), label positions, marks, font, etc. To edit your Scale Bar: Click on your scale bar to select it. click-and-drag on the blue boxes around the perimeter of the scale bar (Note: this may alter the numbers displayed on the bar)
Scale Text Add a Scale Bar using the “Selection” drop-down menu at the top of the page. Style Options Define units (e.g. miles, kilometers, etc.), label positions, marks, font, etc.
Modifying Symbologies To modify the symbology for a map layer, Open the properties for the layer (double-click on the layer’s name in the Table of Contents). Go to the “Symbology” tab. Double-click on the symbol you wish to change.
Modifying Symbologies (continued) Search for an appropriate symbol or Scroll through and select from available choices. Customize color, size and other details.
Adjusting layer transparency Map layers are stacked in ArcGIS Therefore, upper layers may obscure lower layers. Layers may be made partially transparent so that underlying layers may be better seen. Open the layer’s Properties window by double-clicking on the layer name in the Table of Contents. Go to the “Display” tab. Set Transparency to somewhere between 0 and 100% (higher numbers result in greater transparency).
Labeling To add labels for a map layer: Open the Properties window for the layer (double-click on the label name in the Table of Contents). Go to the “Labels” tab. Activate (check) “Label features in this label”. Select the field to be used for the label. Make desired changes to label font and other characteristics. For additional control over labeling, activate the “Labeling” toolbar. From drop-down Labeling menu, activate “Use Maplex Label Engine”.
Adding Inset Maps To add a new data frame, use the drop-down menu at the top of the page. InsertData Frame New data frame will appear in the Layout view. Resize and reposition data frame, as needed. Add a basemap to the new data frame. Scale and position the basemap, as needed. In the Table of Contents, double-click on the name of the new data frame to open its Properties window. Go to “Extent Indicators” tab. Move the original layer name into the right-hand box.
Hands-on Exercise
Getting started Log into one of the five GIS workstations located along the west side of the Digital Scholarship Lab. Start the “ArcMap” application. Open the ArcMap model “layout_exercise.mxd” from the “Layout” directory on your computer’s C-Drive. Make sure you are in the Layout view Using the drop-down menu at the top of the screen, View Layout View
Experiment with your layout orientation Using the drop-down menu at the top of the screen, File Page and Print Setup… In the “Page and Print Setup” window, In the “Map Page Size” area (in the bottom half of the window), change the orientation from “Portrait” to “Landscape”. Click on “OK”.
Experiment with your layout orientation In your Layout view, select your Map frame by clicking on your map (a border line will appear around the map). Click-and-drag on the blue boxes to resize the Map frame within the Layout frame. If you wish, reset the layout to a Portrait orientation. Layout frame Map frame
Experiment with the “Tools” and “Layout” Toolbar “Tools” toolbar “Layout” toolbar Experiment with the Zoom and Pan tools on the “Tools” and “Layout” toolbar, respectively, to get a feel for how they affect your Layout view. If you make a change you don’t like, you can always undo it using one of the Go Back/Previous Extent arrows
Add a Title Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to add a title to your map. Insert Title Double-click on the Title box to open its Properties window. In the Properties window, Change the text by editing the “Text:” box. Click on the “Change Symbol…” button to change label font characteristics.
Add a legend Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to add a legend to your map. Insert Legend… In the “Legend Wizard” window, Click on the double-left-facing arrow to remove any contents from the “Legend Items” box. In the “Map Layers:” box, click on “iwhrs_2009” and then on the single-right-facing arrow to include that layer in the legend. Click on the “Next” button. Click on the “Finish” button. Having trouble seeing your legend? Read the next slide for solutions.
Add a legend You may, initially have difficulty seeing the Legend against the background of the map. There are two ways of resolving this; either: Click on the Legend and drag it to a part of the map where it is more visible, or Double-click on the Legend to open its Properties window. Go to the “Frame” tab. Use the drop-down menu in the “Background” section to assign a background color to the Legend that will make it more visible.
Modifying Table of Contents names The “iwhrs_2009” layer in the Table of Contents lists 11 different land classifications (0 through 10) under Florida’s Integrated Wildlife Habitat Ranking System. The table to the right provides definitions for each of the 11 classes of land. In the Table of Contents, slowly double-click on the “0” classification and change it to the corresponding description in the table. Do the same for the “1” and “2” classifications. Note that, as you change the descriptions in the Table of Contents, the descriptions also change in the Legend of your Layout view.
Add a North Arrow Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to add a legend to your map. Insert North Arrow… In the “North Arrow Selector” window, Click on the desired style of arrow. Click on the “Properties” button to make any desired changes to arrow size or color, Click on “OK” to exit Properties and again to apply your North Arrow to the map. Click on your North Arrow and drag it to the desired location on your map.
Add a Scale Bar Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to add a legend to your map. Insert Scale Bar… In the “Scale Bar Selector” window, Click on the desired style of scale bar. Click on the “Properties” button to make any desired changes to scale bar size or color. Click on “OK” to exit Properties and again to apply your scale bar to the map. Click on your scale bar and drag it to the desired location on your map.
Apply customized symbols In the Table of Contents, open the Layer Properties window for the “rail_xing_2015” layer (by double- clicking on the layer name). In the Properties window, Go to the Symbology tab Click on the “Symbol” icon
Apply customized symbols In the Symbol Selector window, Type “railroad” in the search window Click on the “Search” icon In the search results, click on one of the symbols for Railroad Crossing, and then click on “OK” to exit the Symbol Selector window. Click on “OK” to exit the Layer Properties window. Locations of railroad crossings will now be marked by your selected symbol.
Change layer transparency In the Table of Contents, open the Layer Properties window for the “iwhrs_2009” layer (by double-clicking on the layer name). Go to the Display tab. To the right of “Transparency:”, enter a value (such as “70”) You will see that, while the same colors appear on the map, they are more muted/transparent, making it easier to make out other map layers.
Label counties In the Table of Contents, open the Layer Properties window for the “Counties” layer (by double-clicking on the layer name). In the Layer Properties window, Activate “Label features in this layer” by checking the associated box. In the drop-down menu for “Label Field:”, select “TIGERNAME” Click on the “Symbol” button.
Label counties In the Symbol Selector window, In the Editor window, Click on the “Edit Symbol…” button. In the Editor window, Choose the “Mask” tab. Select “Halo” Click “OK” to exit the Editor window. Click “OK” to exit the Symbol Selector window. Click “OK” to exit the Layer Properties window. The halo effect selected in the Editor window will make it easier to read labels against the background of the map.
Add an inset map Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to add a new data frame. Insert Data Frame The new data frame will be listed at the bottom of the Table of Contents and will also appear on your map Layout view. In your map Layout view, Size and position your new data frame in a way appropriate for an inset map For example, you might place it in a corner of your original data frame. Add a basemap to your new data frame, using either the “Add Data” icon or the drop-down menu at the top of the screen, as follows: File Add Data Add Basemap… (select a style and click “Add”)
Add an inset map Switch to your map’s Data View using the drop-down menu at the top of the screen. View Data View Zoom into the southeastern U.S. or the state of Florida. Switch back to your map’s Layout View using the drop-down menu at the top of the screen. View Layout View In the Table of Contents, open the Data Frame Properties window for the new data frame by double-clicking on its name.
Add an inset map In the Data Frame Properties window, Go to the Extent Indicators tab Select the name of the original data frame in the “Other data frames:” area on the left. Move the name over to the “Show extent indicator for these data frames” area on the right by clicking on the single-right-facing arrow. Click on “OK” to exit the Data Frame Properties window. Within the new data frame in your map Layout view, a red rectangle will now indicate the extent of the area shown in your original data frame.