Designing Maps with ArcGIS

Part I: Modify a map layout

In this exercise, you will design a map to present the results of the analysis you performed in the previous module. The map will show the areas that can be harvested in the timber leases of interest in the Tongass National Forest, as well as the value of timber in each lease. The map will be included in a report that company managers will use to decide which lease to bid on.

You will modify an existing layout to create the map you need.

Estimated time to complete: 40 minutes

Step 1 Start ArcMap and open a map document

Start ArcMap and open LeasesCD.mxd from your Lab14\Leases folder.

Step 1: Start ArcMap and open a map document.

The map opens in layout view. You see the Tongass National Forest and the lease areas you worked with in the last module.

If you can't see the entire layout in the map area, on the Layout toolbar, click the Zoom Whole Page button .

The layout you see is for a poster-size map, intended for presentation to a conservation group. It contains many of the elements required for your new map, so rather than starting from scratch, you will modify the layout to create the report map.

To determine what changes need to be made, consider the differences in audience, purpose, and use between the existing and the new layouts:

	Existing Layout	New Layout
Audience	Conservation group	Timber company management
Purpose	Show areas in leases C and D that are protected and cannot be harvested	Show areas in leases C and D that can be harvested and the value of timber in each lease
Use	Presentation map	Part of a report

Step 2 Define a new output medium (printer)

The default printer settings in the department labs are immutable. For the rest of the lab exercise to work, you have to define a new printer at the MS Windows level.

Press the Windows start button and click Printer and Faxes.

Step 2a: Define a new printer.

In the new window that will inevitably pop up, select either Add Printer from the File menu or choose the Add a Printer button among the Printer Tasks on the left sidfe of the new Printers and Faxes window.

Step 2b: Define a new printer.

Click yourself through the welcome screen of the Add Printer Wizard, select the lower of the two option buttons to add a network printer and acknowledge your choice by clicking the Next button again. Browse for a printer and click the Find Printer button. Select the HP Laser Jet 4050 PCL (1090-B2) on hurricane and work yourself to the end of the Add Printer Wizard.

Now that you have defined a new printer, you can go on to change your page settings.

Step 2 Create a copy of the original map document

Before you modify the original layout, it's a good idea to create a copy. This way, you preserve the integrity of the original, while editing the copy.

From the File menu, choose Save As.

In the Save As dialog, navigate to your Lab14\Leases folder and save the map document as Report.mxd.

Step 3 Change the page settings

In this step, you will make sure that your map will fit on the letter-size paper specified for the report. You will do this by setting the map page size, which also affects the map design.

From the File menu, choose Page and Print Setup.

In the dialog, examine the preview graphic shown at the bottom right.

If your computer is connected to a printer and your default printer paper size is letter (8.5 x 11), the preview shows that only a small portion of the map fits on the paper. The map will not print properly because the specified map page is larger than the printer paper.

Step 3a: Change the page settings.

In the Map Page Size area of the dialog, notice that the layout's size is set to ANSI C. This means that the map is designed to be printed on 22 x 17-inch paper.

Step 3b: Change the page settings.

Move the dialog so you can see the layout.

Notice that the horizontal and vertical rulers also show these dimensions.

Step 3c: Change the page settings.

You will change the page size to one appropriate for your new map.

In the Map Page Size area, in the Standard Sizes dropdown list, scroll up and choose Letter. Make sure the Landscape orientation option is selected.

Then click the check box Use Printer Paper Settings to have the map size match the printer size. Notice that the Width and Height fields are updated.

Step 3d: Change the page settings.

Examine the preview graphic again.

If your default printer paper orientation is portrait, the preview graphic shows that the map will not print properly because the map is wider than the paper.

Step 3e: Change the page settings.

You can fix this by changing the printer settings.

In the Paper area of the dialog, choose:

• Size: Letter
• Source: the appropriate setting for your printer
• Orientation: Landscape

Step 3f: Change the page settings.

Once more, examine the preview graphic.

This time, the map page and printer paper image should match.

Step 3g: Change the page settings.

Click OK.

Notice that the layout rulers are updated to show the new page dimensions.

Step 3h: Change the page settings.

Before making any more changes, save the map document.

Step 4 Resize the data frame

Your printed map is going to be included in a bound report, so the layout needs to take into account the additional space required for the binding. The binding will reduce the available space on the layout.

To accommodate the binding, you will increase the upper margin by resizing the data frame.

With the Select Elements button , click in the empty space to the left of the map title to select the data frame.

Step 4a: Resize the data frame.

Tip: If you inadvertently select the wrong map element, click anywhere in empty white space to unselect it. If you accidentally move an element, click Undo to return it to its original position.

Drag the data frame's top-middle handle down so that the upper edge is at about 7.5 on the vertical ruler. Don't worry if the data frame cuts across the map title—you will fix this later.

Step 4b: Resize the data frame.

In the next step, you will change the extent shown in the data frame.

Step 5 Change the map extent

In your map, the two timber lease areas are of primary interest to the audience, but they are currently cut off at the bottom. To fix this, you will change the map scale and then pan the data frame.

For this map, you will use a scale of 1:63,360. This particular scale was chosen because the leases can be shown in their entirety in the data frame, and also because this scale is equivalent to 1 inch equals 1 mile (an inch on the map is equal to a mile on the ground). This is a common and easily understood map scale.

In the scale box, replace the current scale with 63,360.

Pan the map so that the leases are not cut off at the bottom.

Your layout should resemble the View Result graphic below.

Step 5: Change the map extent.

Step 6 Choose the layers

In this step, you will choose the layers to display in your map by considering whether the information they convey supports the layout's purpose, is suitable for presentation to the intended audience, and is appropriate for display at this size and scale.

Examine the data shown in the layout. Do you think all of the layers should be included on the new map?

Using the information in the table below, in the Table of Contents, turn off the layers that will not be included on the map.

Layer	Include on map?	Reason
GoshawkNestsCD	No	Irrelevant information for this audience
LeaseOutlinesCD	Yes	Accentuates the perimeter of the lease areas
Streams	No	Too much detail for display at this scale
ProtectedAreasCD	Yes	Highlights the display of the harvestable timber areas
NestBuffersCD	No	Irrelevant information for this audience
HarvestStandsC	Yes	The map's purpose is to show this information
HarvestStandsD	Yes	The map's purpose is to show this information
GeneralArea	Yes	Helps to locate the leases in the general area

Notice that, on the layout, the legend updates.

Step 6: Choose the layers.

Your layout now shows only the information that supports the map purpose and is simpler than the original layout. The smaller page size and the scale of this layout require less complexity.

By simplifying the layout, you have made it easier for the audience to read and understand the map.

Step 7 Change the map title

In this step, you will change the map title to one that's more appropriate for the new map.

With the Layout toolbar's Zoom In tool , zoom in more closely to the title. Make sure you can see the whole title and the upper-right corner of the page.

To make more space for the new map title, you will delete the subtitle. Later, you will add text to the layout that includes the information provided by the subtitle.

With the Select Elements tool, select the subtitle ("Tongass National Forest, Alaska"). Make sure the data frame is not selected. Press Delete to delete the subtitle.

Step 7a: Change the map title.

With the Select Elements tool, double-click the title. In the Properties dialog's Text tab, if necessary, replace the existing text with Harvestable Timber in Leases C and D.

Click OK.

Step 7b: Change the map title.

The title's font size is too large for this layout.

With the map title still selected, on the Draw toolbar, click the Font size dropdown arrow and change the size to 18.

Move the title down to the white space above the lease areas.

Step 7c: Change the map title.

Save your work.

Step 8 Adjust the border symbol and map text

The data frame's border is too thick for this layout, so you will change it.

Click the Zoom Whole Page button . With the Select Elements tool, select the data frame.

Right-click inside the data frame and choose Properties. In the Data Frame Properties dialog, click the Frame tab.

Click the down arrow next to Border, then click the 1.5 Point line.

Click OK.

To see the new line thickness that was applied to the border, click outside the data frame to unselect it.

Step 8a: Adjust the border symbol and map text.

Next, consider the lease name map text. The lease area names are useful information, so you will keep them. However, the Lease C text is too close to the lease area's edge. You will move it to a better position in the layout.

With the Select Elements tool, select the Lease C text. Drag it to the position shown in the graphic below:

Step 8b: Adjust the border symbol and map text.

Click outside the data frame to unselect the text. Save your work.

Step 9 Delete elements and replace the scale bar

In this step, you will turn your attention to the information box in the lower left corner of the layout. You will delete some elements you don't need and add an element.

With the Layout toolbar's Zoom In tool, drag a box around the entire information box to zoom in to it.

Depending on the size of your ArcMap window, the elements shown in the View Result graphic below may look different on your screen—you may see more or less detail. That's OK.

Step 9a: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Notice that the scale of the rulers is also magnified.

For this layout, the north arrow and map projection text are unnecessary, so you will delete them. Also, because your map uses a standard scale, you will replace the scale bar with descriptive scale text.

Click the Select Elements tool, hold down your Shift key, then click the map projection text, scale bar, and north arrow to select them all. Press Delete.

Step 9b: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Now you will add the scale text.

From the Insert menu, choose Scale Text.

In the Scale Text Selector, click Inches = Miles.

Step 9c: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Click OK.

The scale text is inserted.

Step 9d: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Notice that the word "miles" is plural. Because your scale is singular (1 mile), the "s" doesn't make sense. To fix this problem, you will convert the scale text to a graphic that you can edit.

About converting map elements to a graphic

On a layout, a scale bar and scale text are dynamically linked to a data frame. That is, the numbers shown in the scale bar and scale text reflect the scale that has been set for the data frame they're associated with. When the data frame's scale is changed, the scale bar and scale text will automatically update. The legend is also dynamically linked to a data frame. If you turn a layer off in the Table of Contents, its symbol and label will disappear from the legend on the layout.

There are times, however, when you will want to modify an element linked to the data frame. You may want to more precisely position individual parts of it, for example. Converting the element to a graphic allows you to modify it.

When you convert a dynamically linked map element to a graphic, the link to the data frame is broken and cannot be reestablished. Before converting a scale element to a graphic, therefore, make sure the data frame is at the scale you want for the final map. Before converting a legend to a graphic, make sure that all the layers you want it to show are turned on in the Table of Contents, symbolized the way you want, and named or labeled the way you want.

Right-click the scale text and choose Convert to Graphics (notice that when you do this, the selection handles disappear).

Step 9e: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Right-click the scale text and choose Properties. In the Properties dialog, delete the "s" in the word "miles."

Step 9f: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Click OK.

Step 9g: Delete elements and replace the scale bar.

Step 10 Modify the descriptive text

Now you will modify the text at the top of the information box. This text is inappropriate for this map and it is too large.

With the Select Elements tool, double-click over the "PROTECTED RIPARIAN AND..." text.

A Properties dialog opens.

Step 10a: Modify the descriptive text.

Delete the current text. Copy the text below and paste it into the Properties dialog.

Values of harvestable timber in Leases C and D
---
Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Lease C - $ 654 million

Lease D - $ 627 million

Click to center the text.

Click OK.

Step 10b: Modify the descriptive text.

The original text was intended for the presentation map, so its size is too large for the report map.

On the Draw toolbar, change the font size to 12 and, to make it more visible, click the Bold button .

Step 10c: Modify the descriptive text.

The text looks good now, but you can't see it all. You need to resize the text box that contains the text.

Drag the lower-middle handle down until you can see all the text. Unselect the text box.

Now select the scale text and move it to just below the descriptive text.

Step 10d: Modify the descriptive text.

Finally, select the line of text at the bottom of the information box and change its size to 10. Don't worry about aligning it; you will do this later.

Step 10e: Modify the descriptive text.

Save your work.

Step 11 Modify the legend

The legend shows the layers that you chose earlier, but the legend labels are too small to read. You will enlarge them by resizing the whole legend.

Select the legend, then drag the upper-right handle diagonally up and to the right, until the text looks about as large as the font in the scale text.

Step 11a: Modify the legend.

Now you will change the legend's label text so that it's easier to understand.

In the Table of contents, rename HarvestStandsC to Lease C.

Notice that the legend is dynamically updated and shows the new layer name.

Step 11b: Modify the legend.

Use the same procedure to change the other legend labels as shown below.

HarvestStandsD	Lease D
ProtectedAreasCD	No harvest

Step 11c: Modify the legend.

Next, you will reposition and align the elements in the information box.

Step 12 Group and align map elements

Now that you have all the elements you need in the information box, you will reposition and align them relative to each other.

Select the legend, if necessary, and move it closer to the company logo.

Step 12a: Group and align map elements.

Press Shift and click the company logo so both it and the legend are selected.

Right-click over one of the selected elements and choose Align, then click Align Bottom.

Step 12b: Group and align map elements.

The two elements are now aligned relative to each other.

Right-click over one of the selected elements again and choose Group.

Step 12c: Group and align map elements.

About grouping elements

In a layout, aligning and moving elements is a common task made easier by grouping elements. When you group elements, they are treated as one object and can be moved together. Grouping is a way to make sure that elements you have aligned relative to one another stay aligned.

To ungroup a grouped element, first select it, then right-click and choose Ungroup.

Now you will select all the elements, then align them.

With the Select Elements tool, drag a box around the whole information box to select all the elements within it.

Right-click over any of the selected elements, choose Align, then click Align Center.

Step 12d: Group and align map elements.

Now group all of the elements.

You have finished your work on the information box.

Click outside the information box to unselect its elements.

Step 12e: Group and align map elements.

Zoom to the extent of the whole page and save your work.

Step 13 Align elements using guides

Currently, the layout appears visually unbalanced because the information box is too close to the lower left corner of the layout. To fix this problem, you will move the box.

To precisely position the box, you will use ArcGIS guides. Like rulers, guides are visual aids that do not display in data view, and they are not printed.

Right-click in the white space just outside the layout, choose Guides, then click Guides.

Right-click again in the white space outside the layout and choose Guides, then click Snap to Guides.

With the Select Elements tool, click the 1" marker on the top (horizontal) ruler.

A guide marker (gray arrow) is added to the ruler where you clicked and the guide itself (cyan dotted line) displays parallel to the layout's left edge.

Step 13a: Align elements using guides.

Move your mouse pointer over the marker and pause it until you see the double arrow. Drag to the right until you see 1.20 inches in the tooltip that displays at the lower left.

Use the same method to add a guide at 1.20 on the vertical ruler (the tooltip displays at the same location as before—above on the left).

Step 13b: Align elements using guides.

Select the information box and drag it up and over towards the guides.

Notice that when you come close to the guides, the box snaps to them.

Step 13c: Align elements using guides.

Click outside the layout to unselect the information box.

You no longer need the guides, so you'll remove them.

Right-click over the horizontal ruler and choose Clear All Guides.

Right-click over the vertical ruler and choose Clear All Guides.

The layout is now more balanced.

Step 13d: Align elements using guides.

Step 14 Export the map

Now that you have finished modifying the map, you will export it as an image file. The image will be inserted into the report document.

From the File menu, choose Export Map. Navigate to your Design\Leases folder and export the map as a PDF file with the name Report.pdf.

This is your backup. Now export the map to a PNG file (Report.png) and save it to your own public_html folder. Create a web page and set a link to this PNG file, then send Jing Li an email telling him, where to look for your final lab submission.

Step 15 Save the map and close ArcMap

Your design work is done, so save the map document.

If your computer is connected to a printer, go ahead and print the map if you want to see what it looks like on hard copy.

Close ArcMap.

In this exercise, you adapted an existing layout for a new audience and purpose by applying some basic cartographic design principles and using tools available in ArcMap's layout view. These tools automated some of your work and gave you a great deal of control over the layout's elements.

To create an effective map, you need to understand its intended audience, its purpose, and how it will be used. Once you know these things, you can determine the appropriate data, scale, and other elements needed for the map.

The following exercise is voluntary. You will not be graded on it – unless you would like to improve your current standing in this course by some extra credit.

Part II. Create a presentation map

GIS Day is approaching and you're going to give a presentation called "Map the Bat" at a local high school. You plan to create a presentation map that shows the ranges of three bat species and their relationship to each other and to the desert ecoregion that is their common habitat.

In this exercise, you will create a basic map layout by applying a map template and designing the main data frame. You will continue by creating other map elements and fine-tuning the layout. You will finish the map by creating an inset map, modifying the template and the legend, and adding scale information and other elements to the layout.

Estimated time to complete: 70 minutes

Step 1 Start ArcMap and open a map document

Start ArcMap and open MaptheBat1.mxd from your Lab14\Bats folder.

Step 1: Start ArcMap and open a map document.

The map shows the ranges of three bat species (California Leaf-nosed bat, Spotted bat, Townsend's Big-eared bat) as they extend across the U.S. into Canada and south into Mexico.

Besides the bat ranges, the map contains some base layers as well as a raster layer called shadedrelief that shows elevation. The Deserts layer shows the southwestern desert habitat that is common to all three species.

For convenience, the layers are already in the correct order and most of the symbols are defined.

Step 2 Apply a template to the layout

To speed up the design process, you will apply a predefined map template that contains most of the elements you will need for your presentation map.

First, click the Layout View button below the map display.

To apply a more suitable template to your layout, on the Layout toolbar, click the Change Layout button .

In the General tab, you see a list of available templates and on the right, their preview image. ArcMap provides a variety of templates suitable for different layouts.

Click LandscapeModernInset.mxt.

Step 2a: Apply a template to the layout.

This template contains a number of predesigned elements and will work well for your map.

Click Next.

Step 2b: Apply a template to the layout.

The template includes boxes for two data frames. The All bats data frame is selected for the main data frame (data frame 1), while the second data frame is intended for an inset map.

The inset map box is currently empty because you haven't created the inset map data frame yet. The template includes a map title and some other elements that you will create in the next exercise.

Click Finish. If you don't see the layers in the main data frame, click Refresh .

Step 2c: Apply a template to the layout.

Notice that a second data frame was added to the bottom of the Table of Contents (you might need to scroll down to see it). Later, this data frame will contain the layers for the inset map.

Step 3 Enlarge the page size

Remember, the map is intended for a presentation. It will be seen by a lot of people from a distance, so it should be fairly large in size.

From the File menu, choose Page and Print Setup. In the Map Page Size area, in the Standard Sizes dropdown list, choose ANSI E (44 x 34 inches).

Click OK.

Step 3: Enlarge the page size.

The layout rulers show the new page dimensions.

You have made considerable changes to the map, so save your work.

Step 4 Set the map scale

The presentation will concentrate on the area of the bat ranges that overlap the southwestern desert, which is the extent of the Deserts layer. You will change the extent shown in the data frame as well as the map scale so that this area is the focus of the data frame.

In the Table of Contents, right-click Deserts and choose Zoom To Layer.

Step 4a: Set the map scale.

Notice that the map scale is a large number that is hard to read and understand. To make it more user-friendly, you will round it.

Change the scale to 1:3,000,000.

Step 4b: Set the map scale

If necessary, pan the map so that the Deserts layer is centered in the data frame.

Step 5 Lock the scale

To safeguard against inadvertently changing the map scale as you work on the layout by using the wrong zoom tool, you will fix the current scale so that it can't be changed.

Click the Select Elements button , then right-click in the data frame and choose Properties. In the Data Frame Properties dialog, click the Data Frame tab.

The extent is currently set to Automatic.

Click Fixed Scale.

Step 5a: Lock the scale.

Click OK.

On the Tools toolbar, notice that the Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Full Extent buttons are now disabled.

Step 5b: Lock the scale.

Click away from the data frame to unselect it and save your work.

Step 6 Choose the data frame layers

The main data frame is currently confusing and difficult to read—it contains too much information. You will fix this problem by turning off unneeded layers and making others partially transparent.

To see the data frame as clearly as possible, zoom in on it to maximize its size in the map display area.

Step 6a: Choose the data frame layers.

The map shows how the bat species extend across the southwestern desert, but the Deserts layer obscures the bat ranges. For your map, showing the bat ranges is of primary importance, so you will turn off the Deserts layer and display it in the inset map.

In the Table of Contents, turn off the Deserts layer.

Step 6b: Choose the data frame layers.

Now the bat ranges are unobstructed.

Save your work.

Step 7 Adjust layer transparency

Because the bat ranges are symbolized with a solid fill, each layer obscures the one below it. If you make them partially transparent, you will be able to see the underlying layers.

Right-click in the gray area next to the Help menu and click Effects.

You see the Effects toolbar.

Step 7a: Adjust layer transparency.

Dock the Effects toolbar on your ArcMap window if desired.

In the Layer dropdown list, choose the Bat022 layer. Click the Adjust Transparency button .

Step 7b: Adjust layer transparency.

Drag the Transparency slider up to 50%.

Step 7c: Adjust layer transparency.

Now the layer is transparent and you can see the underlying layers through it.

Make the Bat007 and Bat005 layers 50% transparent as well.

Step 7d: Adjust layer transparency.

The base layers that were obscured by the bat ranges are now visible.

Adjusting layer transparency is a good way to optimize the information shown in a map. In addition to seeing each bat range, you can now also see:

• The relationship of bat ranges to each other
• The state or country that a bat range traverses
• The physical features underlying the bat ranges
• The part of the southwestern desert that is habitat for all three bat species

Close the Effects toolbar and zoom out to the full extent of the page . Save your work.

Step 8 Convert labels to annotation

Showing the state outlines in the map is useful for orientation, but the map could be improved by adding the state names. You will add state name labels.

Double-click the States layer to open its Layer Properties dialog. Click the Labels tab.

Check the option to "Label features in this layer." For Label Field, choose STATE_NAME.

Modify the default label symbol using the information below:

• Font: Arial
• Font size: 38 (type 38 into the size box)
• Font color: White

Step 8a: Convert labels to annotation.

Click OK.

Some of the labels intersect bat range outlines as shown in the graphic below.

You will move the problem labels. In order to move individual labels, however, you need to convert the layer's dynamic labels to annotation.

Right-click States and choose Convert Labels to Annotation. In the dialog, check the option to store the annotation in the map.

Step 8b: Convert labels to annotation.

Click Convert.

There is no apparent change to the map, but the state names are now annotation that you can edit.

The data frame is selected in the layout, but in order to edit annotation, you must give the data frame "focus."

On the Layout toolbar, click the Focus Data Frame button .

Step 8c: Convert labels to annotation.

The diagonal hatched symbol around the data frame indicates that it is focused.

With the Select Elements tool, click each piece of annotation to select it, then drag it to the new position shown in the graphic below.

Click outside the data frame to remove the focus and unselect the annotation. Click the Refresh button at the bottom of the map display area.

Save your work.

Step 9 Add new text

In this step, you will add the country name for Mexico.

Zoom in to the part of Mexico that is visible in the data frame (below the red border line).

On the Draw toolbar, type 60 into the font size box and press Enter. Click the Bold (B) button.

Click the New Text button , click in the center of the data frame, then type MEXICO. Press Enter.

Double-click Mexico and change the character spacing to 100 in the Properties dialog. Click OK.

If the country name intersects one or more of the bat range outlines, reposition it so that it's entirely within a bat range.

Step 9: Add new text.

Zoom out to the whole page. Unselect the annotation and save your work.

Next, you will add a reference system to the data frame.

Step 10 Add a graticule

To make it easier to understand the extent covered by the bat ranges, you will add a graticule to the map.

Because you will use a wizard to create the graticule, you need to make sure that wizards are enabled.

From the Tools menu, choose Options. In the General tab, make sure the option to "Show Wizards when available" is checked.

Step 10a: Add a graticule.

Click OK.

Right-click the data frame and choose Properties. Click the Grids tab.

Click New Grid.

In the Grids and Graticules Wizard, click the available options and preview the types of grids you can create.

Click the option to create a graticule.

Step 10b: Add a graticule.

Click Next.

In the Appearance area, choose Graticule and labels.

Graticule lines labeled with latitude and longitude will be shown in the map.

Click the button under Style and in the Symbol Selector, change the color to Gray 50%.

Click OK.

You want the map to display a 10° x 10° graticule.

In the Intervals area, in the box under Deg (degrees) type 10 for the parallels. Press Tab.

Click in the Deg box next to meridians and type 10, then press Tab.

Notice that the preview has updated.

Step 10c: Add a graticule.

Click Next.

In the Labeling area, click the Text style button. Change the font size to 12, then click OK.

Step 10d: Add a graticule.

Click Next. The graticule is set up the way you want it, so click Finish.

The graticule option is now checked in the Data Frame Properties dialog.

Click OK.

The graticule is added to the data frame.

Step 10e: Add a graticule.

Unselect the data frame and zoom in if necessary to see the graticule better.

The graticule also is useful for showing which direction is north. The projection used for this map causes north to vary from one area to another, so it would not be appropriate to add a north arrow to this map.

Zoom in to the middle of the data frame's left border and examine the graticule's label.

Step 10f: Add a graticule.

To reduce the amount of space occupied by the labels, you will change the orientation of the labels on the left and right side of the data frame so they're drawn vertically (parallel to the border).

Reopen the Data Frame Properties dialog. In the Grids tab, click Properties.

In the Reference System Properties dialog, click the Labels tab. In the Label Orientation area, check the Left and Right boxes.

Step 10g: Add a graticule.

Click OK.

Click OK again to close the Data Frame Properties dialog.

The label is now oriented vertically.

Step 10h: Add a graticule.

Save your work.

Step 11 Change the background color

The last thing you will do is change the data frame's backgound color.

Zoom to the whole page.

Once more, open the Data Frame Properties dialog. This time, click the Frame tab.

Step 11a: Change the background color.

Click the dropdown arrow next to Background and choose any color (e.g., Black).

Click Apply.

Now the colors in the Background box and the Color box are the same.

Step 11b: Change the background color.

Click the Color box and choose Blue Gray Dust.

Click OK.

Step 11c: Change the background color.

Step 12 Save your work

You have now made all the changes to the main data frame.

Save your work.

Step 13 Add the layers for the inset map

When you applied the map template, a second data frame (Layers 2) was added to the Table of Contents. It is currently empty. In this step, you will decide which layers to use and add them to the inset map data frame.

The inset map needs to show the relationship between the bat ranges, the U.S. states, the countries in North America, and the southwestern desert ecoregion.

First, in the Table of Contents, rename the Layers 2 data frame to Inset map.

For the inset map, consider the following:

• Base map information can be shown by adjusting the symbology of the States and Lakes layers, so you will use them.
• The shadedrelief and Rivers layers show more detail than is necessary, so you won't use them.
• To show the broader area in which the study area is located, you will add a new layer that shows Canada and Mexico, and also use the Borders layer.
• Instead of displaying a separate range for each bat species (it's more detail than you need in an inset map), you will add a new layer that shows all bat ranges together.
• The desert ecoregion inhabited by the bat species is shown in the Deserts layer, so you will use this layer.

Based on the above, copy the layers that you will use from the All bats data frame and paste them into the Inset map data frame.

Step 13a: Add the layers for the inset map

On the layout, zoom in to the Inset map data frame.

Step 13b: Add the layers for the inset map.

In the next step, you will add the remaining layers and symbolize them.

You won't be working with the All bats data frame, so collapse it.

Step 14 Add and symbolize layers in the inset map

Now you will add the missing layers to the inset map and symbolize them.

With the Select Elements tool , click the Inset map data frame to select it.

Click the Add Data button and navigate to Lab14\Bats\BatRanges.mdb. Add the AllRanges and Countries layers.

Turn on the Deserts layer.

Using the table and graphic below, apply the symbology listed for each layer. Remember to display the Effects toolbar to adjust the transparency of the AllRanges layer.

Layer	Fill Color	Outline Color	Outline Width	Transparency
Borders			2
Deserts	Yucca Yellow		0
States	Larkspur Blue	Gray 20%	1
AllRanges	Cantaloupe	Medium Coral Light		30%
Countries	Gray 50%		0

In the Table of Contents, move the Deserts layer above the AllRanges layer so that it's not obscured.

Step 14: Add and symbolize layers in the inset map.

You've done a lot of work, so save the map document.

Step 15 Adjust the inset map scale and extent

Now you need to set an appropriate scale and extent for the inset map.

Make sure the Inset map data frame is still selected. Change the scale to 1:18,500,000

To lock the scale so that it remains constant, open the Data Frame Properties dialog. In the Data Frame tab, click Fixed scale, then click OK.

Notice that that the information inside the data frame conforms to a square shape, and that the data frame itself is almost square. You will resize the data frame so that it's 9.5 x 9.5 inches. You'll use a guide and snapping to make this task easier.

Add a horizontal guide at 11.5 inches (left ruler).

With the Select Elements tool, drag the data frame's top-middle selection handle down until it snaps to the guide.

Pan the map, if necessary, so that Canada fills the top of the frame.

Step 15a: Adjust the inset map scale and extent.

You no longer need the guide, so drag the marker off the ruler to remove the guide.

Change the data frame's background color to Blue Gray Dust to match the All bats data frame.

Step 15b: Adjust the inset map scale and extent.

Save your work.

Step 16 Add an extent rectangle and labels

In this step, you will continue to work with the inset map. You'll add an extent rectangle to show the study area as well as state and country labels.

Open the Data Frame Properties dialog and click the Extent Rectangles tab.

Click All bats (this is the data frame for which you will create the extent rectangle), then click the right arrow button to move it to the box on the right.

Step 16a: Add an extent rectangle and labels.

Click Frame.

In the Frame Properties dialog, click the Border color box and click White.

Step 16b: Add an extent rectangle and labels.

Click OK, then OK again to update the layout.

If necessary, pan the map to the right so that the extent rectangle is not cut off.

Step 16c: Add an extent rectangle and labels.

To make the inset map more informative, add labels for the state and country names using the settings below:

Layer	Label Field	Label Symbol
States	STATE_ABBR	Arial, 10, Bold, White
Countries	INSET_NAME	Arial, 20, Black

Step 16d: Add an extent rectangle and labels.

Save your work.

Step 17 Create a legend for the inset map

To help map readers understand the symbols in the inset map, you need to create a legend for the inset map.

The inset map data frame should still be selected.

From the Insert menu, choose Legend.

For this legend, you will use only the Deserts and AllRanges layers.

In the Legend Items box, hold down your Ctrl key and click all the other layers. Click the left arrow button to remove them.

Step 17a: Create a legend for the inset map.

Click Next.

You don't want the inset map legend to have a title.

In the Legend Title box, delete the word "Legend."

Click Next.

Move the Legend Wizard so you can see both it and the inset map data frame.

Click Preview.

Examine the legend that is shown near the middle of the data frame.

Click Finish.

The legend is added to the inset map.

You will change the legend labels so they are easier to understand.

In the Table of Contents, click in the white space to the right of the Deserts symbol. Click inside the blue patch that displays and type Desert ecoregion. Press Enter.

Add a label for the AllRanges layer that says Cumulative bat ranges.

On the layout, move the inset map legend to the right of the extent rectangle, so that it's entirely within the Gulf of Mexico area. Zoom in to position and resize the legend if necessary (it shouldn't overlap any feature).

Step 17b: Create a legend for the inset map.

The design work on the inset map is now finished.

Zoom out to the extent of the whole layout page . Save your work.

Step 18 Modify the template

Besides the two data frames that you have already worked on, the layout contains two boxes above the inset map. For this layout, you need only one of the boxes.

Zoom in closely to the two boxes.

Step 18a: Modify the template.

Click the box immediately above the inset map to select it. Hold down your Ctrl key and select the text element that is inside the box.

Press Delete to remove them from the layout.

Next, you will add a guide to which you will snap the remaining box when you resize it. You want the distance between the resized box and the inset map to be the same as the distance between the two data frames.

The distance is about 0.40 inches, so add a horizontal guide at 11.80 on the left ruler.

Tip: To make sure you're adding a guide at 11.80, look at the tooltip that displays below the top ruler when you click to add the guide. You may need to pan up on the page to see the guide.

Zoom to the extent of the whole page.

Select the box and drag its bottom edge down until it snaps to the guide. Its top edge should remain aligned with the top edge of the All bats data frame.

Step 18: Modify the template.

Now you will change some of the box properties so that the elements you place inside it will be as legible as possible.

Right-click the box to open the Properties dialog.

Click the Frame tab and make these changes:

Border	2.5 Point, Black
Background	Hollow

Step 18c: Modify the template.

Save your work.

Step 19 Modify the All bats legend

By default, the All bats data frame legend shows the symbols for all the layers. These are more than you need to show, so you will modify the legend to show only the symbols for the bat species.

First, zoom in to the box.

With the Select Elements tool, select the legend and move it to the bottom of the box.

Step 19a: Modify the All bats legend.

Now you will remove the layers you don't need.

Right-click the legend and choose Properties.

In the Legend Items box, hold down your Ctrl key and click all the layers, except for the three bat range layers (Bat022, Bat007, Bat005).

Click the left arrow button to remove them.

Click OK.

Step 19b: Modify the All bats legend.

Save your work.

Step 20 Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text

To the box that contains the legend you will add a logo, a subtitle for the map, and informative text about the bats that are the subject of this presentation.

First, you will add the logo.

From the Insert menu, choose Picture.

Navigate to the Lab14\Bats folder and add bat_logo.gif.

Step 20a: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

Move the logo near the upper left corner of the box.

Now you will add the subtitle.

On the Draw toolbar, click the New Text tool . Click to the right of the logo and add the text Map the Bat. Press Enter.

Move the text, if necessary, to align it with the logo's bottom edge.

Step 20b: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

To show how unique the three bat species are, you will add informative text about them in the empty space below the logo and subtitle.

Copy all the text from the box below.

California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus)

This bat lives in some of the most extreme North American deserts and is the only bat in the United States to have a leaf-shaped nose. It flies helicopter-like at low speeds using minimal energy. It is a "gleaning" insectivore, capturing its prey straight from the ground or foliage, rather than in flight. Because of its short, broad wings, it cannot fly long distances so it does not migrate.

Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)

Although it is not rare, the spotted bat is one of America's least known animals. It has black fur accentuated by large white spots on its back, white fur on its underside, pink wings and ears almost as large as its body. The echolocation frequencies it uses to locate its prey are low enough to be audible to humans. It might feed almost exclusively on moths.

Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)

Their most typical habitat is arid western desert scrub and pine forest regions. These bats are extremely sensitive to disturbance at their roosting and hibernation sites in caves and abandoned mines. They have suffered severe population declines throughout the U.S. and two isolated subspecies are in danger of extinction. In addition to other functions, it is thought that their large ears might assist in lift during flight (Bat Conservation International, Inc. 2002).

There's quite a lot of text that you want to fit into a rectangular space.

Click the dropdown arrow next to the New Text tool and click the New Rectangle Text tool .

Draw a rectangle about 0.5 inches inside the box borders, below the logo and subtitle, and above the legend.

Step 20c: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

Double-click the text rectangle to open the Properties dialog.

In the Text tab, press Ctrl+v to paste the bat text. Align the text to the left.

Step 20d: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

Click OK.

If you don't see all the text on the layout, on the Draw toolbar, change the font size to 24. At that size, you should be able to see all of it.

Step 20e: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

You have now created all the elements for the box. Resize, align, and move them until you're satisfied with their arrangement. Group elements as needed.

When you're finished, unselect all elements.

The View Result graphic below shows one possible way of arranging the elements.

Step 20f: Add a logo, subtitle, and informative text.

Zoom to the whole page and save your work.

Step 21 Add a scale bar

Remove the guide from the ruler on the left; you don't need it any more.

Select the All bats data frame, then zoom to the area shown below.

From the Insert menu, choose Scale bar, then click Alternating Scale Bar 1.

Step 21a: Add a scale bar.

Click Properties.

In the Scale and Units tab, in the Scale area, under "When resizing" click the down arrow and choose Adjust number of divisions.

Notice that the Division Value field becomes active.

For Division Value, enter 100. For Division Units, choose Miles.

Step 21b: Add a scale bar.

These settings mean that the scale bar is divided into sections that represent 100 miles. Also, when you resize the scale bar it will change in 100-mile increments, its division.

Click the Format tab and change the text size to 14. Change the bar size to 8 (you may need to type this value).

Step 21c: Add a scale bar.

Click OK, then OK again.

Step 21d: Add a scale bar.

You need to adjust the scale bar's size and position.

Zoom in if necessary to see the scale divisions. Resize the scale bar so that it shows 400 miles.

Reposition the scale bar so that it is centered between the left edge of the data frame and the Baja California peninsula to the right.

Step 21e: Add a scale bar.

Save your work.

Step 22 Add map source text

In this step, you will add text with information about the map's data sources, then you will align it with the scale bar.

Copy the text from the box beneath.

Map source

Albers Conical Equal Area projection
North American Datum 1983

The bat range layers were downloaded from the National Atlas Web site. They were compiled by Bat Conservation International, Inc., using data from various sources that was originally published in 1981. The desert ecoregion is derived from the World Wildlife Fund Terrestrial Ecoregions.

This map was made for the Map the Bat presentation, using ESRI ArcGIS 9 software.
May 10, 2005

Click the New Rectangle Text tool and draw a text box 9 inches wide by 2.5 inches high, about 1 inch below the scale bar.

Right-click the text box and choose Properties. In the Text tab, paste the map source text.

Align the text in the center. Click Change Symbol and change the font size to 14.

Click OK to close the open dialogs.

If necessary, enlarge the box so that all the text is visible.

Hold down your Ctrl key and select the scale bar and map source text. From the Drawing menu, choose Align, then click Align Center. Group the elements.

Move the group so it's about 1 inch inside the data frame borders.

Step 22: Add map source text.

When you're done, zoom to the whole page and save your work.

Step 23 Create the map title

The last layout element you will work on is the map title.

Double-click the map title element and enter Bats of the Southwestern Desert - GIS Day. Click OK.

Zoom to the upper-right quarter of the layout.

Select the title and the text box with the bat information below it.

Align them on their right side.

Click in an empty white area to unselect both elements.

Now select the map title and the blue rectangle behind it.

From the Drawing menu, choose Align, then click Align Vertical Center.

Now select just the blue rectangle. On the Draw toolbar, change the fill color to Black.

Unselect the rectangle and zoom to the whole page.

Step 23: Create the map title.

Your design work is done!

Step 24 Save your work and close ArcMap

You've finished your layout, so save your work.

As in the previous exercise, export your map to both a PDF and a PNG file. Set a link to the PNG file and inform Jing Li about the availability of your lab submission.

Close ArcMap.

In this exercise, you continued to work in the layout environment, concentrating on creating, fine-tuning, and then balancing the elements for a presentation map.

Some layout elements, such as the scale bar and legend, are dynamic and automatically update when you change the data frame they're associated with. Others, such as the informative text, help the audience to fully understand the map. The layout you created also contains a purely decorative element, the bat logo.

Review

An effective map communicates a clear message to its intended audience. In a well designed map, all the elements work together as a visually balanced composition that emphasizes and supports the map's main purpose. In ArcGIS, you design a map by creating a layout in ArcMap.

• Visually, the map body should be the most prominent element on the map.
• The main elements of a map are the map body, legend, title, scale, north arrow, and the inset map. Maps can also contain other elements such as graticules, text boxes, charts, graphics, and images.
• You can modify the properties of all the elements in a layout to suit your needs. ArcMap gives you tools to organize and arrange the elements so that a map is easy to read.
• To increase the information conveyed by a map and to make a map more readable, you can adjust layer transparency, convert labels to annotation, and add a reference system.
• To improve a map's visual balance, you can add graphic elements such as borders and text boxes.

Review questions

1. What are some questions you should ask before creating a map?

2. When is a map template especially useful?

3. What are some of the tools used to organize and arrange elements in a layout?