USING ARCVIEW

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Step 8: Creating Layouts and Printing Maps

Now we will make a Layout of our map for printing. Open and select View from the menu at the top and from the drop-down list select Layout...

The Template Manager window will come up. Choose "Landscape" by clicking on it and press the "OK" button. This determines the orientation of the map when it is printed.

ArcView will bring up the default layout for our Bushy Park map. It displays the map of your view and calls it Layout 1. Expand the size of the window with Layout 1 by clicking on the small box in the upper right of the Layout 1 window

The defaults ArcView uses in creating the Layout are the title of your map (we have not yet given it a title, so it is now just called View 1) and the legends of the themes in the Table of Contents that are displayed in the map. Note: To change the legend and the themes shown in the Layout, you must first change them in View1.

Now we want to modify this map for a more professional look. Here we will just make a few minor changes for an improved appearance. Select the pointer button, which is at the far left of the second row of buttons at the top of the screen. Click on the title "View 1" at the top of our Layout. Note that four small black boxes ("handles") appear around the title "View 1" (The black "handles" around an object mean that it is selected and it is what you are currently editing).

We want to change the title from "View1" so click on the Text tool button in the second row of buttons at the top of the screen. Note that the cursor changes to an "I" bar, which means it is ready to edit text.

Click on the title "View1" at the top of our Layout, which brings up the Text Properties window. Change the title in the window from "View1" to a title such as "Landuse and Pests in Bushy Park"

and click on the OK button. Depending on your current settings, your new title may appear far too big, as it does here.

Then from the menu at the top of the screen select Window and from the drop-down list select Show Symbol Window.

This brings up the Font Palette box, where you can edit the size and style of the title that you just created.

To make your choice of Font, use can use the scroll bar at the right. I am leaving the font as "Arial." To select the Size of the font, use the drop-down list and select: "36," and from the drop-down list for Style, select: "Bold Italic."

Now close the Font Palette window.

Select the pointer-tool button in the second row of buttons at the top of the screen and use your cursor to drag our title (not the handle bars around the title) to center it over the map (If you dragged the handle bars, it would change the size of the font). When finished, click on any blank space near the corners of the layout to make the handles disappear.

(Note: You can also put in a subtitle if you wanted by clicking on the Text button as we did before and place your cursor where you want to enter the subtitle. The Text Properties window will appear again. Type in your subtitle and click on the OK button. Then you can change the font style and position of the subtitle, just as we did for the title. Before dragging it, be sure to click on the pointer button on the second row of buttons at the top, far left; otherwise the text properties window will appear again.).

You may also want to add your name to the layout in an appropriate place.

Also, note that the legend to the right in our Layout is too small, so change that as well. Be sure you have selected the pointer arrow button and click on the legend to select it. Then from the menu at the top of the screen select Window and from the drop-down list select Show Symbol Window. Leave the font as Arial. Change the font Size to "18," and change the Style to "Bold." Also, reposition the legend as well, if necessary, so that it is within the boundaries of the layout. The Layout should look like this.

Lastly, you could also change the scale bar at the bottom. By double-clicking on it, you bring up the Scale Bar Properties window, where you can change the characteristics of the scale bar.

You can also change the position and size and style of font for the bar as well, as we did previously with the title and legend.

To print the map, select from the menu at the top File and select Print Setup from the drop-down list.

The Printer Setup box appears.

In the box to the right of "Name," select your appropriate printer (ignore the name of the printer that I have in the picture) and on the right side of the box be sure "Landscape" as the orientation is selected.

Click OK twice to print.

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