Draw a Map

Feature Description

The Map drop-down button provides the ability to draw a map in the current layout. Clicking the button will display a drop-down menu, where further functions can be achieved by selecting menu items. The drop-down menu offers six map filling shapes: rectangle, rounded rectangle, polygon, ellipse, oblique ellipse, and circle.

Steps

  1. Click the "Map" drop-down button, select the "Rectangle" item from the pop-up menu - the mouse cursor in the current layout will change to drawing mode. (Alternatively, click buttons corresponding to other fill shapes in the drop-down list to draw maps with selected shapes.)
  2. Click and drag the mouse at the desired position to draw a rectangular map frame in the layout using the rectangle drawing method.
  3. After drawing the rectangle, the "Select Fill Map" dialog will appear for map selection.
  4. Click the drop-down button next to the "Select Map:" label, then choose an existing map from the current workspace in the pop-up list for filling.
  5. Click "OK" to complete the rectangular map filling.
  6. Besides rectangles, users can select other fill shapes (rounded rectangle, polygon, ellipse, oblique ellipse, circle) from the "Map" drop-down menu. Different filling effects are shown below:
    Figure: Rectangle FillFigure: Rounded Rectangle FillFigure: Ellipse Fill
  7. Modify Map Properties: Double-click the target map; or select the map, right-click, and choose "Properties" from the context menu to open the "Layout Map Properties" window.
    • Specify Associated Map: The drop-down button next to the "Maps" tab displays/sets the map associated with the current frame. Click it to select any existing map in the workspace. The frame content will update accordingly.
    • Scale: Displays the current map's display scale. Set appropriate values and click "Lock Map" to apply scale settings.
    • Angle: Rotate the map by specifying degrees. Click "Lock Map" to apply rotation.
    • Map Center Point: Displays X/Y coordinates of the map center, supporting copy-paste operations.
    • Grid Settings: Add uniform grids (latitude-longitude or kilometer grids) with style/label customization. For details, see Map Grid Settings.
    • Border Settings: Configure map border properties in this window. Refer to Border Settings.

Notes

  1. After creating map-associated elements (legend, north arrow, scale) in layout, modifying the original map won't automatically update these elements.
  2. Map filling shapes follow the same drawing methods as surface objects in maps and layouts.
  3. To replace an existing map, select the target map and respecify it via the "Map" group in the "Layout Style" tab.

Related Topics

How to Draw Map Fill Shapes in Layout