Exercise 3: Create and export a map layout for print
How can I print an exercise to PDF format?
Instructions
Use this guide and ArcGIS Pro to reproduce the results of the exercise on your own.
Note: The version of ArcGIS Pro that you are using for this course may produce slightly different results from the graphics that you see in the course
materials.
Software requirements
· ArcGIS Pro 3.5.X (latest version)
· ArcGIS Pro Standard license (or higher)
The MOOC provides a separate ArcGIS account (username and password) that you will need to use to license ArcGIS Pro and access other software
applications used throughout the MOOC exercises. This account (username ending with _cart) provides the appropriate ArcGIS Online role, ArcGIS
Pro license, ArcGIS Pro extensions, and credits.
We strongly recommend that you use the provided course ArcGIS account to ensure that you have the appropriate licensing to complete
the exercises. Exercises may require credits. Using the provided course ArcGIS account ensures that you do not consume your organization's
credits. Esri is not responsible for any credits consumed if you use a different account. Moreover, Esri will not provide technical support to students
who use a different account.
Introduction
In this exercise, you will finish making the small-format reference map of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, which you began in the previous exercises.
Note: If this is your first time using ArcGIS Pro, you may find the ArcGIS Pro Terminology Guide
([Link] helpful.
Note: The exercises in this course include View Result links. Click these links to confirm that your
results match what is expected.
Estimated completion time in minutes: 60 minutes
Expand all steps Collapse all steps
- Step 1: Change legend patch shapes
Your goal was to create a printable map. Now that you have enhanced the map by adjusting the drawing order of features and applied different
cartographic techniques to better communicate the map's purpose, it is time to prepare the map for printing.
A page layout is a collection of map elements organized on a virtual page designed for map printing. You will create a layout for your map of
Massachusetts that includes a legend, scale bar, and title.
Note: To learn more, see ArcGIS Pro Help: Layouts in ArcGIS Pro ([Link]
a Start ArcGIS Pro and open the MyMassachusettsMap_<your first and last name>.aprx project that you saved in the previous exercise, if
necessary.
b Below the map view, use the map scale control to set the view scale to 1:1,000,000, if necessary.
First, you will change how the polygon symbols appear in the legend. In the legend, the example symbols are called patches.
c In the Contents pane, click the Public Lands layer to select it (this layer may be called Parks_MA if you did not complete the challenge steps in the
previous exercise).
d Open the Symbology pane, if necessary.
- Hint
Feature Layer tab > Drawing group > click the Symbology button (do not click the down arrow).
e In the table in the lower half of the Symbology pane, to the right of the National Park Or Forest symbol, click the down arrow.
Step 1e***: Change legend patch shapes.
f Point to each shape to see its name.
g Click the Natural Area shape.
Step 1g***: Change legend patch shapes.
h Use the same process to change the State Park Or Forest patch to the Natural Area shape.
Next, when you create a legend on the final print map, the patches for the parks symbols will not be simple rectangles.
Step 1h***: Change
legend patch shapes.
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- Step 2: Make a layout
Next, you will create the layout. The layout will allow you to add and organize the elements of a print map on a virtual page. There are two ways to
create a layout: using a template or from start to finish. To start, you will use layout templates.
a On the ribbon, click the Insert tab.
b In the Project group, click the Import Layout button.
A menu appears that shows you options for layout templates that you could use if you wanted to quickly create a printable layout.
However, for this exercise, you will be creating a printable layout from start to finish.
c Click away from the menu to dismiss it.
d From the Insert tab, in the Project group, click New Layout.
In your map of Massachusetts, the state appears longer horizontally than vertically, so a landscape orientation is most appropriate.
e From the drop-down list, in the ANSI - Landscape section, click Letter (8.5" x 11"), as shown in the following graphic.
A new blank layout opens. On the ribbon, a Layout tab appears. This tab contains tools unique to layouts.
Next, you will add a map frame, which is a page layout element used to display the contents of a map on a layout.
f From the Insert tab, in the Map Frames group, click the Map Frame down arrow.
g Under Massachusetts, click the thumbnail labeled Massachusetts 1:1,000,000.
Note: The extent of your map may vary slightly if you zoomed in or out after setting the map
reference scale previously.
h Click near the upper-left corner of the layout page and drag a rectangle toward the lower-right corner to place the map frame.
The map in the map frame must be activated before you can navigate and interact with it.
i In the Contents pane, right-click Map Frame and choose Activate.
j At the bottom of the map, in the map scale control box, type 1250000, if necessary, and press Enter.
Note: You can type just the denominator of the scale without commas into the box, and the ratio
will be determined by ArcGIS Pro.
Step 2j***: Make a layout.
k From the Layout tab, in the Map group, click Close Activation.
l Use the handles of the map frame to resize it on the page so that all of Massachusetts is shown in the frame.
Note: Be sure to keep a reasonable margin (about half an inch) between the edge of the map
frame and the edge of the page.
m After you have resized the map frame, reactivate it and pan the map to recenter it within the frame, if necessary.
n Save your project.
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- Step 3: Add a legend to the map
Layout elements ([Link] are specific types of supporting elements associated with a map, such as a legend, a
scale bar, a title, and information about the map author. A legend tells the map reader the meaning of the symbols used to represent features on
the map.
a From the Insert tab, in the Map Surrounds group, click Legend.
Note: Do not click the Legend down arrow.
When placed in the map layout, your pointer symbol changes to equal-armed crosshairs.
b In the upper-right corner of the layout's white space, click and drag a rectangle.
Your map legend is added to the layout. Your legend includes all the layers from your map. However, you do not need to include all the layers, so
you will remove unnecessary ones from the legend.
c In the Contents pane, expand Legend, if necessary.
d Under Legend, uncheck the boxes for Places_MA, UrbanAreas_MA, and Counties_northeast to remove these items from the legend display.
e If you added the Institutions_MA layer in the first exercise, also uncheck that layer's box.
f Right-click Highways_MA and choose Properties.
The Element pane opens on the right with the Legend Item tab active.
g In the Element pane, under Show, uncheck all the boxes except Label (Or Layer Name).
Step 3g***: Add a legend to the map.
h Click the Text Symbol tab, and then from the General tab , expand Appearance, if necessary.
i Set the following font parameters:
· Font: Candara Regular, 7 pt
· Color: Gray 70%
Step 3i***: Add a legend to the map.
The appearance of your pane might vary slightly from this graphic.
j Click Apply.
k In the Contents pane, under Legend, select Public Lands (or, if you did not rename it, Parks_MA).
l In the Element pane, from the Legend Item tab, in the Show section, uncheck the Layer Name box.
Step 3l***: Add a legend to the map.
m Click the Text Symbol tab, and then from the General tab , expand Appearance, if necessary, and set the following font parameters:
· Font: Candara Regular, 7 pt
· Color: Gray 70%
n Click Apply.
o Close the Element pane.
p Use the handles to resize the legend as necessary.
q Drag the legend to place it near the upper-right corner of the page, roughly top-justified with the northernmost part of the state and roughly right-
justified with the easternmost part of the state.
Step 3q***: Add a legend to the map.
r In the Contents pane, expand your legend, if necessary, so that the Highways and Public Lands (Parks And Forests) information is visible.
s Save your project.
You have now added a legend to the map layout.
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- Step 4: Add a scale bar to the map
Next, you will add a scale bar to the map.
Scale bars ([Link] provide a visual indication on the map of the size of features and the distance between features on
the map.
a From the Insert tab, in the Map Surrounds group, click the Scale Bar down arrow.
b In the Dual Scale Bars section, click Miles And Kilometers Line Right Side Labels, as shown in the following graphic.
c In the map, in the lower-right corner, draw a rectangle to place the scale bar.
d In the map, right-click the scale bar and choose Properties to open the Element pane.
e At the top of the Element pane, click the Scale Bar down arrow and choose Numbers.
The appearance of your pane might vary slightly from this graphic.
f Click the General tab , and then expand Appearance, if necessary.
g Set the font to Candara Regular, 7 pt, Gray 70%, and then click Apply.
h At the top of the Element pane, click the Numbers down arrow and choose Units.
i Set the font to Candara Regular, 7 pt, Gray 70%, and then click Apply.
j Repeat the previous steps to change the color of Division Marks and Subdivision Marks to Gray 70%.
k In the map, resize the whole scale bar by dragging the handles until the scale bar is about 2.5 inches wide and shows a distance of 40 miles/60
kilometers.
Step 4k***: Add a scale bar to the map.
l Reposition the scale bar, if necessary, to the lower-right corner of the page, roughly right-justified with the easternmost portion of the state.
Step 4l***: Add a scale bar to the map.
m Close the Element pane.
n Save your project.
You have now added a scale bar to the layout.
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- Step 5: Add text elements to the map
Text elements can be added to the map surround to provide additional information for the map reader.
First, you will add a title to the map surround.
a From the Insert tab, in the Graphics And Text group, in the gallery, click the gallery drop-down arrow and choose Rectangle Text .
b Click near the upper-left corner of the map, and then type Massachusetts as the title for your map.
c In the Contents pane, right-click the Text element and choose Properties to open the Element pane.
d In the Element pane, click the Text Symbol tab, and then from the General tab , expand Appearance, if necessary.
e Set the font to Candara Bold, 36 pt, Gray 70%, and then click Apply.
f Drag the text frame to resize it and move it above the state, inside the map frame.
To finish your map, you will add your name and the date.
g Repeat the previous steps to add your name and the date to the lower-left corner of the map frame in Candara Bold, 7 pt, Gray 70% font.
Step 5g***: Add text elements to the map.
h Save your project.
You have now created a map layout that can be exported or printed.
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- Step 6: Export or print your map
After you are finished with your map layout, you can export it or print it.
a From the Share tab, in the Output group, click Export Layout to open the Export Layout pane.
Note: Do not click the Export Layout down arrow.
b For File Type, choose PDF, if necessary.
c For Name, click the Browse button and browse to the location where you saved the data for this exercise.
d In the Export Layout dialog box, name the file MapOfMassachusetts and click OK.
e In the Export Layout pane, do not change the other defaults.
Step 6e***: Export or print your map.
f Click Export.
g If you are connected to a printer and want to print your map layout, from the Share tab, in the Output group, click Print Layout.
h Save your project.
i If you would like to continue making updates to your map layout, see the stretch goal at the end of this exercise; otherwise, exit ArcGIS Pro.
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- Step 7: Conclusion
Congratulations! If you are new to ArcGIS Pro, you have made your first map. You have explored much of the ArcGIS Pro user interface, including
the ribbon, the Catalog pane, the Contents pane, and detailed property panes for symbology, labeling, and layout elements. You have worked with
a map, layers, and a layout within a project.
You have learned how to symbolize and label layers, some basic symbol editing and label placement techniques, and how to work with color. You
went beyond the defaults by setting a map projection and a reference scale and establishing symbol layer drawing.
In subsequent exercises in this course, you will dig deeper into the properties and settings and become more familiar with these areas of ArcGIS
Pro.
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- Step 8: Stretch goal (optional): Refine the map
Throughout this course, you will see exercise stretch goals. These goals include ways that you can continue or enhance the work that you
completed during the exercise. Stretch goals are community supported and a great opportunity to work together to learn together.
If you would like to continue enhancing the map that you made, you can complete the following high-level tasks.
a Give the map a different look.
· Maps are graphic communication. Give your map a different style and message by using a different color palette, different symbols,
different fonts, or a different layout arrangement.
b Adjust the map scale.
· What would you change if you were making a map of the Boston area in Massachusetts? Think about the reference scale, symbol
sizes, and labeling choices. Would you be able to add additional data?
c Add additional data.
· The project database includes a layer of institutional buildings (Institutions_MA) that is not used in the main exercise. How would you
show these buildings (with clarity) on a larger-scale map?
d Spell-check text elements.
· You can review all text in text elements using the Check Spelling tool, which is accessed from the Layout tab, in the Review group.
Use the Lesson Forum to post your questions and observations. Be sure to include the #stretch hashtag in the posting title.
If you did some experimenting on your own beyond the steps of an exercise, we would love to hear about and see what you did! On the other
hand, if you completed a map based on the exercise steps, that is awesome! However, there is no need to share it in the Forum.
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