I. Starting Your Layout

Before you can design your map presentation, you need to create a new layout file within your ArcGIS Pro project.

• Create a New Layout: Navigate to the “Insert” tab on the ArcGIS Pro ribbon. In the “Project” group, click the “New Layout” button. ArcGIS Pro will offer a selection of pre-defined page sizes (e.g., Letter, A3, Tabloid) in both portrait and landscape orientations. Choose one that suits your needs. If you have specific dimensions, you can customize this later.
• Rename Your Layout: Once the layout view opens, it’s good practice to give it a meaningful name. In the “Catalog” pane, expand “Layouts.” Right-click on your new layout (e.g., “Layout”) and select “Rename.” Type in a descriptive name (e.g., “Wellington_City_Map_Landscape”).

II. Setting Up Guides for Precision

Guides are non-printing lines that help you align elements on your page for a neat and organized look.

• Adding Guides: Rulers should be visible at the top and left edges of your layout view. If not, go to the “Layout” tab (this tab appears when a layout view is active), and in the “Show” group, check “Rulers.” To add a vertical guide, right-click on the horizontal ruler at the top and select “Add Guide.” To add a horizontal guide, right-click on the vertical ruler on the left and select “Add Guide.” You can also click and drag from a ruler to place a guide.
• Positioning Guides: You can add guides at specific positions by right-clicking a ruler and choosing “Add Guide At…” and entering a value. To move an existing guide, hover your mouse over it until the cursor changes, then click and drag it to the desired location. For precise placement, right-click a guide and choose “Edit Guide…” to enter an exact position.

III. Adding Your Main Map (Map Frame)

A map frame is a container on your layout that displays one of the maps from your ArcGIS Pro project.

• Insert a Map Frame: Go to the “Insert” tab. In the “Map Frames” group, you’ll see a gallery of available maps and scenes in your project. Click on the map you want to add to the layout. Your cursor will change, allowing you to click and drag a rectangle on your layout page. This rectangle will become the map frame.
• Adjusting the Map Frame: Once placed, you can resize the map frame by clicking on it and dragging the selection handles. You can move it by clicking and dragging the entire frame. Use your guides to help align it.
• Activating the Map Frame (Controlling Map Content): To change the map’s extent (the area shown) or scale *inside* the map frame, you need to “activate” it. Right-click on the map frame and select “Activate.” Now, using your mouse scroll wheel will zoom the map, and clicking and dragging will pan the map within the frame. When you’re done, click the “Layout” tab on the ribbon, and in the “Navigate” group, click “Close Activation” (or press the ‘Esc’ key, or click outside the map frame on the layout page).

IV. Incorporating Essential Map Elements

These elements provide context and make your map understandable.

A. North Arrow

• Insert: On the “Insert” tab, in the “Map Surrounds” group, click “North Arrow.” A gallery of styles will appear.
• Select and Place: Choose a style you like. Click on your layout where you want to place it. You can then resize and move it as needed. The North arrow will automatically orient itself based on the map in the selected map frame. If you have multiple map frames, ensure the correct one is selected in the Element pane when you insert the North arrow, or link it later via its properties.

B. Scale Bar

• Insert: On the “Insert” tab, in the “Map Surrounds” group, click “Scale Bar.” A gallery of styles will appear.
• Select and Place: Choose a style. Click on your layout to place it.
• Customize: Select the scale bar. The “Element” pane should appear (if not, right-click the scale bar and choose “Properties”). Here, under “Scale Bar” (or a similar tab like “Design”), you can adjust properties like the units (e.g., Miles, Kilometers), number of divisions, how it adjusts (e.g., “Adjust Width,” “Adjust Division Value”), and more.

C. Legend

• Insert: On the “Insert” tab, in the “Map Surrounds” group, click “Legend.” Click and drag a rectangle on your layout where you want the legend to appear.
• Customize: The legend will automatically populate based on the layers in your map frame. Select the legend to open its properties in the “Element” pane. Here, you can:
  • Control which map layers appear in the legend.
  • Change layer names as they appear in the legend (without changing the actual layer name).
  • Adjust the legend title, font styles, and spacing.
  • Modify patch shapes and sizes.

V. Adding Text and Titles

Text elements provide titles, descriptions, sources, and other important information.

A. Static Text (Titles, Descriptions)

• Insert Text: On the “Insert” tab, in the “Graphics and Text” group, you’ll find text tools. “Rectangle Text” is common for titles or paragraphs. Select it, then click and drag to draw a text box on your layout.
• Enter and Format Text: Double-click inside the text box to type your text. To format it, select the text box. A “Format Text” contextual tab will appear on the ribbon, or you can use the “Element” pane. Here you can change font, size, color, alignment, etc.

B. Dynamic Text

• What is Dynamic Text?: This text updates automatically based on project, map, or layout properties (e.g., current date, file path, map scale, service layer credits).
• Insert: On the “Insert” tab, in the “Graphics and Text” group, click the “Dynamic Text” dropdown. You’ll see various categories like “Layout,” “Map Frame,” “Project,” etc. Select the dynamic text element you need (e.g., “Service Layer Credits” often found under the map frame’s properties or “Date Current” under Layout). Click on the layout to place it.
• Formatting: You can format dynamic text just like static text using the “Format Text” contextual tab or the “Element” pane.

VI. Creating an Overview (Inset) Map

An overview map shows a larger area to provide context for your main map.

• Add Another Map Frame: Follow the same steps as in “III. Adding Your Main Map” to insert a new map frame. This will be your overview map. You might use a different map from your project that shows a broader region, or use the same map but set it to a much smaller scale (more zoomed out).
• Position and Resize: Typically, overview maps are smaller and placed in a corner of the layout.
• Add Extent Indicators: To show where your main map is located within the overview map, select the overview map frame. Go to the “Insert” tab, and in the “Map Frames” group, click “Extent Indicator.” Choose the map frame whose extent you want to show (your main map frame). A rectangle will appear on your overview map. You can customize the symbol (border, fill) of this extent indicator by selecting it and using the “Element” pane or the contextual “Format” tab.
• Optional – Reshape the Overview Map Frame: Select the overview map frame. In the “Element” pane, look for options to change its shape (e.g., to an oval or circle) under the “Frame” or “Display” settings, or by right-clicking and exploring “Format Map Frame.”

VII. Arranging and Aligning Elements

A well-organized layout is visually appealing and easier to read.

• Select Multiple Elements: Hold down the “Shift” key while clicking on different elements (map frames, text boxes, legend, etc.) to select them all.
• Align and Distribute: With multiple elements selected, the “Layout” contextual tab will offer alignment tools in the “Distribute” group (e.g., “Align Left,” “Align Top,” “Distribute Vertically,” “Distribute Horizontally”). You can also right-click on selected elements to find these options. Use these to ensure your elements are perfectly lined up and spaced.

VIII. Exporting Your Layout

Once your layout is complete, you’ll want to export it as an image or PDF.

• Go to Export: On the ribbon, click the “Share” tab. In the “Export” group, click “Layout.”
• Choose File Type: In the “Export Layout” pane, select your desired file type from the “File Type” dropdown. Common choices include:
  • PDF: Good for sharing and printing, preserves vector quality.
  • JPEG: Good for web use or when small file sizes are needed (lossy compression).
  • PNG: Good for web use, supports transparency (lossless compression).
  • TIFF: Good for high-quality prints, often used in publishing (can be lossless).
• Set Export Properties:
  • Name and Location: Specify where to save the file and its name.
  • Resolution (DPI): Dots Per Inch. For printing, 300 DPI is common. For web, 72 or 96 DPI might suffice. Higher DPI means better quality but larger file size.
  • Output Quality (for JPEG): Adjust the compression level.
  • Other Options: Depending on the file type, you might see options like “Embed Fonts” (for PDF, usually good to check), “Output as Image” (for PDF, if you have complex vector elements causing issues), or “Clip to graphics extent.”
• Export: Click the “Export” button at the bottom of the pane.

IX. Conclusion and Further Learning

Congratulations! You now have a solid understanding of how to create, design, and export layouts in ArcGIS Pro. Practice these steps, experiment with different elements and their properties, and you’ll be making professional-quality maps in no time.

For a visual walkthrough of a specific layout creation process, you might find this video example helpful. For even more advanced techniques and detailed explanations of every tool, always refer to the official ArcGIS Pro documentation available from Esri.

Key Enhancements in ArcGIS Pro 3.5

Productivity, Performance, and Quality Boosts

Right off the bat, ArcGIS Pro 3.5 focuses on making your workflows smoother and faster. You’ll notice several improvements, including:

• A new memory workspace button directly in geoprocessing tools for more efficient data handling.
• The introduction of dual scale bars in layouts, offering more flexibility in map presentation.
• Enhanced support for working with Apache Parquet files and NoSQL databases like Elastic Search and Open Search, broadening your data integration capabilities.

Spatial Clause for Definition Queries

Defining your data just got more precise. ArcGIS Pro 3.5 allows you to build a spatial definition query by adding a spatial clause, giving you finer control over the features you’re working with.

Customizable Panel Sets

Organize your workspace your way! The new Panel Sets feature lets you save custom configurations of visible panes and easily reopen them later, streamlining your project setup.

Improved Vertex and Node Visualization

Visualizing network components is now clearer. There’s a new way to quickly overlay vertices, nodes, pseudo-nodes, dangles, and curved segments, making network analysis and editing more intuitive.

Utility Network Migration Wizard

Migrating your utility networks is now simpler with the new Utility Network Migration Wizard. This guided process will help you transition your existing networks into the ArcGIS Utility Network model more efficiently.

Enhanced Histogram Tab for Symbology

The symbology pane sees improvements to its Histogram tab, providing additional capabilities for class-based symbology. This means more control and better visual representation of your classified data.

Upgrades to the Calculate Field Tool

The indispensable Calculate Field tool has received numerous enhancements in ArcGIS Pro 3.5, making data manipulation and updates even more powerful and flexible.

New Metadata Editor

Managing your geospatial metadata is crucial, and ArcGIS Pro 3.5 introduces a brand new Metadata Editor to improve this workflow.

Portal Projects for Enhanced Collaboration

Collaboration gets a boost with Portal Projects. You can now store an ArcGIS Pro project in an ArcGIS Enterprise portal (versions 11.4 or 11.5) and easily share it with others in your organization, fostering better teamwork.

COGO Reader for Parcel Fabric

For those working with land records, a new COGO (Coordinate Geometry) reader has been added for the parcel fabric, aiding in the input and management of survey data.

New Geoprocessing Tool: Estimate Time To Event

A noteworthy addition to the geoprocessing toolbox is the Estimate Time To Event tool, opening up new possibilities for time-sensitive spatial analysis.

These are just some of the many updates in ArcGIS Pro 3.5. This release continues to build on Esri’s commitment to providing a powerful and user-friendly GIS platform. Be sure to explore these features to enhance your geospatial workflows!

1. Use keyboard shortcuts: ArcGIS Pro has a wide range of keyboard shortcuts that can help you work more efficiently. You can find a list of shortcuts in the Help menu, or customize your own shortcuts in the Options menu.
2. Utilize the ribbon interface: The ribbon interface in ArcGIS Pro organizes tools and commands into tabs and groups, making it easy to find the tools you need.
3. Use the Pan and Zoom tools: The Pan and Zoom tools allow you to quickly navigate around your map and change the scale of your data. You can also use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
4. Use the Overview Map: The Overview Map shows a smaller version of your data and allows you to navigate around your map by moving the extent box.
5. Use the Selection tool: The Selection tool allows you to select features in your data, and you can use the Selection menu to perform actions on those features.
6. Use the Bookmarks: The Bookmarks tool allows you to save and recall specific map extents.
7. Use the Project Templates: ArcGIS Pro includes several project templates that you can use to quickly set up a new project with the appropriate settings and data.
8. Use the Layer Properties: The Layer Properties dialog box allows you to control the appearance of your data, including symbology, labels, and transparency.
9. Use the Analysis tools: ArcGIS Pro includes a wide range of Analysis tools that can be used to perform spatial analysis, such as creating buffers, overlaying data, and creating viewsheds.
10. Use the Python Window: The Python Window allows you to run Python scripts and automate tasks in ArcGIS Pro, which can save you time and improve your workflows.

These tips and tricks can help you to be more productive and efficient while working with ArcGIS Pro, but you should always explore the software and try different approaches to find what works best for you.

Though this year’s celebrations may be virtual, your accomplishments in the last year are inspiring and influential. As professionals, engaged citizens, and lovers of a good map, we celebrate you! Our GIS Heroes.  

Videos

• Learn how to celebrate GIS Day
• Make every day GIS Day
• What is GIS?
• Reflections on what is GIS
• Career videos
• Why get excited about web maps?
• Student GIS presentations at the Esri User Conference
• Whiteboarding about GIS
• GIS matters

Promoting your event

Personalize your event by using these GIS Day templates:

• Certificate of Participation
• GIS Day Proclamation Template
• GIS Day Press Release Template
• Logos
• Flyer
• Event Signage
• GIS Day PowerPoint Template
• Happy GIS Day e-card

Put my event on the map

Transform data into maps and actionable information

Combine multiple data sources to create smart, engaging maps. Use powerful 2D and 3D analysis tools to identify patterns and trends. Then make good use of this information by sharing it with the organization, online, and through mobile applications.

Cartography and visualization

Work with intuitive, intelligent mapping tools on any map scale to create stunning 2D and 3D maps for printing, applications, dashboards, and the web. Click here for more information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Combine IdC data, GIS-based location intelligence, and deep learning models and AI-based algorithms to drive knowledge, establish patterns and relationships, and make smarter decisions. Click here for more information.

Integrate data from different sources

Combine data from various formats and sources. ArcGIS Pro supports industry and community standards to ensure the inclusion of all datasets you have.

View data

Visualize 2D and 3D data simultaneously. Manage multiple maps and designs in a single project-based workflow.

Edit and analyze your data

Simplify data editing and analysis with contextual tools. Perform 2D and 3D analysis. Automate work with ModelBuilder or Python.

Share your work with the world

Publish analysis results and maps as web services or high quality prints. Share maps and data in ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise or as a package.