Add a layout to a project

Adding a layout to a project creates a page where layout elements, such as map frames and legends, can be added and adjusted. This page can be exported or printed. There are three ways to add a layout to a project: create a blank layout, select a layout file from the Import Layout gallery, or import a layout file.

Create a blank layout

You can create a blank layout by selecting a page size from a gallery of common sizes, choosing a custom height and width, or choosing a page size from a printer.

To create a layout, do the following:

1. On the Disseminate tab, in the Insert group, click New Layout .
2. On the drop-down menu, choose one of the following to create a blank layout:
   • A predefined page size from the gallery—Choose from ANSI, Architectural, and ISO sizes.
   • Custom page size—Use the Layout Properties window to set the page size and page units.
   • Select page from printer—Select the page size from a printer. Check Include printer margins to draw a dashed outline defining the printable area on the layout page.
3. Add elements such as map frames, legends, and table frames to finish the layout.

Select a layout file from the import gallery

Layout files are available in the Import Layout gallery to add formatted and saved layouts to the project. By default, this gallery contains preconstructed layout files from a folder installed with the application. You can customize the gallery by adding your own layout files to this folder, or you can set the gallery to reference a different folder containing layout files. Updating the folder location is useful for organizations in which many users need to access the same layout files to use as templates.

Files in the gallery are labeled according to their metadata. The name displayed in the gallery is the metadata title, not the file name, and the thumbnail in the gallery is the same thumbnail for the metadata. To edit the metadata for the layout file, connect to the folder containing the layout file in the Catalog pane. Expand the folder, right-click the layout file in the Catalog pane, and choose Edit Metadata. You can also update the metadata thumbnail by right-clicking the layout file in the Catalog pane and choosing Create Thumbnail.

Note:

Once a layout file has been added to a project, it becomes a layout. Editing the layout metadata does not update the gallery view. You must update the metadata for the layout file in the gallery.

To add a layout from the gallery, do the following:

1. On the Disseminate tab, in the Insert group, click Import Layout .
2. Choose a layout file from the gallery.

   A new layout is added.

3. Modify existing elements on the layout and add elements as needed to finish the layout.

Import a layout

Existing layouts in the project or from a different project can be saved as layout files and imported. You can then edit the layout as desired. By default, importing a layout file copies all of the maps referenced by the layout. If the maps already exist in the project, you can check Reuse existing maps when importing layouts, which checks the projects for the maps referenced in the layout file, and only copies maps that don't exist in the project. This avoids duplicating maps in the project.

To import an existing layout file to the project, do the following:

1. On the Disseminate tab, in the Insert group, click Import Layout .
2. Choose Import layout file .
3. Browse to the desired layout file on the Import dialog box and click OK.

   Optionally, if the map in the layout file already exists in the project, check Reuse existing maps when importing layouts to avoid duplicate maps in the project. Any maps not in the project will still be copied if this option is checked.

   A new layout is added.

4. Modify existing elements on the layout and add elements as needed to finish the layout.