XMS Print Layout

Example of the XMS Layout dialog.

The layout tool helps to bring up the current view(s) of the XMS window along with its view parameters. The Layout Editor window is accessed through the File menu and choosing the Layout menu item.

Layout Editor Description

Below is a brief explanation of the Layout Editor dialog's macros, tools, and menus.

Document Toolbar

• Import – Opens a saved layout (*.mwl)
• Export – Saves the layout in a user specific folder.
• Print – Prints the layout.

Insert Toolbar

• Insert map – Brings the current display in the Main Graphics Window into the map object.
• Insert north arrow – Adds a north arrow to the selected map control.
• Insert scale bar – Inserts a scale bar to the selected the map control
• Insert Text: – Inserts a text box.
• Insert rectangle – Inserts a rectangle on the layout
• Insert Bitmap – Inserts a bitmap on the layout control.
• Select Tool – Used to select and move objects around the layout area.

Zoom Toolbar

• Update Current View – Updates the selected map control based on the current view from XMS window.
• Zoom map to extent of data view – Extends the layout image object. The object will be extended in full when the image is first brought in. If the Size or Scale properties are changed for the layout object, then this command can be used to adjust how the image fits.
• Zoom in – Zooms in on the layout control.
• Zoom out – Zooms out from the layout control.
• Fit to screen – Changes the layout control to fit to screen.
• Percentage field – Changes the the given zoom level. This is populated with common percentages, but can also be manually changed by clicking in the white area and typing a number.

Layout Editor Menus

File menu in the XMS Layout dialog.

File menu items:

• Import – Opens the saved layout.
• Export – Saves the layout in a user specified folder.
• Page Setup – This brings up the page setup dialog box.
• Print – Prints the current layout.

View menu items:

View menu

• Zoom in – Increases the size of the paper view region from layout control.
• Zoom out – Decreases the size of the paper view region from layout control.
• Fit to screen – Fits the screen paper view area based on layout control size.
• Show margins – Shows the margins of the paper control.
• Toolbars – Submenu with commands to enable or disable the Document, Insert, or Zoom toolbars.
• Refresh – Redraws the layout control.

When the layout is closed, it gets stored in the temporary folder of the current process. However, when the project gets stored the layout file contents moved to saved projected file under "Layout" node.

When opening a saved project and if the project doesn't have a layout, it brings up an empty layout. But, if the project already have a layout, it shows the saved layout.

Layout Controls

Layout controls

After inserting any object into the Layout Editor, the object can be selected using the section in the upper right portion of the window. This section displays all objects that have been inserted into the layout. Select an object to make it active by clicking directly on the listed object or using the up or down arrow buttons to cycle through each object in the list. Selecting the delete button will remove the object from the layout.

Object Properties

The lower right portion of the Layout Editor shows the properties of the active object in the Layout Controls section. The properties can be sorted using the following command buttons:

• Categorize – Places the properties in categories such as "Layout", "Map", and "Symbol". The options in each category relate to the category title.
• Alphabetical – Displays all properties alphabetically from A–Z without grouping them into categories.
• Property Pages

General Properties

All objects have the following properties in common:

• Location – This field present two numbers. The first number is the X-axis location of the object. Increasing the X number moves the object to the right. The second number is the Y-axis location of the object. Increasing the Y number moves the object down. This property can be expanded to more clearly see the X and Y numbers.
• Name – This field shows the current selected object name. The field is editable.
• Size – This field present two numbers. The first number is the width of the object. Increasing the Width number expands the object to the right and decreasing the number reduces the object towards the left edge. The second number is height of the object. Increasing the Height number expands the object down and decreasing the number reduces the object towards the top edge. This property can be expanded to more clearly see the Width and Height numbers.
• Background – Clicking on the button in this field, the Polygon Symbolizer Properties dialog is brought up.

Map

The Insert map tool is used to place the current image in Graphics Window into the Layout Editor. The tool is used by clicking and dragging in the Layout Editor to define the area where the map will be displayed. The editor will automatically resize and scale the image to the defined area.

The display of the editor can further be edited by adjusting the map properties. The map objects use general properties and the follow map object specific properties:

• Scale – Adjusts the size of the image inside of the map object. Increasing this value with decrease the size of the image. Decreasing the value will increase the image size.
• Bearing – The degree away from North of the original image in the Graphis Window.
• Dip – The angle of descent relative to a horizontal plane of the image in the Graphics Window.
• Heigth – The original height of the image in the Graphics Window.
• Width – The original width of the image in the Graphics Window.

North Arrow

Properties of the north arrow

The north arrow binds with the specific map control. When a map gets rotated the north arrow changes its rotation angle based on the map's bearing angle. The following are the properties of the north arrow:

• Color – Contains a drop down list of colors. Selecting a color will change the color of the north arrow object.
• Map – This field contains a dropdown list of all map objects in the Layout Editor. Selecting a map object assigns the north arrow to that map. When assigned, the arrow will rotate to match show north on the map.
• North Arrow Style – A drop down list of north arrow styles. Styles include: "Default", "Black Arrow", "Center Star", "Triangle N", "Triangle Hat", and "Arrow N".

Examples of north arrow styles

• Rotation – Changes the rotation of the north arrow. Normally, the arrow rotation matches the map bearing.

Scale Bar

The scale bar also connected with map controls. Users are able to choose the scale of the scale bar and also change the map controls. The following are the properties of the scale bar:

• Break Before Zero – Default is "False".
• Color – Contains a drop down list of colors. Selecting a color will change the color of the scale bar object.
• Font – Displays the current font style and size for text in the scale bar object. Clicking on the button in this field brings up a Font dialog where the font type, style, size, script, and any effects can be selected.
• Map – This field contains a dropdown list of all map objects in the Layout Editor. Selecting a map object assigns the scale bar to that map. When assigned, the scale bar will adjust to fit the scale of the map.
• Number of Breaks – Indicates how many interval marks will be displayed on the scale bar. Requires a minimum value of "1".
• Text Hint – Rasterization options for how the text will be rendered. Options include: "System Default", "Single Bit Per Pixel Grid Fit", "Single Bit Per Pixel", "Anti-Alias Grid Fit", "Anti-Alias", and "Clear Type Grid Fit".
• Unit – A drop down menu where the scale bar measurement units can be selected. Units options include: "Kilometers", "Meters", "Centimeters", "Millimeters", "Miles,", Yards", "Feet", and "Inches".
• Unit text – Indicates how the units are referred to on the scale bar. Currently, this is not updated when the Units are changed.

Properties of the scale bar

The scale bar doesn't support geographic degrees and also if the dip is not equal to 0° or 90°, the scale bar doesn't show any scales.

Text

• Color – Contains a drop down list of colors. Selecting a color will change the color of the text.
• Continent Alignment – Determines the horizontal and vertical alignment of the text inside of the text object. The default is to align the text to the upper left side of the text object.
• Font – Displays the current font style and size for the text. Clicking on the button in this field brings up a Font dialog where the font type, style, size, script, and any effects can be selected.
• Text – Field where the text displayed in the text object can be edited.
• Text Hint – Rasterization options for how the text will be rendered. Options include: "System Default", "Single Bit Per Pixel Grid Fit", "Single Bit Per Pixel", "Anti-Alias Grid Fit", "Anti-Alias", and "Clear Type Grid Fit".

Rectangle

Rectangles created in the Layout Editor use general properties only and do not have specific properties.

Image

• Brightness – Increases how light the image appears. Value can be from 0–255 with the default value being "0" (no additional lightening).
• Contrast – Increases the difference in color in the image. Value can be from 0–255 with the default value being "0" (no additional contrast).
• File Name – Displays the pathname and file name of the imported image.
• Preserve Aspect Ratio – A drop down mene with the options "True" or "False". Selecting "True" will keep the image constrained to the dimensions of the imported image. Selecting "False" will change the image dimensions to fit the image object box.

Related Topics

• GMS File Menu
• SMS File Menu