MapInfo Products KnowledgeBase

Product: MapInfo
Version: 6.x\7.x
Platform: Not Platform Related
Category: Layout Window

Summary:
Setting up a layout window at a particular size and scale.

Question:
Since the layout window and map window are interactive, what is the process to set up a layout window at a particular size (i.e. 11" x 17") and scale (i.e. 1 in = .25 mi)?

Answer:
Before beginning, the page size of the layout window, the size of the frame on the layout, and the scale must be established. (When sizing the frame, be sure to take in to account the margins of the layout.)

For this example, the frame size will be 8 inches x 12 inches and it will be placed on a layout window representing a piece of paper sized at 11 inches x 17 inches in portrait mode. The scale will be 1 inch = one quarter of a mile.

Frame = 8 in x 12 in
Layout Size = 11 in x 17 in – Portrait
Scale: 1 in = .25 mi (1/4 of a mile)

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Resize the map window to the correct proportions in relation to the frame that will contain the map on the layout. In this example, the frame is 8 in x 12 in. That does not mean that the map window needs to be 8 in x 12 in as well. Only the proportions need to match.

For example, the frame’s proportions are 1:1.5. That means the height of the frame is 1.5 times as tall as it is wide. So, the map window needs to be 1.5 times taller than it is wide.

So, for practical purposes, let’s resize the map window to be 4 in wide x 6 in tall.
(6 in height / 4 in width = 1.5 times taller than wide). To resize the window, go to the next step.

2. Click on the title bar of the map window to make it the active window (or front window). Choose Options>Show Map Basic Window. Type the following statement:

set window frontwindow() height 6 width 4



Press enter. The map will now be resized.

Here is the example map after resizing. (The screen resolution may make the map appear much larger than the actual size specified in the MapBasic Window)



3. Now, the zoom must be set. To find the value for the zoom, use this formula:

zoom = layout frame width x Scale desired

For this example:
2 mi = 8 in x .25 mi/in
To set the zoom to 2 miles, click on the Change View button. . Enter 2 for the Zoom (Window Width) in the following dialog and click OK:



If the map needs repositioning, before panning, click on the title bar of the Map and choose Map>Options. In the lower left corner, select the option to “preserve current scale”. Now, the map can be panned and repositioned without changing the scale.



Here is the map after repositioning:



4. Now, create the layout by going to Window>New Layout Window. Take the default option and click OK.

5. Choose File>Page Setup. Click the printer button and select the correct printer if it is not already chosen. Choose the page size. In this example, the page size will be 11 in x 17 in. Then, select the proper orientation to be portrait or landscape. In this example, the orientation will be portrait.

Click OK.

6. To easily view the layout, choose Layout>View Entire Layout.

7. Double-click on the frame in the layout. In the lower right corner, enter the scale. For this example, the scale is 1 in = one quarter mile or 1 in = .25 mi.



8. To reposition the frame on the layout, use the main select arrow and click and drag the frame to any desired position on the white area of the layout.



The layout is now set to print the map contained in the frame where 1 inch = .25 miles.

Last Modified: 09/18/2003 03:29:42 PM
Document URL: http://testdrive.mapinfo.com/techsupp/miprod.nsf/kbase_by_product/630B1CA0E4F6A00A85256C1C0074AF20

Setting up a layout window at a particular size and scale.^630B1CA0E4F6A00A85256C1C0074AF20^Y