MapInfo Products KnowledgeBase

Product: MapInfo
Version: 6.0
Platform: Not Platform Related
Category: Cartographic Legends

Summary:
Creating a legend that contains only a subset of object types from tables in a map.

Question:
Map>Create Legend will build a cartographic legend that includes all objects from any chosen layer. However, there is no "do not show this object type" setting for cartographic legends (though there is a similar option for ranges in a thematic legend). This can be a problem for a map that includes a large number of object types -- for example, symbols that are identical except for the size setting.

To build a legend that shows only some objects from each of the layers, it is necessary to build a new permanent sub-table containing samples of the desired object types (and no other object types).

For example, there are several point, line, and region styles in the sample map below:



A default cartographic legend would look something like this:



To remove the bare feet, the purple dotted line, and the green region from the cartographic legend and keep other object types, it would be necessary to create separate tables to contain the objects desired in each of the columns of the legend window.

Answer:
A quick way to build a cartographic legend containing only some of the elements from several tables:

1. Make the Cosmetic Layer editable (and make sure there are no unwanted objects already in the Cosmetic Layer.)
2. Select an object desired to appear on the cartographic legend. If there are multiple such objects in a single table, hold down the [Shift] key and click to select several objects simultaneously.
3. Hit Ctrl-C to copy the object(s) to the clipboard, then Ctrl-V to paste the copy immediately to the Cosmetic Layer.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 until there is a copy in the Cosmetic Layer for each type of object desired to display in the cartographic legend.
5. Choose Map>Save Cosmetic Objects and save the layer to a new table; call it "Legendary_Objects" or some similar name.
6. In Layer Control, move the Legendary_Objects layer to the bottom of the list of layers, so that the copied objects won't be visible on the map.
7. For a landscape-view cartographic legend window with multiple columns of objects, repeat steps 2-6 to create another table that can contribute a separate column to the cartographic legend window.
8. Choose Map>Create Legend, pick the "Legendary_Objects" layer and any other similar legend tables created, and click Finish to build the legend window. Double-click each section of the legend to modify the labels for each type of object.
9. For safety's sake, in Layer Control, uncheck the "visible" checkbox for the "Legendary_Objects" layer, so that the copies of the original objects don't accidentally cause confusion later. (But be careful about choosing to refresh the legend window styles after making changes to this layer, of course!)



Last Modified: 03/30/2001 03:21:01 PM
Document URL: http://testdrive.mapinfo.com/techsupp/miprod.nsf/kbase_by_product/88181EA9B1BEB2EB85256A1D007B64AC

Creating a legend that contains only a subset of object types from tables in a map.^88181EA9B1BEB2EB85256A1D007B64AC^Y