Creating an Index Grid

1. Open grids-example.ai  from the Tutorial Data folder.

When the document loads, the world_area layer of the WGS 84 MAP View is the only layer visible. All other MAP layers are hidden. Several graphic styles and character styles have been created for you for this tutorial to style grids and graticules. You can also create these prior to using the Grids & Graticules dialog box and the styles will be available from the menus. Alternatively, you can use the Custom mode to create a style or font and apply it directly.

 

2. On the MAPublisher toolbar, click the Grids & Graticules button. In the message, click Create Legend layer.

 

3. In the Grids & Graticules dialog box, click the Index Grid button to show its options. Leave the By number of columns/rows as 10 for each box.

 

4. In the Grid Collection box, click Grid Lines. Ensure the Draw Grid Lines checkbox is checked and the Solid line option is chosen. Click the style link (1 pt Black). In the Edit Appearance dialog box, click the Graphic style/Custom style toggle icon and then select Grid Style from the Style drop-down list, then click OK.

 

5. In the Grid Collection box, click Grid Border. Ensure the Draw Border checkbox is checked. Click the style link (1 pt Black). In the Edit Appearance dialog box, change the stroke weight to 1.25 pt, then click OK.

 

6. In the Grid Collection box, click Cell References. In the Cell Reference Labeling control, click both the top label (1, 2) and the left label (A, B) to enable them. Notice that labels in the Cell Reference Labeling control are highlighted with a green box when the mouse hovers over the different style options.

Clicking the border reference labels enables or disables the display of border labels on the grid.

 

7. Click Preview.

The Grids & Graticules dialog box minimizes and a grid is drawn with the settings you specified. You'll change more index settings such as offset and label style.

 

8. Click Restore.

 

9. In the Label placement control, click the center style label to enable them.

 

10. Under the Cell References section, increase the Place labels off cell by value to 5.00 pt.

 

11. Click the Border style link. In the Edit Text Appearance dialog box, click the Character style/Custom style toggle icon, and select My Grid Style from the Character style drop-down list, then click OK.

 

12. Click the Center style link. In the Edit Text Appearance dialog box, change the font to Arial Black 9.00 pt and choose a gray fill colour. Then click OK.

 

13. Click the Row order drop-down list and choose Ascending.

14. Make sure your settings match the ones above and click OK to create the index grid. (If you're experimenting with different settings, click Preview again to see your changes.)

An index grid is placed on the map. Each cell is labeled with an alphanumeric reference label. The border labels are offset from the border compared to the first preview. To edit an existing grid, select the grid and click the Grids & Graticules button.

 

15. Save the document as MyGrid.ai. It will be used in the Creating Feature and Text Indexes tutorial.

 

16. Close the document without saving.