Atlas Library

The Library is under construction. The intent is to store reusable components used in mapping.


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  • Oct 2012: Templates added to the Map Files area
  • NOTE: Standard images on some map footers are unresolved. If you want to work on a map that has broken image links, contact us.

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Atlas Library

Map components

The Gallery section of the Maps area provides finalized maps. This Library section provides the components that are used in the final maps.

Bookmarks


Bookmarks are the "places" in mapping. A spatial bookmark identifies a particular geographic location that you want to save and reference later. For example, you might create a spatial bookmark that identifies a study area. As you pan and zoom around your map, you can easily return to the study area by accessing the bookmark.

Expressions


Expressions are statements that determine label text. Label expressions typically concatenate or modify the contents of one or more fields, and may add additional text strings to create more informative labels. They can contain Visual Basic script or JScript to add logic, text processing, and formatting for the labels.

Layers


Layers are "pages" of information and usually a map will contain multiple layers. Each layer may hold any portion of the maps content (e.g. symbology, data source pointer), and layers may be made visible or invisible, showing or hiding their contained objects, in any combination. They may also be rearranged in terms of relative "stacking order".

Map Files

Map Files are the original maps (.mxd) and require GIS software to view and change.

Scripts

Scripts (e.g. Python) help automate map manipulation.

Styles


Styles are a collection of predefined colors, symbols, properties of symbols, and map elements that allow a mapping standard to be followed and help promote consistency in mapping products.

Styles help define not only how data is drawn but also the appearance and placement of map elements and other cartographic additions on a map. Every time a particular map element or symbol is chosen and applied, the contents of a style is being used.

Benefits of using styles include

  • Maintaining mapping standards for symbols, colors, patterns, methods of rendering distributions, relationships, and trends
  • Communicating more effectively through familiar styles that enable people to easily explore, understand, and analyze a map
  • Using a map template with referenced styles or groups of styles when creating a map or map series
  • Standardizing map symbolization so maps will look the same when they are published or printed with different printers

Symbols


Symbols are the graphics used to represent a geographic feature or class of features. Symbols can look like what they represent (trees, railroads, houses), or they can be abstract shapes (points, lines, polygons) or characters. Symbols are usually explained in a map legend.