Using the intersection of the data frame as the area of interest

The Area of Interest tab in the Data Frame Manager Properties dialog box makes it possible to determine what will be considered the area of interest. This is particularly useful for several complex types of overview diagrams. You can either include just the map sheet's area of interest or an intersection of the area of interest with another data layer.

With an intersection, the area of interest feature in an inset or second data frame will be intersected with the current extent or centroid of the current map sheet AOI feature and return the feature or features that it intersects.

Steps:
  1. Start ArcMap.
  2. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > MPS Atlas.
  3. Click the Show Data Frame Manager Properties button Show Data Frame Manager Properties on the MPS Atlas toolbar.

    The Data Frame Managers dialog box appears.

    Data Frame Manager dialog box
  4. Click to choose a data frame manager .
  5. Click Properties.

    The Data Frame Manager Properties dialog box appears.

  6. Click the Area of Interest tab.
  7. Click the Intersection Area of Interest option.
    Area of Interest tab
  8. Click one of the options in the Intersection area.
    • Centroid—Returns the feature that intersects the center of the current map sheet AOI feature.
    • Whole Shape—Returns features from the AOI feature class that intersect the map sheet AOI.
  9. Click one of the options in the Result area.
    • First returns the first one it encounters. Since this is based on ObjectID, it is a random result.
    • Largest Area returns the AOI feature where the largest area of the map sheet covers it.

    • Union of All returns a combination of all the features that intersect with the map sheet AOI.
  10. Click OK.

4/17/2012