Inserting a US National Grid Reference Box element

The U.S. National Grid Reference Box references the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid zone designator and the two-letter location identifiers of the 100,000-meter grid squares that cover the extent of the active data frame. Multiple combinations of grid zone identifiers and 100,000-meter grid squares are possible when the data frame extent crosses zone boundaries.

Note:

The scale must be set to 1:250,000 or larger to use this tool.

Grid zone designations are unique identifiers specified with numbers from 1–60 for the UTM zones and letters C through X (skipping I and O) specifying 8 degrees of latitude each, starting at 80 degrees south and going to 84 degrees north.

Each grid zone is subdivided into 100,000-meter grid squares specified by two-letter identifiers, with the first letter indicating a column and the second letter indicating a row.

The information displayed in the reference box, including the grid zone designation and the two-letter location identifiers of the 100,000-meter grid squares, is initially determined from the map extents. This information can be further modified on the National Grid Reference Box Properties dialog box.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Verify that the map is in layout view.
3. On the main menu, click Insert > Topographic > US National Grid Reference Box.

   A National Grid Reference Box appears in the map layout based on the grid zones and 100,000-meter identifiers.

4. Double-click the National Grid Reference Box.

   The National Grid Reference Box Properties dialog box appears.
5. Uncheck the Update Dynamically check box.

   The 100,000-meter Identifier and Grid Zone Designation text boxes and associated options become available.

   The Display Text Description text box becomes available.

6. If necessary, check the Display Grid Reference Box check box.
7. Click one of the following options for the 100,000-meter identifier:
   • Single—This option allows you to enter a single location identifier in the 100,000-meter Identifier text box.
   • Multiple—This option displays multiple 100,000-meter Identifier text boxes for defining additional location identifiers.
8. Type or modify a location identifier in the 100,000-meter Identifier text box or boxes.
9. Click one of the following options for the grid zone designation:
   • Single—This option allows you to enter a single grid zone designation in the Grid Zone Designation text box.
   • Multiple—This option displays multiple Grid Zone Designation text boxes for defining additional UTM grid zone designators.
10. Type or modify a grid zone designation in the Grid Zone Designation text box or boxes.
11. Optionally, check the Display Text Description check box.
12. Optionally, type a grid description in the Display Text Description text box.
13. Click OK.