Data frame rules

Data frame rules are a set of properties that define and share data frame settings. Settings include scale, extent, size, rotation, and coordinate system. Data frame rules are highly configurable and can be saved and reused.

You can apply data frame rules to any data frame in any map document. You can configure data frame rules for a single frame. You can also configure rules for multiple data frames. In this configuration, you share settings like scale, extent and size across multiple data frames. This allows you to enforce rules from base map data frames to inset map data frames.

Data frame rules can be saved to .xml and reused or distributed based on your organization's specifications. You can load and save them into a Product Library to automate data frame settings.

The Data Frame Rules dialog box is the primary interface for managing data frame rules. To access this dialog box, do the following:

• Click the Layout window button on the Production Cartography toolbar.
• Click the Apply Data Frame Rules button on the Layout window.
• Click the Properties button on the Apply Data Frame Rules dialog box.

The Data Frame Rules dialog box

The Data Frame Rules dialog box has three tabs to manage functionality: General, Rotation, and Coordinate System.

The General tab

The General tab allows you to set the data frame's extent, scale, or size. There are three settings to choose from:

• Allow Extent to vary
• Allow Scale to vary
• Allow Size to vary

Allow Extent to vary

If you choose Allow Extent to vary, you must specify the data frame's scale and size. The geographic extent can change.

Allow Scale to vary

If you choose Allow Scale to vary, you must specify the data frame's extent and size. The data frame scale can change.

Allow Size to vary

If you choose Allow Size to vary, you must specify the data frame's extent and scale. The data frame's size can change.

Specify Extent—The Define Extent dialog box

You can specify an extent if you have chosen the Allow Size to vary or the Allow Scale to vary options. Clicking the Specify Extent button will display the Define Extent dialog box.

Buffering Options dialog box

Choose the Allow Size to vary or the Allow Scale to vary options to define a buffer between the data frame and the extent. This allows the data frame to extend to a larger area. Click Buffering Options to define a buffer.

A positive buffer increases the extent size. For example, a 10% buffer would increase the extent size to 110% of its original size.

Rotation tab

The Rotation tab allows you to apply a specified rotation to the active data frame.

Coordinate System tab

The Coordinate System tab allows you to apply a specified coordinate system to the active data frame.

You can apply different coordinate system types to the data frame:

• Fixed: Use the spatial reference defined on the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box.
• Calculate UTM Zone: Calculates UTM zone based on active data frame extent.
• Calculate Central Meridian and Parallels: Calculates the central meridian and parallels based on the active data frame extent. You must specify a base coordinate system in the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box.
• Coordinate System Zones: The data frame's extent may intersect more than one coordinate system zone. In these scenarios, you can use a feature class or shapefile to define the coordinate system of the data frame. The feature class must contain a spatial reference text field populated with coordinate system or projection file (.prj) format strings. The feature class should also have an integer field that contains coordinate system zone numbers. Where the data frame's extent intersects the Coordinate System Zones feature class, selection rules determine which zone's coordinate system is used. Selection rules include Largest Area, Smallest Area, Highest Zone, and Lowest Zone.