Page element rules

As dynamic text and surround elements are added to your map sheets, you can create rules that will maintain consistent placement across an entire map series. Element rules can be added for any map element including scale bars, north arrows, graphics, and data frames.

The element rules you create determine the vertical and horizontal alignment of an element in relation to another element on the map or the page itself. Therefore, when you create rules, you designate where you want the element to appear on the map based on the placement of a different point of reference. For example, a map sheet title could be placed based on the position of the data frame.

You can define the alignment of an element by forming a sentence with the interface. For example, "Align the Bottom of Title Above the Top of Layers At a distance of 1 centimeter." In this case, the Title text will always be 1 centimeter above the Layers data frame, so if you move the data frame the title will move with it.

Element rules can be created for both vertical and horizontal relative placement. Rules can also be grouped to make them easier to manage. For example, a horizontal rule and a vertical rule for placing a scale bar can be grouped for organization and they can be moved in the rule order together.

The Element Rule Manager

The Element Rule Manager holds all element placement rules for a map series or shared map sheet. It provides a tree view of your placement rules and rule groups and allows you to access and manage the properties for each.

Once you have created all the rule groups and element rules for your map series or shared map sheet, changes may be necessary. With MPS-Atlas you can:

• Rename rule groups.
• Edit rule properties.
• Delete individual rules and rule groups.
• Delete all the rules and rule groups.
• Change rules and rule group order or execution.