Create a new frame

Most layouts will include one or more plot frames that contain the data you want to plot. Other frames (Text, Table, Scale Bar, Legend etc.) provide additional information about that data.

When a frame is nested within another frame it becomes a child of the parent frame. You can also add a child (Section Window or Grid) to a parent (plot) frame.

To create a frame from the Plot Forms pane:

  1. If it is not already open, click on the Plot Forms button to open the Plot Forms pane.
  2. Frame Types are shown as parent nodes in the Plot Forms pane. Double-click on a frame type to create a new form set.
  3. Enter the properties of the new frame in the displayed form.
  4. If you want to save the form set, click Save As and enter a descriptive name for the form set.
  5. Finally, click OK to add the frame to the layout window.

You can also add a frame to the layout interactively using the Create New Frame tool on the Plot Editor toolbar.

When you add a grid or a graticule it must be a child of a plot frame (which determines the size and position of the grid or the graticule). To add a grid to the layout, right-click on the plot frame (in the layout window or the Frames pane) and select Add Grid or Add Graticule from the right-click menu. Alternatively, double-click on the Graticule form set type in the Plot Forms pane.

To add a frame from the Plot Editor ribbon in the View group:

  1. Click the Create New Frame tool.

    2. The New Frame icon

  2. Drag a rectangle anywhere within the plot margins and release the mouse when the rectangle is about the right size and shape.
  3. The Plot Editor will prompt you to Select a frame type. Choose a frame type from the list provided.
  4. Configure the frame’s properties and click OK when you are finished.
  5. With the new frame selected (its border will be highlighted in red) drag the frame boundaries until it is located as desired. You will not be able to drag it beyond the plot margins.

The frames you add to the layout (and the relationships between them) are shown in the Plot Frames pane. For more information about creating a frame, or modifying the properties of a frame, refer to the Working with plot frames topic.