Adding a Scale Bar to Represent Map Scale - MapInfo_Pro - 2023

The map scale bar shows the scale of map representation relative to the portion of the Earth's surface it displays. The scale bar also has the option to show the cartographic scale of the map.

About Map Scale

A map represents a portion of the Earth's surface, so each map has a scale that indicates the relationship between a distance on the map and the distance on the ground. The scale is a ratio or representative fraction (RF). It can be expressed as 1/100,000 or 1:100,000. In this example, one centimeter on the map equals 100,000 centimeters (1 kilometer) on the earth. It also means that one inch on the map is equal to 100,000 inches on the land (8,333 feet, 4 inches or about 1.6 miles). Or even 1 paperclip on the map is equal to 100,000 paperclips on the ground. Common RFs include 1:63,360 (1 inch to 1 mile) and 1:1,000,000 (1 cm to 10 km).

In MapInfo Pro, a map scale that does not include distance units, such as 1:63,360 or 1:1,000,000, is called a cartographic scale.

Maps are often known as large scale or small scale. A large scale map shows greater detail and has a larger representative fraction (RF) of 1:50,000 or greater (for example, 1:10,000). A small scale map shows more of the earth's surface and has a small RF, such as 1:250,000 to 1:7,500,000. Maps between 1:50,000 to 1:250,000 are an intermediate scale. Maps of the world that fit on to a normal sheet of paper are very small scale, about 1 to 100 million.

The scale bar adjusts as you zoom and pan the map to accurately reflect the new map view.

Adding a Scale Bar to the Map

You must have your map open to add a scale bar to it.

To add a scale bar to your map:

1. On the Map tab, in the Content group, click Add to Map, and click Scalebar from the list to open the Create Adornment dialog box.
2. Select how to position the scale bar on the map, either:
   • Select a default position - Select to place adornment in a preset location: upper left corner, upper right corner, lower left corner, or lower right corner.
   • Specify a custom position - Select to place adornment in a specific location. Enter measurement values in to the Move right and Move down fields. Use positive numbers.
3. (Optional) Click Next to customize the scale bar.

   The Create Scale Bar dialog box displays. Customize the scale bar using the following settings:

   Bar Length

   The two values are proportional: the first value is the distance on the paper map, the second value is what the first value represents as a distance on the Earth's surface. Specify the length of the scale bar to a maximum of 34 inches or 86.3 cm on the printed map.

   Use Automatic Sizing

   Check this check box to include a "nicer" scale value on a map. There is a description just below this check box that will explain how the current scale bar will be drawn into the map.

   Add Cartographic Scale

   Check this check box to include a representative fraction (RF) with the scale bar. In MapInfo Pro, a map scale that does not include distance units, such as 1:63,360 or 1:1,000,000, is called a cartographic scale. For more information, see About Map Scale.

   Type

   Select a preset scale bar: 1 Check Bar, 2 Solid Bar, 3 Line Bar, or 4 Tick Bar.

   

   Select to customize how the bar displays:

   	Click to display the Region Style dialog box and select fill color for customizing the scale bar.
   	Click to display the Line Style dialog box and select line options for customizing the scale bar.
   	Click to display the Text Style dialog box and set the font style, such as type, size, and color, for customizing scale bar values.

   Background

   Click these buttons to set the background fill style and background border style.

4. Click Finish.

The scale bar displays on top of the cosmetic layer of the map. It remains in the same position even when panning or zooming the map.

Reposition the scale bar by clicking and dragging it to a new location on the map.

If zooming on the map, the scale bar will recalculate to reflect the new zoom level. Depending on the projection system that the map is in, such as Longitude / Latitude, panning the map may cause the scale bar to recalculate. To redraw the map scale using specific values, see Changing Scale Bar Properties.

To save the scale bar with the map, save your workspace.

Removing a Scale Bar

To remove a scale bar from the Map window:

1. Right-click on the scale bar.
2. From the pop-up menu, select Remove.

Save the workspace to save this change to the map.

Changing Scale Bar Properties

To change scale bar properties either:

• Double-click the scale bar
• Right-click on the scale bar and from the pop-up menu, select Properties.

The Scale Bar Properties dialog box displays. Make any adjustments to the settings for the scale bar. For a detailed description of the scale bar properties, see Create Scale Bar Dialog Box.

Adding a Cartographic Scale to the Scale Bar

In MapInfo Pro, a map scale that does not include distance units, such as 1:63,360 or 1:1,000,000, is called a cartographic scale. For more information, see About Map Scale. A cartographic scale provides additional information to a scale bar, it displays below the scale bar.

To add a Cartographic scale to the scale bar:

1. Either:
   • Double-click the scale bar
   • Right-click on the scale bar and from the pop-up menu, select Properties.
2. Select the Add Cartographic Scale check box.

The scale bar redraws to include a cartographic scale.

Resetting the Cartographic Scale Value

MapInfo Pro displays the map scale one of two ways:

• A distance scale where one paper unit equals some number of map distance units, such as 1 inch = 200 miles.
• A cartographic scale, or ratio scale, where 1 paper unit on the map equals some number of the same unit on the ground, such as 1:20,000, which means 1 inch on the map equals 20,000 inches on the ground.

To change the value of the cartographic scale in your map:

1. Right-click on the Map window and choose Change View from the menu.
2. In the Change View dialog box, the Cartographic Scale field controls the type of scale MapInfo Pro uses.
   • Change the value of the cartographic scale. The map scale and the map zoom also change accordingly.
3. Click OK to exit the dialog box.

The value that the scale bar displays depends on the zoom of the map. As you zoom in to our out of the map, this value changes. When preparing to print the map, you may want to set the cartographic scale to display to a specific value, such as1: 20,000.

See also, Adding a Cartographic Scale to the Scale Bar.