If the Map window has a scale bar, then it comes with the map when you add it to a layout. You can edit this scale bar's properties, or remove it, by right-clicking on the map frame to make it active (select Activate) and then right-clicking on the scale bar.
For professional quality cartographic output, we recommend placing a live dynamic scale bar on your layout by using the ScaleBar command on the LAYOUT tab. This command lets you add a custom scale bar anywhere on your layout and gives you better presentation effects than the simple scale bar available with a Map window. Adding a scale bar to a map in your layout does not affect your Map window.
To add a scale bar to your layout:
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On the LAYOUT tab, in the Edit group, click Scalebar to open the Create Scale Bar dialog box.
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From the Link to Map list, select the map from this list to create a scale bar for.
You can have multiple maps on a layout and you can create a scale bar for each map.
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Specify the bar length, or use the default values. 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.
The Scalebar Preview updates as you change scale bar display settings.
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Check the Use Automatic Scaling check box to include a "nicer" scale value on a map. There is a description just below this check box that explains how the current scale bar will be drawn into the map.
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Check the Add Cartographic Scale 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.
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Select a preset scale bar: Check Bar, Solid Bar, Line Bar, or Tick Bar.
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Customize the look of the scale bar using the following buttons:
- Select Scalebar Font and Font Style - Sets the font type, style, and color. Use the slider under the preview panel to adjust the font size.
- Select Scalebar Color One - Opens the Select Color dialog to set the fill color. Click on the color wheel to select a color and use the slider to adjust the transparency of the fill color. For more precision choosing a color, enter RGB (Red, Green, Blue) values or a hexadecimal value in the fields provided. You can also enter a transparency value in the field labeled A (Alpha component); use zero (0) for fully transparent and 255 for fully opaque.
- Select Scalebar Color Two - Opens the Select Color dialog to set the fill color.
- Select Scalebar Boarder One - Opens the Select Color dialog to set the boarder color.
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Click OK to close the dialog box.
The map frame refreshes to include the scale bar.
The scale bar is within a layout frame, and has the same properties as any layout frame. To move the scale bar, select and drag it to a new location on the layout canvas. To resize the scale bar, select it and drag a corner to a new size. To adjust the frame properties and make other selections, right-click on the scale-bar to display a context menu.
To remove the scale bar, select it and press the Delete key.
