Map-based Reporting: Printing

Printing a map on an entire page
These instructions tell how to print a map that fills a letter-sized page in landscape format (a layout that is wider than it is tall).

1. Monitor setting
   Set your monitor screen area is set to 800x600 or a higher resolution. You can see your Screen Area by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing Properties, and then clicking on the Settings tab. A setting of 640x480 is not recommended since the map will appear quite small in your browser.
   
   
2. Turn off unnecessary layers
   Turn off any layers you are not interested in by un-checking them in the legend to the left of the map.
   
   
3. Set up printing
   When everything is displaying as you wish you can set up a print-out. Click the Set Up Printing tool. Uncheck the items that you don't want to display on your print-out (e.g., Legend, North arrow, etc.). Make sure "Fit to page" is chosen. Click the Print Setup button in the bottom right corner. A new window should appear for you to select printer options specific to your printer; here, set your page orientation to "landscape". Click Ok to close this window, and click Ok again to close the previous window.
   
   
4. Print
   Click the Print Map button. You should have a map that fills the page.

Highlight an area for a print-out
Follow these instructions to color or draw an outline around some objects on the map in order to highlight them on a printed map.

1. Locate an area
   Find the area you are interested (for example, Clarke County) on the map and select it using the Select tool. It should turn black to indicate that it is selected.
   
   
2. Create a buffer
   Now you can create an outline or highlight for this area using the Buffer tool. The Buffer was originally designed to let you create your own areas based on geographies on the map, such as a 5-mile ring study around some point or a 2-mile corridor containing an interstate. The Buffer tool can also be used to outline an area on the map for printing purposes.
   
   Make sure this area you want is selected (you will know it is selected because it should be black). Right-click on the map and choose Buffer, then Create Buffer. A window should appear prompting you for information about setting up a buffer. Make these selections:
   • Buffer offset distance = 1 ft
   • Check the box next to Edge to create an outline around the district.
   • Choose a style.
   • Choose a color (something dark).
   • Thickness = 3
   
   You can also experiment with using a Fill, which will fill your outline with a color and pattern of your choosing. When you click OK, you should have an outline of your district on the map. If you want to get rid of this buffer and start anew, right-click and choose Buffer, Clear Buffers.
   
   
3. Print the map
   Use the Set Up Printing tool to design your map print-out and then use the Print Map tool to print.

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