CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Last time, we imported our current workspace into the Map Layout Editor. Today, we will dive into the actual editing process within the editor.

Video Tutorial: Adding Map Elements (North Arrow & Scale Bar)

Open the workspace you saved previously and click the Map Layout Editor button. The editor screen from our last session will appear.

Understanding the Global Mapper Map Layout Editor

Before following along with this tutorial, I recommend taking a quick look at the Global Mapper Help documentation for the Map Layout Editor. Explaining every single menu item would take too much time, so a quick self-review is very helpful.

Pro Tip: Work Side-by-Side

It is convenient to keep the Editor window and the Main workspace window open side-by-side. If you turn layers on/off or add/delete elements in the main window, those changes are reflected in the Editor window in real-time. However, please note that changes made within the Editor window do not affect the main window.

Analyzing the Editor Window

When you compare the Editor to the main workspace, do you notice something missing? That's right—the North Arrow and Scale Bar are gone.

The Editor window only displays the active layers from the main view. Any supplementary elements like legends or arrows must be added manually within the editor. Today, we will cover the essential steps: adjusting margins and adding a North Arrow and Scale Bar.

Adjust Map Margins in Map Layout Editor

If you plan to use the map as an inset image in a report, you don't need large white margins around it. It's better to make the map fill the entire frame.

First, select the map, right-click, and select Properties....

Go to the Position and Size tab. Since our desired inset size is 15x15 cm, set the width and height accordingly and click OK.

Now the map fills the page without unnecessary margins. Next, let's add a North Arrow.

Add and Align a North Arrow

Right-click on the screen and select Insert -> North Arrow Element.... The North Arrow settings dialog will appear.

In the North Arrow tab, choose your preferred symbol and click OK.

The North Arrow has been added. Now, let's move it to the top-right corner.

Select the North Arrow, right-click, and go to Align to Margin -> Right. Then, repeat the process and select Top.

You might notice it doesn't snap perfectly to the very edge. This is because the current page has its own margin settings, preventing elements from moving further out. We need to adjust the Page Setup.

Click the Page Setup icon in the toolbar.

Set all Margins (Top, Bottom, Left, Right) to 0 and click OK. Now, if you align the North Arrow to the Right and Top again, it will move perfectly to the corner.

Resizing the North Arrow

There are two ways to resize elements: dragging the control points with your mouse or using the Properties menu. Let's use Properties for precision.

In the Position and Size tab (which appears after the element is created), enter appropriate values for Width and Height. After resizing, the position might shift slightly because the anchor point is the top-left corner. Simply drag it back or use the Align tool again.

Add and Customize a Scale Bar

Finally, let's add a Scale Bar.

Right-click and select Insert -> Scale Bar Element....

For now, just click OK with the default settings.

Use Align to Margin -> Left and Bottom to move it to the lower-left corner.

If the scale bar looks too tall or the units are awkward (e.g., ending at 750m), use the mouse control points to adjust the width and height until it shows cleaner numbers like 500m or 1,000m.

Apply Transparency to Map Elements

Would you like to make the scale bar slightly translucent? This is useful when overlaying the scale bar on map data without blocking important details.

Right-click the scale bar, select Properties..., and go to the General tab. Move the Transparency slider to the middle and click OK.

Now the scale bar is semi-transparent! It looks much more professional, doesn't it?

That's all for today. Happy mapping!