Creating a map output

Now that we've fixed the overlap problem, it's time to add the remaining map elements and finish our map. Regardless of whether you are designing for print or screen, a good map contains a title, north arrow, scale bar, and credits, which include the author name, date, source, and projection information. We'll also add a neatline to give a finished look to our map.

First, let's add a neatline to the layout. Neatlines are also sometimes referred to as borders, and are used to frame objects in a map layout for style or clarity. Too many neatlines can result in clutter, so for now, we'll just create a neatline around the entire map layout:

1. Click Insert|Rectangle.
2. Click and drag a box around the map near the margins. If you added guides beyond, you will see it snap to those if you stay close to them. The guides are always on top, so they may obscure some of your neatlines. To verify what's underneath, right-click outside the virtual page and uncheck guides. Repeat and check...