Build a map layout

This tutorial demonstrates how to create a custom map layout using the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET.

With the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET, you can extend ArcGIS Pro with your own unique tools and workflows. Using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Pro SDK, developers can build Pro add-ins and solution configurations that provide users with custom functionality specific to their organization or industry.

The ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET includes a Map Layout API, which provides classes and members to support managing layouts, layout elements, and working with layout views. You can create new layouts and layout elements, modify existing elements, and manage selections, layout view control, and navigation.

In this tutorial, you will create a new map layout, add layout elements including a map frame and text elements, and then open the layout in a new layout view.

Prerequisites

• Microsoft Visual Studio is required. See the ArcGIS Pro system requirements for latest version and compatibility.
• Install ArcGIS Pro version 3.0 or higher.
• Install the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET. See the Installation ProGuide for more information.
• This tutorial uses Pro SDK Community sample data.

Steps

Create a new ArcGIS Pro Add-In Visual Studio Project

1. Start Visual Studio.

2. Choose File > New > Project and then from the ArcGIS templates group, select ArcGIS Pro Module Add-in. Name the add-in project "MapLayout".

   More info

   By default, the Config.daml file opens in Visual Studio. The Module1.cs file contains add-in module code.

   Note also in the Config.daml file that the id attribute of the insertModule tag matches the ID within the Module1.cs file and that the className attribute also matches the class name of the module.

   To find the ArcGIS templates group, see Templates > Visual C# > ArcGIS. Also confirm that the latest .NET Framework is selected.

Create a new Pro button and edit DAML

1. Right-click the project and choose Add > New Item. From the ArcGIS Pro Add-ins group > list of templates, select ArcGIS Pro Button.

2. Name the new class file "BuildNewLayout.cs" and press Add to close the dialog box.

   More info

   Once added, the BuildNewLayout.cs file should open by default. The Button template also provides the contents of the class file, as well as corresponding code in the Config.daml file for the Pro UI, so the tool can be activated. The Config.daml is updated first.

3. Open the Config.daml file and modify the button item as follows:

   More info

   When you update the Config.daml, you change how the tool displays in the Create Features pane UI, providing helpful information to the user about the tool's name and purpose.

   • Change caption to Build New Layout.

   • Change the tooltip heading to "Build New Map Layout" and the ToolTip text to "Create a new map layout with layout elements."

   • Change the group caption to “Layout Tools”.

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        <group id="MapLayout_Group1" caption="Layout Tools" appearsOnAddInTab="true">
          <!-- host controls within groups -->
          <button refID="MapLayout_BuildNewLayout" size="large" />
        </group>
      </groups>
      <controls>
        <!-- add your controls here -->
        <button id="MapLayout_BuildNewLayout" caption="Build New Layout"
          className="BuildNewLayout" loadOnClick="true" smallImage="pack://application:,,,/ArcGIS.Desktop.Resources;component/Images/GenericButtonBlue16.png" largeImage="pack://application:,,,/ArcGIS.Desktop.Resources;component/Images/GenericButtonBlue32.png">
          <tooltip heading="Build New Layout">Create a new map layout with layout elements.<disabledText /></tooltip>
        </button>

Create and set up a new layout page

1. Open the BuildNewLayout.cs file and add the following using directives:

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    using ArcGIS.Core.CIM;
    using ArcGIS.Core.Geometry;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Core;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Framework;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Framework.Contracts;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Framework.Threading.Tasks;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Layouts;
    using ArcGIS.Desktop.Mapping;

2. In the BuildNewLayout.cs file, update the code to match the following for the OnClick method. This creates a new layout and CIM page and applies it to the layout:

   More info

   Creating a new layout generates a new layout project item in the Layouts folder on the Contents pane. The next logical steps are to create new layout elements. See the ElementFactory for adding new elements to the layout. A new layout project item is not automatically opened in a layout view pane. Use methods from the LayoutFrameworkExtender to open a layout project item in a pane. See also LayoutFactory class.

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            // Create a layout which will be returned from the QueuedTask
            Layout newLayout = await QueuedTask.Run<Layout>(() =>
            {
                // Create a new CIM page
                CIMPage newPage = new CIMPage();
   
                // Add properties
                newPage.Width = 17;
                newPage.Height = 11;
                newPage.Units = LinearUnit.Inches;
   
                // Add rulers
                newPage.ShowRulers = true;
                newPage.SmallestRulerDivision = 0.5;
   
                // Apply the CIM page to a new layout and set name
                newLayout = LayoutFactory.Instance.CreateLayout(newPage);
                newLayout.SetName("Census Data");

Create a map and map elements and add to the layout

You will continue adding code to the OnClick method.

1. Next you will add code to create a map with census data, add it to the layout, and set the camera. Update the code to match the following:

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                // Create a new map with an ArcGIS Online basemap
                Map newMap = MapFactory.Instance.CreateMap("Census Map", MapType.Map, MapViewingMode.Map, Basemap.NationalGeographic);
                string url = @"http://sampleserver1.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/Demographics/ESRI_Census_USA/MapServer";
                Uri uri = new Uri(url);
                LayerFactory.Instance.CreateLayer(uri, newMap);
   
                // Build a map frame geometry / envelope
                Coordinate2D ll = new Coordinate2D(1, 0.5);
                Coordinate2D ur = new Coordinate2D(13, 9);
                Envelope mapEnv = EnvelopeBuilderEx.CreateEnvelope(ll, ur);
   
                // Create a map frame and add it to the layout
                MapFrame newMapframe = ElementFactory.Instance.CreateMapFrameElement(newLayout, mapEnv, newMap);
                newMapframe.SetName("Map Frame");
   
                // Create and set the camera
                Camera camera = newMapframe.Camera;
                camera.X = -118.465;
                camera.Y = 33.988;
                camera.Scale = 30000;
                newMapframe.SetCamera(camera);

2. Continue adding code to the OnClick method. This code creates a title and North arrow:

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                // Add text for title
                Coordinate2D titleTxt_ll = new Coordinate2D(4.5, 9.5);
                CIMTextSymbol arial36bold = SymbolFactory.Instance.ConstructTextSymbol(ColorFactory.Instance.BlueRGB, 80, "Arial", "Bold");
                GraphicElement titleTxtElm = ElementFactory.Instance.CreateTextGraphicElement
                    (newLayout, TextType.PointText, titleTxt_ll.ToMapPoint(), arial36bold, "Census Data", "Title");
                titleTxtElm.SetName("Title");
   
                // Add north arrow
                // Reference a North Arrow in a style
                StyleProjectItem stylePrjItm = Project.Current.GetItems<StyleProjectItem>().FirstOrDefault(item => item.Name == "ArcGIS 2D");
                NorthArrowStyleItem naStyleItm = stylePrjItm.SearchNorthArrows("ArcGIS North 8")[0];
   
                // Set the center coordinate and create the arrow on the layout
                Coordinate2D center = new Coordinate2D(15, 7);
                var naInfo = new NorthArrowInfo() { MapFrameName = newMapframe.Name, NorthArrowStyleItem = naStyleItm };
                var arrowElm = ElementFactory.Instance.CreateMapSurroundElement(newLayout, center.ToMapPoint(), naInfo);
   
                arrowElm.SetName("New North Arrow");
                arrowElm.SetHeight(2);

Finalize code and test

In this step, you continue to use the ElementFactory to create and add new map elements to your layout.

1. Finalize the OnClick method with additional code creating a map legend and then opening the layout pane.

   More info

   After creating a legend, return the layout, close the QueuedTask, and then open the layout with CreateLayoutPaneAsync.

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                // Add legend - first build 2D envelope geometry
                Coordinate2D leg_ll = new Coordinate2D(13.5, 0.5);
                Coordinate2D leg_ur = new Coordinate2D(16.5, 4.0);
                Envelope leg_env = EnvelopeBuilderEx.CreateEnvelope(leg_ll, leg_ur);
   
                // Create legend
                var legInfo = new LegendInfo() { MapFrameName = newMapframe.Name };
                var legendElm = ElementFactory.Instance.CreateMapSurroundElement(newLayout, leg_env, legInfo);
   
                legendElm.SetVisible(true);
                legendElm.SetName("New Legend");
   
                return newLayout;
             });
   
            var layoutPane = await ProApp.Panes.CreateLayoutPaneAsync(newLayout);

2. Once your code is completed, build your project and debug any issues. Start the project, which will launch ArcGIS Pro.

3. Create a new project when the ArcGIS Pro start page appears. From the Add-in tab and find your new button.

4. Press your new button to run the code and open the new layout.

What's Next?

Learn how to use additional ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET features in these tutorials:

• Build your first configuration
• Manage add-in loading
• Edit attribute data