Multiple layouts in one ArcGIS project?

Question

Is it possible to have multiple different map layouts (like the one accessed by clicking the little page icon at the bottom of the viewing panel) within one ArcGIS project?

I often find myself wanting to produce a number of different map outputs from one project, and this requires doing each one separately, and then 'undoing' it when I want to create the next one, making it difficult to go back and edit any earlier ones.

I'm sure that ArcGIS will have something like this, but I can't seem to find how to do it. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Unfortunately and unbelievably to me, it's not possible out of the box. There may be some code floating around to make multiple layouts possible, but I haven't ever found any.

Answer 2

I know this question is about ArcGIS 9.3, but someone mentioned what is possible in ArcGIS 10. ArcGIS 10 has some new functionality that is similar to the 9.x DSMapbook developer sample that allows you to create a series of map pages, layouts, and map books. ArcGIS 10 calls this "Data Driven Pages."

Here are some intro help topics about Data Driven Pages: http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/What_are_Data_Driven_Pages/00sr00000006000000/ http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Building_map_books_with_ArcGIS/00s90000002s000000/

Answer 3

There's a plugin called dsmapbook that allows you to create multiple layouts, but it's not totally unconstrained, or that straightforward to use. I haven't used it for a while but it only seems to be available as a developer sample, for example here: http://edndoc.esri.com/arcobjects/9.0/samples/cartography/map_production/dsmapbook/dsmapbook.htm

I can confirm that it works with Arcview 9.3 though.

Answer 4

Ever since ArcGIS 8.0 was released years ago, people have been screaming for this. Although over time it seems like most people either don't remember the beauty of multiple layouts in ArcView 3x, or they just never used 3x, so it's not so much of an issue anymore. We've been forced to learn to live without it. It has been rumored for years that they would introduce this feature in ArcMap, but alas, it has never come to fruition. I don't think it is in 10, is it? There are plugins you can buy that do enable this in ArcMap.

Answer 5

DS Map Book is good for data in map series.

For Managing Multiple Layouts Maplogic has a solution http://www.maplogic.com/products/MapLogicLayoutManager.html [30 Day Trial]

Here is an Open Source project ArcMapBook http://sourceforge.net/projects/arcmapbook/ now moved to google code: http://code.google.com/p/arcmapbook/

ArcGIS 10 Does support multiple layouts using Strip Map Index Features (Cartography) http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00700000000r000000.htm

These can be edited with ArcPy (arcpy.mapping) http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Geoprocessing_scripts_for_map_document_management_and_output/00sr00000009000000/

NOTE:Though you can adapt these steps for your own maps or map book, keep in mind that the steps cited in this example are specific for the sample map book shown above. Using these exact steps on a different set of maps may lead to unexpected results.

Mapperz

Answer 6

I too remember the hollering that went on when ESRI did away with multiple layouts within a single project file. Honestly, I don't miss them. Instead of storing all my map layouts for a project in one file, I set up a project folder that contains all of the maps for that project. I start with a base map, and then just make changes to that map along the way, saving it as a new .mxd when I'm done. I typically produce anywhere from 12 to 30 resource and analysis maps per project, and find this method as efficient as multiple layouts were inArcView 3.x.

Answer 7

Another strategy for living without multiple layouts is to get used to using layer files. They make it easy to grab a layer out of one map and drop it into another.

Answer 8

I believe MPS-Atlas, which is part of the Production Line Tool Set (PLTS) extension, supports this, though (of course) it requires purchasing an extension.

Answer 9

Map Atlas is for making a series of maps based on different geographic areas, for the same information. It doesn't help in creating various layouts for the same mapped area using, may be, different information or symbology.