Add a topographic north arrow

Available with Production Mapping license.

Topographic north arrow elements consists of declination diagrams that represents three ways of defining north:

• Grid north (GN)—The north established using the vertical grid lines on the map. Grid north is automatically calculated based on the center point of the chosen map frame.
• Magnetic north (MN)—The direction to the north magnetic pole, as indicated by the north-seeking needle of a magnetic instrument. It is symbolized by a line ending with half an arrowhead. Magnetic north is automatically calculated based on the center point of the chosen map frame and the selected date.
• True north—A line from any point on the earth's surface to the north pole. All lines of longitude are true north lines. It is represented by a star at the end of a line.

Insert a topographic north arrow

A topographic north arrow can be inserted on any map layout. Complete the following steps add a topographic north arrow to a layout:

1. Ensure that a layout with a map frame is open and is the active view in your project.

   Learn more about layouts

2. Click the Insert tab.
3. Click the North Arrow drop-down arrow and choose a north arrow in the Topographic group.
4. Click the layout's map where you want to insert the north arrow.

   The topographic north arrow is added to the layout.

   Note:

   The text font defaults to Univers LT 55. If the Univers LT 55 font is not installed, text defaults to Arial.

Modify a topographic north arrow

You can modify the properties and appearance of a north arrow using the options on the North Arrow contextual tab.

1. Ensure that the layout that contains the topographic north arrow that you want to modify is open and is the active view in your project.
2. Double-click the element in the Contents pane to open the Element pane and update more element properties as necessary.

   Tip:

   You can also right-click the element on the layout or in the Contents pane and click Properties to open the Element pane.

3. In the Element pane, click the Options tab .
4. Provide a name for the element in the Name text box.

   This is the name that is used to identify the element in the Contents pane and it must be unique.

5. Specify whether the element is visible by checking or unchecking the Visible check box.

   The default is visible.

6. Specify whether the element is locked so that changes cannot be made by checking or unchecking the Locked check box.

   The default is unlocked.

7. Click the Map frame drop-down arrow to change the map frame associated with the element.
8. Specify whether the element appears at a fixed height and width according to the specifications of the map product by checking or unchecking the Draw to specification check box.

   If the Draw to specification check box is checked, the element cannot be resized.

9. Check the Update Dynamically check box to use the current extent of the map frame to calculate values for Declination, Magnetic North, and Grid North.

   The Update Dynamically check box is checked by default.

10. Optionally, uncheck the Update Dynamically check box and set the declination properties manually.
    1. Click the Declination Date drop-down arrow to specify the date used to calculate the declination of magnetic north.

       The Declination Date property is ignored when the Update Dynamically check box is checked.

    2. Click the Date Interval drop-down arrow and choose an interval.

       The declination date is determined by the following Date Interval options:

       • Daily—The declination date updates to the current date.
       • Monthly—The declination date updates to the first day of the current month.
       • Yearly—The declination date updates to the first day of the current year.
       • 5-year—The declination date updates to the first day of the first year in the current five-year interval. This is based on the World Magnetic Model, which is released in five-year epochs.

       Note:

       Check the Update Dynamically check box after choosing a date interval for it to take effect.

    3. Click the Coordinate System drop-down arrow and choose the map or feature layer that contains the coordinate system that you want to use for the element.

       Topographic north arrows use the coordinate system of the map in the associated map frame by default.

       Tip:

       To specify a different coordinate system that isn't defined in the map, click Coordinate System .

11. Optionally, under Magnetic North, uncheck the Update Dynamically check box and manually adjust the angle between magnetic north and true north.
    1. For Direction, choose whether magnetic north is to the west or east of true north.
    2. Specify the angle in degrees and minutes, or in mils.
    3. Click Apply for the values you specified to take effect.
12. Optionally, under Grid North, uncheck the Update Dynamically check box and manually adjust the angle between grid north and true north.
    1. For Direction, choose whether grid north is to the west or east of true north.
    2. Specify the angle in degrees and minutes.
    3. Alternatively, specify the angle in mils.
    4. Click Apply for the values you specified to take effect.

The element's options are configured and can still be modified. Next, configure the element's display settings.

Configure element display settings

Complete the following steps to configure the element's display settings:

1. Ensure that the layout that contains the topographic north arrow that you want to modify is open and is the active view in your project.
2. Double-click the element in the Contents pane to open the Element pane and update more element properties as necessary.

   Tip:

   You can also right-click the element on the layout or in the Contents pane and click Properties to open the Element pane.

3. In the Element pane, click Display .

   

4. Configure the element's border in the Border section.
5. Configure the element's background in the Background section.
6. Configure the element's shadow in the Shadow section.

The Display settings are configured for the north arrow and can still be modified. Next, configure the element's placement settings.

Configure element placement settings

Complete the following steps to configure element placement settings:

1. Ensure that the layout that contains the topographic north arrow that you want to modify is open and is the active view in your project.
2. Double-click the element in the Contents pane to open the Element pane and update more element properties as necessary.

   Tip:

   You can also right-click the element on the layout or in the Contents pane and click Properties to open the Element pane.

3. In the Element pane, click Placement .
4. Specify the element's size.

   Resizing is unavailable if the Draw to specification check box on the Options tab is checked.

5. Specify the element's position.

   

   These settings can also be configured from the element's contextual tab in the Size & Position group.

The element is configured and modifications can continue to be made.

Modify more element properties from the contextual tab

You can modify the properties and appearance of a north arrow using the options on the North Arrow contextual tab.

Caution:

Editing the element's properties from the contextual tab may result in the element being out of compliance with your map product's specifications.

1. Ensure that the layout that contains the topographic north arrow that you want to modify is open and is the active view in your project.
2. Click the topographic north arrow in the Contents pane.

   The North Arrow contextual tab appears.

3. Click the element's contextual tab and update the element's properties as necessary.

   You can only update some of the element's properties from this tab.