The spatial reference of the Input Feature Dataset should have the same geographic coordinate system as specified by the grid template XML file. The Primary Coordinate System must be a projected coordinate system.Īncillary coordinate systems can be either a projected coordinate system or a geographic coordinate system. You cannot add or delete ancillary coordinate systems, but you can override the default values. The number of ancillary grids is specified by the XML file. The grid template XML file creates grid components for up to four ancillary coordinate systems. The grid template, area of interest, input feature dataset, and the primary and ancillary coordinate system parameters must use the same datum, for example, WGS 1984 or NAD 1983. If you want to change the primary coordinate system to one that uses a different datum than the default, say for example, you change the coordinate system from one that uses WGS 1984 to one that uses NAD 1983, you must change each default ancillary coordinate system to NAD 1983 as well. All coordinate systems specified must share a common geographic coordinate system.
The grid template XML file specifies grid components depicting measurements or locations for primary and ancillary coordinate systems. In the Make Grids and Graticules Layer dialog box, once the Grid Template (XML file) parameter is defined, hover the pointer over or click the context-sensitive area immediately to the left of the parameter name to display grid type, description, rotation type, and scale type information for the defined XML grid definition template. If you are using a feature layer to define the area of interest, it must be a polygon feature class or polygon layer. You must input an area of interest to determine the extent of the grid layer to be created.
It is not meant for creating grids or graticules that dynamically update as the user navigates the map. This tool is designed for projected maps that will be printed or exported. When the definition template is applied, features are created according to the specification based on the current extent or extent of a selected feature (area of interest), scale, and coordinate systems. This file stores specification properties for each grid, such as the number, color, and line weight of gridlines. The grid definition template is stored in a predefined XML file. An eighth feature class (GRD_) contains organizational information, such as map name and grid types that are used to organize your grids. These feature classes can hold information for multiple grids. Each feature class is named with a three-letter prefix that helps identify the grid component the feature class holds. There are seven feature classes that store the basic components of a grid.
These features classes are saved within a specified feature dataset in a geodatabase. These components are stored as features in corresponding feature classes. Grid layers are ideal for advanced grid definitions which are scale and extent specific.Įach grid layer can be composed of a mask polygon, clip polygon, segments (line), gridlines (line), ticks (line), endpoints (point), points (point), and annotation feature classes. Creates a grouped layer of feature classes depicting grid, graticule, and border features using predefined cartographic specifications.