topic Re: Add data frame inset quickly in Cartography and Maps Questions

Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Fri, 06 May 2016 21:22:54 GMT

Hi,

I'm sure there is an easy answer to this question, but I haven't been able to find it searching around the help:

In ArcMap 10.4 (Desktop), is there a quick and easy way to add an "inset" data frame to my map layout?

I know how to insert a blank data frame, add all the layers, adjust the extent, and change the properties to show the extent indicator in my main data frame. I'm hoping there is faster way to just draw a polygon around an area in my main data frame and create a new data frame from that selection, with all the layers already being displayed copied over along with the selected extent and the indicator.

I'm trying to show up-close detail of clusters of valves on a water main project area map.

Thanks!

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

AdrianWelsh — Fri, 06 May 2016 21:37:22 GMT

Hi Joe,

If this is something that you would be doing regularly, I would suggest writing a Python script to automate this. It sounds like something that would be very repeatable (taking the 'current' ArcMap document, make new inset, loop through all the layers to add them, etc. etc.).

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

WesMiller — Fri, 13 May 2016 19:12:10 GMT

You could copy and paste your current data frame

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Fri, 13 May 2016 20:37:56 GMT

Hi Wes,

That is exactly what I thought I should be able to do. But I couldn't get it to work.

I right-clicked the data-frame in the TOC and selected "Copy dataframe(s) to clipboard". But I can't paste it anywhere in any of the TOC views. I tried to create a new dataframe and copy to it, but I can't find an option to do that, either.

How do you do this?

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

WesMiller — Sat, 14 May 2016 16:32:03 GMT

In the main menu click edit paste

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Mon, 16 May 2016 15:26:28 GMT

Hmmm... while I can right-click and "copy", "paste" is greyed out when I right-click. Trying your suggestion, "paste" is available in the Edit drop down... but nothing happens. "Paste Special" only gives me the option for "Esri Graphics List".

Selecting the data frame does not give me the option to "copy" in the Edit menu (greyed out). This behavior did not change if I right click the data frame and "Select All Layers" first. I'm guessing the "Edit" menu is for features, and is not related to the TOC clipboard?

Maybe this has been changed in my version of 10.4 Desktop Advanced compared to what you are currently using? Or maybe I need to get ESRI Support involved as this might indicate some other setting or issue that I need resolved if others are able to do this simple operation successfully.

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

WesMiller — Mon, 16 May 2016 17:54:09 GMT

I right click the data frame and select copy then o go to the main menu and select paste which adds another data frame to my table of contents. this data frame is the same size as the original data frame so in your layout view you'll have to resize one of them.

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

XanderBakker — Mon, 16 May 2016 18:02:44 GMT

In the layout view, you can just select the data frame, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V and continue to adjust the size and position...

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Mon, 16 May 2016 18:16:59 GMT

Yep, no-worky. I did exactly as you said, and nothing happened - the pasted data frame never showed up in the TOC, in any view.

Thanks for helping - I DO believe that it works when you do it.

Any thoughts on what might be restricting this? Mix of data from an Enterprise GDB as well as a file GDB on my work drive, some of the Enterprise data is versioned, I'm the admin/owner of all of the data as far as I know...

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

WesMiller — Mon, 16 May 2016 19:06:27 GMT

This works for me. I then resize the top data frame which is at the bottom of my table of contents. I have and have had various mixes of data.

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

WesMiller — Mon, 16 May 2016 19:09:58 GMT

Xander, I can't get Crtl+C, Ctrl+V to work

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

ChrisDonohue__GISP — Mon, 16 May 2016 20:14:21 GMT

I believe one of the necessary conditions to do this is that one be specifically in Layout View. Then it works for me if I follow these steps (ArcGIS 10.2.1):

1. Highlight "Layers" in the table of contents, then right-click and select Copy.

2. On the Standard toolbar, Select Edit, then Paste.

But if I am in Data View, one can Copy but not Paste (Paste is grayed out).

Chris Donohue, GISP

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Mon, 16 May 2016 20:25:48 GMT

Wow; who knew this would be so complicated?

Chris, I tried your method. If I select all the layers within the data frame instead of the data frame itself, I can copy and paste to another data frame, while using layout view. This is essentially what I have been doing by creating a new data frame, highlighting layers and dragging them into the new frame.

I suppose we ended up a bit in the weeds with this copy and paste business. I was overly hopeful that ESRI had created a cool "create inset data frame from polygon selection" operation.

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

XanderBakker — Mon, 16 May 2016 22:03:26 GMT

Actually, I don't think it is that hard and when you are in layout view the Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) procedure I mentioned should work.

Switch to layout view and select the dataframe (in the layout view NOT the TOC):

Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V:

A new dataframe appears with all the content in it and you can change the size ... really not difficult IMHO.

However, if you have an idea to make things more user friendly, you can post it on the Esri Arcgis Ideas | Ideas Submission Portal

Re: Add data frame inset quickly

JoeBryant2 — Mon, 16 May 2016 23:08:43 GMT

Xander,

Thank you! I had one of those forehead-smack moments when you said "NOT the TOC". Select the frame around the data, not the name of the data frame in the TOC. This works exactly as I was hoping. Paste, resize the frame and zoom in: done!