Inserting scale bars

The Insert Scale Bar tool can be used to quickly and efficiently add up to three common nautical scale bars: Meters, Yards, and Nautical Miles. At map scales less than and equal to 1:10,000, two scale bars are drawn: Yards and Meters. At map scales greater than and equal to 1:10,001, three scale bars are drawn: Yards, Meters, and Nautical Miles. You must be in layout view, with the data frame properties set (proper coordinate system, scale, and reference scale).

1. Start ArcMap.
2. If necessary, click View > Layout View to switch to layout view.
3. If necessary, add the Insert Scale Bar command by doing the following:
   1. On the main menu, click Customize > Customize Mode.

      The Customize dialog box appears.

   2. Click the Commands tab.
   3. Choose Nautical Cartography in the Categories list.
   4. Drag the Insert Scale Bar command to a toolbar.
   5. Click Close.
4. Click the Insert Scale Bar button .

   The Yards and Meters scale bars are inserted if the map scale is less than or equal to 1:10,000. The Yards, Meters, and Nautical Miles scale bars are inserted if the map scale is greater than or equal to 1:10,001.

5. Reposition the scale bars as needed.

   Tip:

   You can increase or decrease scale bar division values by stretching or shrinking the scale bar element.