Step-by-Step Guide to Customizing Legends in ArcGIS Pro

Step 1: Adding a Legend

To add a legend to your map in ArcGIS Pro, first ensure you have selected all the layers you want to include in the legend. This is done in the table of contents. Once your layers are selected, navigate to the Insert tab and click on the Legend button.

Step 2: Managing Legend Items

After adding the legend, you may notice that managing legend items is different from what you may be used to in ArcMap. In the table of contents, expand the legend group to see all items. You can remove items by unchecking them or right-clicking and selecting Remove. To add items, simply drag them into your legend group.

Step 3: Customizing Your Legend

To customize your legend, right-click on the legend and select Properties. A panel will open on the right side. Remember, customization can be done at two levels: the legend level and the legend item level. The legend level allows you to change major characteristics like the title and synchronization with the map. The legend item level allows individual adjustments for each item.

Step 4: Adjusting Legend Arrangement

In the properties panel, go to the Arrangement tab. Here, you can select the arrangement options that suit your needs. For instance, to keep a single column layout, select the Adjust Frame option and set the columns to one. This ensures that new items added to the map will automatically appear in the legend.

Step 5: Changing Font Size and Spacing

To change the font size, highlight all the items in your legend, click on Text Symbol, and choose your desired size. You can also adjust the spacing between items by selecting the top level legend group and modifying the spacing settings.

Step 6: Converting Legend to Graphics

If you’re still not satisfied with how your legend looks, you can convert it to graphics for ultimate flexibility. Right-click on your legend and select Convert to Graphics. After conversion, you can ungroup the elements to edit them freely. However, be aware that this will stop the automatic updates if you add new layers to your map.

FAQ

• Can I add multiple columns to my legend? Yes, but it requires changing the arrangement settings in the properties panel.
• Will changes in the map automatically update my legend? If you have synchronization enabled, yes. However, if you convert your legend to graphics, it will no longer update automatically.
• How do I change the legend title? Right-click the legend, select properties, and modify the title under the legend level options.
• Can I remove specific items from the legend? Yes, by unchecking them in the legend group or right-clicking and selecting remove.