Creating a graticule

Use the Graticule tool to place a reference grid of real world parallels, meridians, and labels, showing the Earth’s orientation in a given area of the drawing. Unlike a grid that is based on X and Y coordinates, the graticule lines are based on longitude and latitude lines that are inferred from the georeferenced coordinate system.

The Document Georeferencing dialog box opens if the document is not yet georeferenced, to select a coordinate system. See Specifying document georeferencing.

1. Click the tool and insertion mode. Draw Rectangular Area places the graticule grid in a rectangular area, while Draw Polylinear Area draws a polyline for the graticule area. (see Polyline tool).

2.Click Preferences to open the Graticule Preferences dialog box and specify the tool’s default parameters. The parameters can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Grid starts at	Specifies the starting location for the grid spacing; the grid lines will intersect at this point
Geodesic coordinates	Specifies the starting location in longitude and latitude coordinates (decimal degree units)
Cartesian coordinates	Specifies the starting location in X and Y distances from the drawing’s internal origin
Grid spacing
Geodesic coordinates	Specifies the grid spacing in longitude and latitude coordinates
Cartesian coordinates	Specifies the grid spacing in drawing distances
Major lines at count	Determines the spacing of major lines. For instance, if the value is 10, every tenth line will be major, with nine minor lines between them.
Label
Label major lines	Places a label on each major latitude and longitude line
Label grid lines	Places a label on each minor latitude and longitude line
Label style	Specifies whether the degrees on the labels are in decimal or degrees/minutes format
Label precision	Sets the precision for the label display
Attributes	Specifies the pen color and line style for the major lines and grid lines

3.Click and drag in the drawing to create the rectangular or polyline boundary in the approximate location of the latitude and longitude lines you specified. Make the area larger than the graticule will be, so the graticule will not be cut by the rectangle or polyline. When you complete the shape, a graticule object is created over the specified location.