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Printing Tool
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Print Options
- Standard Print Setup
- Forest Practices Plans (FPP)
- Advanced Features
- Troubleshooting
- Video Tutorial
Overview
The Printing Tool is a comprehensive map production system that delivers professional-quality cartographic outputs with advanced layout customization, specialized Forest Practices Plan (FPP) integration, and intelligent print processing. This sophisticated tool combines ArcGIS print services with custom template management, automated geometry operations, real-time print area visualization, and specialized features including harvest masking, cart route integration, and dynamic label generation for professional forestry documentation.
Print Options
Layout Options
| Layout Name | Orientation | DPI Support | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 Portrait | Portrait | 150/300 | Standard layout |
| A3 Portrait | Portrait | 150/300 | Standard layout |
| A4 Landscape | Landscape | 150/300 | Standard layout |
| A3 Landscape | Landscape | 150/300 | Standard layout |
| A4 Portrait No Gridlines | Portrait | 150/300 | Clean layout without grid |
| A3 Portrait No Gridlines | Portrait | 150/300 | Clean layout without grid |
| A4 Landscape No Gridlines | Landscape | 150/300 | Clean layout without grid |
| A3 Landscape No Gridlines | Landscape | 150/300 | Clean layout without grid |
| A3L Only Map | Landscape | 150/300 | Map only, no legend |
| A2 Portrait | Portrait | 150/300 | Large format |
| A4 Portrait FPP Draft | Portrait | 150/300 | FPP draft layout with metadata |
| A4 Portrait FPP Production | Portrait | 150/300 | FPP production layout with metadata |
Format Options
| Format | Description | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Portable Document Format | Professional documents, sharing | |
| PNG8 | 8-bit PNG (smaller file size) | Web use, smaller files |
| PNG32 | 32-bit PNG (higher quality) | High-quality images |
| JPG | Joint Photographic Experts Group | Compressed images |
Resolution Settings
- 150 DPI: Standard quality for most uses
- 300 DPI: High quality for professional printing
Scale Options
Available scales: 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 7500, 10000, 15000, 25000, 30000, 40000, 50000, 75000, 100000, 150000, 200000, 250000, 500000, 1000000
Standard Print Setup
Basic Configuration
- Title: Enter map title (defaults to "STT Map")
- Prepared For: Optional recipient field
- Layout: Select from available layouts
- Format: Choose output format (PDF, PNG8, PNG32, JPG)
- Scale: Select or use current map scale
- DPI: Choose resolution (150 or 300)
Print Area Preview
- Toggle "Show Print Area" to preview print extent
- Red outline shows exact print boundaries
- Automatically updates when map is panned/zoomed
- Scale can be manually adjusted or synced to map view
Forest Practices Plans (FPP)
FPP-Specific Features
When using FPP layouts (Draft or Production), additional fields become available:
Required Fields
- FPP Name/Number: Select from dropdown or type name
- Draft layout: Shows "FPP Draft Name" dropdown
- Production layout: Shows "FPP Number" dropdown
- Emergency Meeting Points (EMPs): Auto-populated based on map center
- Optional VAR: Additional identifier field
- Coupe: Production layouts only (Draft automatically sets to "Draft")
Automatic Data Population
- Harvest Area: Automatically calculated when FPP name is selected
- Map Sheet Info: Retrieved based on current map center
- Map Center Coordinates: Auto-generated with current coordinates
- Prepared By: Uses current username
Harvest Area Masking
FPP layouts automatically create harvest area masks:
- Grey overlay outside harvest boundaries
- Only harvest areas are highlighted
- Mask positioned above land tenure layer
- Updates when FPP name or print area changes
Advanced Features
Cart Route Reports
- Toggle "Include Cart Route Report" to enable
- Select specific cart route from dropdown
- Generates combined map and route report
- Downloads as PDF with route analysis
Dynamic Layer Filtering
For FPP layouts:
- Automatically filters layers by selected FPP name
- Shows only relevant features for chosen plan
- Resets filters after printing
Real-Time Updates
- Print area updates during map navigation
- Scale synchronizes with map zoom level
- EMP data refreshes based on map center
- Manual scale override available
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Print area not showing | Toggle "Show Print Area" switch |
| Missing FPP fields | Select FPP Draft or Production layout |
| Cart route warning | Select a cart route or disable cart route option |
| Print fails | Check layer compatibility and try different format |
| Low resolution output | Confirm 300 DPI selection |
| Empty harvest area | Verify FPP name exists in selected layer type |
| EMP data missing | Click refresh button or pan map to new area |
| Scale not updating | Manually adjust scale or disable/re-enable print area |
Error Messages
Common error scenarios:
- "Please select a cart route map or turn off the cart route map option": Choose cart route or disable feature
- Failed to fetch data: Network connectivity or service availability issues
- Layer filtering errors: FPP name may not exist in database
Usage Tips
- FPP Workflows: Select FPP layout first, then choose name to auto-populate fields
- Print Area: Enable preview before printing to verify extent
- Scale Management: Use manual scale override for precise sizing
- Layer Visibility: Ensure required layers are visible before printing
- Cart Routes: Only enable if generating route analysis reports
- High Quality: Use 300 DPI and PDF format for professional outputs
Video Tutorial
Watch this guide on using the Printing Tool: