Setting Line Properties on a Frequency Basis

If the contour map should have a two different line types at a regular interval, the easiest way to create this interval would be to use the simple contour levels method. To set line properties on a frequency basis with simple contour levels, you need to set a major and minor contour level:

  1. Click on an existing contour map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click on the Levels tab.
  3. Change the Level method to Simple.
  4. Change the Major contour every value to the desired frequency for major contour lines. Setting this value to one means every contour line is a major contour line. Setting this value to two means every other value is a major contour line. Setting this value to three means every third line is a major contour line, and so on.
  5. Open the Line Properties section under Major Contours. Set the Style, Color, Width, and Opacity.
  6. Open the Line Properties section under Minor Contours. Set the Style, Color, Width, and Opacity. This will set the line properties for all non-major contour lines.

If you have additional properties to change for an individual level, you can set line properties on a frequency basis using the advanced contour levels method. To set line properties for advanced contour levels:

  1. Click on an existing contour map to select it.
  2. In the Properties window, click on the Levels tab.
  3. Change the Level method to Advanced.
  4. Click the Edit Levels button next to Contour levels to open the advanced levels dialog.
  5. Click the Line button to display the Line dialog.
  6. Set the Style, Color, Width, and select Uniform or Gradational for the line.
  7. Set the First value to the first contour line position that will have the properties applied.
  8. Set the Set value to the number of contour lines to apply this property.
  9. Set the Skip value to the number of contour lines to not apply this property.
  10. Click OK to return to the Levels for Map dialog.
  11. Click OK in the Levels for Map dialog to create a contour map with the same line properties for all contours on the map.

Affected Levels

The Affected Levels settings are used to modify the contour levels on a frequency basis. These settings can be found by clicking the Line button on the Levels page in the contour map advanced levels dialog. The First, Set, and Skip fields allow you to specify which contour levels are modified.

First

The First field indicates the first contour level affected by the change. The number refers to the contour level position in the list (starting with 1) and not the actual contour value.

Set

The Set field indicates the number of levels to apply the changes.

Skip

The Skip field indicates the number of contour levels to skip when assigning the specified properties.

Apply Multiple Sets of Affected Levels

You can set the Affected Levels as many times as you want before leaving the dialog. For example:

  1. In the Line dialog, enter First=one,Set=one,Skip=four and click theOKbutton. This applies the properties to the first contour level, skip four levels, set the next level, and so on.
  2. In the Line dialog, enter First =two, Set =four, Skip =one and then click the OK button. This applies the new properties starting at the second level. Four consecutive levels are modified, one is skipped, four are modified, one is skipped, etc. This combination of Affected Levels applies one set of properties to one group of levels and another set of properties to a second group of levels. Combinations of settings for line properties are limitless.

Levels

First = 1

Set = 1

Skip = 4

First = 2

Set = 4

Skip = 1

0

Yes

No

10

No

Yes

20

No

Yes

30

No

Yes

40

No

Yes

50

Yes

No

60

No

Yes

70

No

Yes

80

No

Yes

90

No

Yes

100

Yes

No

See Also

Assigning Gradational Line Properties

Assigning Line Properties to Specific Contour Levels

Assigning the Same Line Properties to all Contour Levels

Index Contours

Simple Contour Levels

Advanced Contour Levels