Map topics and elements

Topics

Use commands on the mapping ribbon's Home tab to add basic map elements. when a new topic appears, it is automatically selected so you can enter its text.

Central topic

The main theme or title of your map.

Always present when you start a map.

Main topics

The major ideas that make up the theme.

Select the central topic (or no topic).
Click Topic, or press ENTER.

Topics and Subtopics

Details about main topics.

Select a topic.

Click Topic or press ENTER to create a topic at the same level.
Click Subtopic or press INSERT to create a topic at the next level.

Callouts

Additional information for a specific topic, relationship, or summary information for a boundary.

Select a topic, relationship, or boundary.
Click Callout or press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.
Enter your text when the callout appears.

Floating topics

Auxiliary information or text.

Click a location on the map background.
Type the topic text.

More elements

Use commands on the Ribbon's Home or Insert tabs to add other topic elements.

Topic Notes

For more extensive, detailed information.

Select a topic and click Notes.
Enter the text in the Notes window that appears at the bottom of the screen.
Use the commands that appear to the left to format or add hyperlinks within the note.

Attachments

To attach documents to topics and embed them in the map file.

Select a topic and click Attachment.
Select the file you want to upload and attach to the map. You can add multiple attachments to a single topic.
Point to the attachment icon to see what is attached; click an attachment name to open it.

Hyperlinks

To point to other locations.

Select a topic and click Hyperlink.
Enter the URL in the dialog.
You can add multiple hyperlinks to a single topic.
Click the hyperlink icon to see the links for the topic; click a link to jump to that destination.

Images

For visual interest.

Select a topic and click Image.
Select the image you want to add to the topic.
Use the Align Image command on the Design tab to adjust its placement within the topic.

Boundaries

For grouping or summarizing topics.

Select a topic (the boundary will surround or summarize it and all its subtopics).
Click Boundary or press CTRL+SHIFT+B, or use the pull-down to select a specific boundary type.

Relationships

For showing connections between topics

Click Relationship.
Click the first topic, and then the second.

You can add even more information to your map by adding topics with Web search results, including Task Info, coding topics with Markers, and using formatting to highlight or categorize topics.