Create a button on the Layout GUI to create shadow boxes around layout frames

Summary

This article shows how to create a button on the Layout GUI that will place a shadow box around a selected layout frame.

Procedure

1. Open a new script window.
   
   
   A. Activate the Project window.
   B. Click the Scripts icon.
   C. Click New.
   
   
2. Paste the code below into the new script window:
   
   

   Code:
   thelay = av.getactivedoc
   theglist = thelay.getgraphics
   thesel = theglist.getselected
   theshapefirst = thesel.get(0)
   theshapesecond = theshapefirst.getshape
   theshape = theshapesecond.scale(1.1)
   shapea = graphicshape.make(theshape)
   theglist.add(shapea)
   shapeb = graphicshape.make(theshape)
   theglist.add(shapeb)
   thesymbol = rasterfill.make
   thesymbol.setstyle(#rasterfill_style_solid)
   thesymbol.setcolor(color.getblack)
   shapea.setsymbol(thesymbol)
   shapea.invalidate
   thesymbolb = rasterfill.make
   thesymbolb.setstyle(#rasterfill_style_solid)
   thesymbolb.setcolor(color.getwhite)
   thesymbolb.setolcolor(color.getblack)
   shapeb.setsymbol(thesymbolb)
   shapeb.invalidate
   theglist.unselectall
   shapeb.select
   thenewglist = thelay.getgraphics
   thenewglist.moveselectedtoback
   pnt = point.make(0.15, -0.15)
   thenewglist.unselectall
   shapea.select
   thenewnewglist = thelay.getgraphics
   thenewnewglist.moveselectedtoback
   thenewsel = thenewnewglist.getselected.get(0)
   thenewsel.offset(pnt)
   thenewglist.unselectall
   '
   '-- If you want to group the frame with the shaodow graphics, 
   '-- uncomment this section.
   '
   'theglistshape = graphiclist.make
   'theglistshape.add(theshapefirst)
   'for each r in theglistshape
   '  r.setselected(true)
   'end
   theglistnew = graphiclist.make
   theglistnew.add(shapea)
   theglistnew.add(shapeb)
   for each i in theglistnew
     i.setselected(true)
   end
   thesellst = thelay.getgraphics
   thesellst.GroupSelected
   thelay.invalidate
   thelay.getdisplay.flush
   av.purgeobjects

   
   
3. Attach the script to a button on the layout GUI.
   
   
   A. Compile the script.
   B. Switch to the Project window.
   C. Select Customize from the Project menu.
   D. On the Customize dialog, select Layout under Type dropdown.
   E. Select Buttons under Category.
   F. Click the New button.
   G. Double-click the Click property in the Customize dialog box.
   H. Enter the name of the script in the Script Manager and click Select.
   I. Close the Customize dialog box.
   
   For more information, see 'Customize dialog box' in ArcView Help.
   
   
4. Open the layout.
5. Select the frame you want to enclose with the shadow box.
6. Click the new button to run the script.