# Line Layer

This topic provides steps for creating a basic map using the Line layer.

## Content



A Line layer displays routes and paths between different locations, for example, transportation route between two stores.

Use the following steps for creating a basic map using the Line layer. These steps assume that you have added a page layout template to your project and have a data connection in place. See [Data Binding in Page/RDLX Reports](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/data-binding/data-binding-page-rdl-reports) for more information.

1.  From the toolbox, drag and drop a [Map](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/report-controls/report-controls-page-rdl-report/map) control onto the design surface.
2.  In the **Select a Map Template** wizard that appears, select the **New Map** template.
3.  Click the map until the map panes appear.
4.  Right-click inside the area labeled "Right click to add the new layer." and add either a Tile layer or a Polygon layer. One of these layers that you add serves as the geographic base to plot lines on. See, [Polygon Layer](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/report-controls/report-controls-page-rdl-report/map/use-map-layers/polygon-layer) or [Use a Tile Layer](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/report-controls/report-controls-page-rdl-report/map/use-map-layers/tile-layer) for steps to add these layers on a Map control.
5.  Right-click again inside the area labeled "right-click to add the new layer." and select **Add Line Layer**. This adds a Line layer to the map and opens the **Map Layer Data Properties** dialog.
6.  In the **Map Layer Data Properties** dialog that appears, on the **General** page, import the spatial data (lines) from a shape file or use a data field from the analytical data to specify the spatial data source.
7.  In case you want to visualize analytical data on the map, go to the **Analytical data** page of the dialog, select your dataset from the **Dataset** dropdown list and click the **Add** (+) button located next to the **Match** field. This makes the **Spatial field** and **Analytical field** options active. See, [Add Data to a Map](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/report-controls/report-controls-page-rdl-report/map/add-data-to-map) for more information.
8.  In the **Spatial field** and **Analytical field** options set data fields that contain similar data in both Spatial and Analytical databases. Match fields are used to relate the spatial data with the analytical data. 
	> type=note
	> **Note**: It is necessary to set match fields if you want to use a data field from the analytical data to set spatial data for the layer, or if you want to visualize analytical data on the map.
9.  Go to the **Filters** page and set filters if any.
10.  Click **OK** to close the dialog and return to the design surface.
11.  In the layers pane, right-click on **LineLayer1** and select **Edit** to open **Map Line Layer** dialog.
    
    ![Map Polygon Layer Properties - General dialog](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/b298aea2-8cb8-4a0f-be88-4f54aa263ebd/images/controls/map/map-linelayerdialog.png)
    
12.  In the **General** page of the dialog, select any data field from the **Label Text** dropdown list to display as a label for each line that gets displayed on the map at run time. You can also set the label placement.
13.  Go to the **Color Rule** page to set rules to visualize data using color pallets, color ranges, or custom colors for lines that get displayed on the map, or keep it set to "Use Appearance settings". See, [Use Color Rule, Marker Rule, and Size Rule](/activereportsnet/docs/report-authors/report-controls/report-controls-page-rdl-report/map/use-color-rule-marker-rule-size-rule) for more information.
14.  Go to the **Size Rule** page to set rules to visualize data using line width or keep it set to the default line width.
15.  Go to the **Visibility** page of the dialog and make sure the layer visibility is set to **Show**. You can also select options to show or hide a layer based on any expression or zoom value.
16.  In the **Navigation** page of the dialog, you can optionally link the layer to a URL, bookmark, or a report.
17.  Go to the **Appearance** page of the dialog and set the style, width, and color of the layer border and the layer background.
18.  In the **Font** page of the dialog, you can optionally set the font family, size, weight, style, set, and color for the label text that you had set in the **General** page of the dialog.
19.  Go to the **Data Output** page and specify the Data Element Name of the layer to be used while rendering to XML and also specify whether the layer should be included in output while rendering or not.
20.  Click **OK** to close the dialog and go to the preview tab to view the map.