I am new to QGIS and the questions asked and answered here about the North Arrow do not seem to help me solve my problem below.
In the main mapping pane of QGIS 2.2.0 Valmiera, I can add the scale and north arrow, but as soon as I go to the Composer to print a map, those two things disappear from the map that I open in the composer.
The Composer has something which allows me to add a scale thing, but it shows the actual scale on the paper that I'll be printing on and not the actual scale of the surface of the earth of the displayed map. I even tried refreshing the map but it did not work.
The bottom line is this: How do I get a scale thing (sorry!) (expanding and contracting in values as I zoom in and out) in Composer, and how do I get a North Arrow in there as well.
Best Answer
The north arrow is added as an image. The behaviour of the scale depends on the CRS of your data/map.
Once you start inserting an image in the composer, you should get the option to select from a library of icons, and a subfolder is arrows, of which there are are many types. Once the image is installed, there is an option to keep the rotation of the arrow synchonised with the map.
It seems the scale problem you mention is like it is set to 1:1. This is not the default AFAIK. I almost always work in a UTM (metres) CRS for the main mapping pane (the canvas) and so the addition of the scale bar is trouble fee. If you are working with degrees your mileage may vary. Keep working with that tool.
A simplistic answer, hope its a start.