"Framing" in Adobe Illstrator?

[JonathanEngr]

I'm creating an overall conceptual drawing of a piece of land, and would like to print different sections of the land with a standard frame including a legend, and would like to create a fade effect (if possible) around the border of the print. Is there any way to make a frame (like in AutoCAD if anyone is familiar with it) in Adobe Illustrator? Thanks!

 

[JonathanEngr]

Sorry--one last question. Speaking of AutoCAD, is there anyway to add "snap to" functionality in Illustrator like there is in AutoCAD (snap to endpoint, midpoint, center, nearest, tangent, and so-on)?