ArcMap Labeling and

Annotation Topics
Mike Siedschlag
GIS Technician I
&
Andy Schmidt
GIS Technician II
 Overview
• Why use labels in your GIS?
• Definitions and Contrasts:
– Labels, Annotations and Graphics
• Working with Labels
– Label Toolbar
– Label Manager
• Working with Annotation
– Creating/Converting/Utilizing
• Intro to ArcMap’s Maplex labeling engine
• Conclusion
• Labeling and Annotation Demo
Why Use Labels in Your GIS?
• Describe particular features
• Add general information to the map
• Add clarity
• Communicates you message to the
viewer
 Define and Contrast: Labels,
Annotation and Graphics
• Labels
– A label is a piece of text in ArcMap that is
automatically positioned and whose text string is
based on feature attributes.
– They are generated dynamically and only labeling
properties are stored.
– Labeling properties will be saved when you save
your map document (.mxd) or layer file (.lyr).
– Labels offer the fastest and easiest way to add
descriptive text to your map for individual features.
– Text size can be independent or tied to a
reference scale.
 Define and Contrast: Labels,
Annotation and Graphics
• Annotation
– Each piece of annotation stores its own position, text string
and display properties.
– The text or graphics can be individually selected, positioned
and modified.
– Annotation may be manually entered or generated from
labels.
– Text size is explicitly set based on a reference scale.
– Types of Annotation
• Geodatabase Annotation
– Stored in a geodatabase
• Map Document Annotation
– Stored in map documents
 Define and Contrast: Labels,
Annotation and Graphics
• Graphics
– Graphic text is stored on the map layout page.
– Cannot be organized into groups.
– Edited with the graphic tools on the Draw toolbar.
– Typically denoted as map layout features
• Map title
• Legend
• North Arrow
• Scale bar and text
– Text size is set relative to the map layout size.
 Working with Labels
• Two ways to label
features
– Label Toolbar
> View Menu >
Toolbars > Labeling
– Label Tab
• Under Layer
Properties
 Working with Labels

• Label toolbar
– Label DropDown - Gives you access to
Abbreviation Dictionary, Maplex tools and
additional Options.
– Label Manager
– Label Priority Ranking
– Label Weight Ranking
– Lock Labels
– View Unplaced Labels
 Label DropDown
• Abbreviation Dictionary contains acceptable
abbreviations for labeling. Ex. street type
abbreviations (St, Hwy, Dr, etc.)
• Maplex Labeling Engine
• Options
– Color of unplaced labels
– Rotation of labels
– Angle from vertical
 Label Manager
• Label Manager has similar tools that are found
in labeling.
• Simplifies Labeling tasks and label management
Feature Classes
Label Field
Expressions
Placement
Scaling
Styles
 Label Manager
• Placement Properties:
– Point:
• Placement: Around point, On point, Specify angle, Angle from
field.
• Location: Preferred Northeast corner
– Line:
• Orientation: Horizontal, Parallel, Curved, and Perpendicular
• Position: Above, On the line, Below
– Polygon:
• Placement: Horizontal, Straight, Horizontal First then Straight
 Label Manager
• Label Manager provides access to
conflict detection and feature type
specific placement.
 Label Priority Ranking
• Label Priority
Ranking ranks
labels according to
their placement.
Labels at the top of
the list have the
highest priority and
are most likely to be
placed.
 Label Weights
• Label Weight
Ranking lets you set
weights to labels in
instances of
conflicts (overlaps).
Labels with a higher
weight have higher
priority.
 Label Lock and Unplaced Labels
• Label Lock: holds the positions
of the labels in the current map
extent. Label positions maintain
as you pan or zoom in map
extent. Labels outside of map
extent do not draw until lock is
turned off.

• View unplaced labels to see

what needs to still be placed.
Default color is red, can be
changed in Label Options menu
 Labeling All Features the Same
• Access the labels tab in
the layer property dialog
box.
• Things to consider:
– Label all features the
same way, or set each
class differently
– What field is the label,
Name, Object ID, etc.
– Text Symbol
– Placement Properties,
Scale Range, Label
Styles
 Labeling Features
Based on Classes
• Label Classes
– When you have
different symbol
classes for a feature
and you want to label
those classes
accordingly.
 Label Symbology
• Labels can be
created with
backgrounds,
leaders callouts,
other symbols,
shadows, and halos.
• Under Label tab in
Layer Properties –
Symbol
 Label Expressions
• Expressions can be
used to format your
labels.
• Limited to a single line
of code
– Advanced option lets you
enter a function
containing a
programming script that
can span multiple lines.
 Label Expressions
• Example expressions:
– Single field: [Name]
– Multiple fields: [FirstName]&” “&[LastName]
– Stacked: [FirstName]& vbnewline &[LastName]
– Formatted: “<CLR Red = ““255””>” & “<FNT Size =
““14””>” & [Name] & “</FNT>” & “</CLR>”
– Formatted text type: FormatCurrency ([Profit])
 Label Expressions
– Mathematical equation: Round
([SHAPE.AREA]) * .00002295682) &
“Acres”
– Extract Attribute parts using Left Right, and
Mid Functions:
• Left([Name],1)
• Right([Name],1)
• Mid([Name],2,2)
 Label Expressions
• Examples of Advanced VB Script
– Finding and replacing text:
• Function FindLabel ([STATE])
Text = Replace ([STATE], “Minnesota”, “MN”)
FindLabel = text
End Function
– A given criteria
• Function FindLabel([NAME], [POPULATION])
if ([POPULATION] > 250000) then
FindLabel = [NAME]
end if
End Function
 Working with Annotation
• Annotation Defined:
– Another option in ArcGIS for storing text to place
on your maps
– Stored in a annotation feature class
– Annotation features have a geographic location
and attributes. Ability to change symbology
including text, size, color, and other text symbol
properties
– Two types of annotation: Geodatabase and Map-
Document
 Geodatabase Annotation
• Two types of Geodatabase Annotation:
Standard and Feature-Linked
– Standard Annotation:
• Not formally associated with a feature.
– Ex. Text on a map for a mountain range
– Feature linked annotation:
• Annotation that is directly linked to features (point, line, or
polygon feature class)
• Annotation is linked to its feature using a relationship
class.
– Composite Relationship: A link or association between
objects where the lifetime of one object controls the lifetime
of its relate objects.
 Geodatabase Annotation
– Why use feature linked annotation?
• Additional functionality
– When a new feature is created, so is the annotation
associated with it
– When a feature is moved the annotation associated with it
moves as well
– Changing the attributes of a feature also changes the
annotation associated with it
– Deleting a feature also deletes the annotation associated
with it
– Must have ArcEditor or ArcInfo license to create
and edit feature linked annotation. Read-only in
ArcView
 Geodatabase Annotation
• Creating Annotation from Labels
– Right click layer > Convert labels to
annotation > dialogue box:
• Store in Database or Map?
• All features, or selected features?
• Select Feature-Linked Annotation by
checking box, leave unchecked for
Standard Annotation
• Name annotation feature class
• Specify where it is to be stored
• Decide if unplaced labels become
unplaced annotation
• Convert!
 Geodatabase Annotation
• Creating Annotation from
Scratch (Non-Feature
Linked)
– ArcCatalog
• Create new feature dataset
under database
• Create new feature class
under dataset
– Define annotation classes
– Set reference scale
– Set defaults
 Geodatabase Annotation
– Annotation Classes:
• Contains properties that determine
how a subset of annotation in the
feature class displays
• Standard Annotation:
– Default symbology
– Visible scale range
• Feature-Linked Annotation:
– Standard Annotation properties
– How the annotation text strings will be
defined based on attributes in the
linked feature class
– Which features in the linked feature
class will be annotated by the
annotation class
– How to place new annotation
 Geodatabase Annotation
– Reference Scale:
• Must set reference scale for annotation
– Zooming in to larger scale, annotation will appear
larger. Zooming out to smaller scale, annotation will
appear smaller.
• Reference scale for annotation should match
map reference scale.
– Ex. 50,000 – Township, 9,000 – Section, 4,000 –
Detail
– Set your defaults to the annotation class
you edit the most.
 Geodatabase Annotation
• Editing Standard Annotation
– Edit Attributes
– Change type
– Change size
– Rotate
– Moving, Anchors/Handles
– Follow features
– Find Text
– Creating curved
– Converting to multiple parts
– Stacking
– Copy and Paste features
 Geodatabase Annotation
• Editing Feature-Linked Annotation
– Similar to editing standard annotation.
– Editing the feature attribute of the parent
feature will update the child annotation.
– Can over ride the default text by editing the
attributes or text of the annotation,
however this is rode by updating the parent
feature.
 Map-Document Annotation
• Map document annotation is stored inside the
map document (.mxd).
• Useful if you have a relatively small amount of
editable text.
• Text can only be used in a single map.
• Map document annotation is best organized
using annotation groups.
• Create annotation groups in ArcMap by using
the Draw toolbar.
 Maplex Labeling
• What is Maplex?
– High quality cartographic labeling
extension for ESRI® ArcMap.
– User defined label placement and conflict
resolution.
– Text placed quickly, without overlap and
little manual adjustment needed.
 Maplex Labeling
• Benefits to Maplex
– Flexible placement
allowing more labels to
fit in an area
– Label fitting strategies
allowing for better
placement of labels
– Ability to resolve
conflicts of overlapped,
unplaced, and poorly
placed labels
 Loading Maplex
• Maplex is loading
like any other
extension
– Tools Menu >
Extensions
 Loading Maplex
• Once Maplex is loaded
it is necessary to set it
as the desired labeling
engine.
• Select from the labeling
toolbar.
OR
• Select from Data Frame
Properties.
 Label Placement Parameters
• Label Position – Labeling within spatial features, label
orientation, spacing
– Point
– Lines
– Polygons
• Label Fitting Strategies
– Label Stacking
– Font Reduction
– Abbreviation
• Conflict Resolution
– Feature Priority
– Overlapping
– Creating background labels
– Remove duplicate
 Label Position - Point
• User sets label position
around points, text
rotation, and offset
rules.
• Preferred placement is
the Northeast corner,
however a better
position may be more
aesthetically pleasing.
 Label Position - Line
• User sets
label position
near the line,
street specific
spacing, and
offset rules.
 Label Position - Polygon
• User sets label
position within a
polygon,
prioritizes
horizontal
placement,
spreads
characters and
specifies offset
rules.
 Label Fitting - Point
• Label stacking, font reduction and
abbreviation
 Label Fitting - Line
• Label stacking, font reduction, overrun,
and abbreviations.
 Label Fitting - Polygon
• Label stacking, font
reduction, overrun
and abbreviation.
 Conflict Resolution
• Conflict resolution
includes feature
priority, overlapping,
background labels,
duplicates and
buffer settings.
 Conclusion
• Mentioned why you want labels in your map
display.
• Discussed labels and how to create, change
and update labels.
• Talked about how to create, manipulate and
display annotation.
• Introduced Maplex extension for ArcGIS and
mentioned how it can benefit the labeling
process.
• Demo
Questions?

Thank You