MAPublisher LabelPro Settings

Setup Layers

Before labeling, click Setup Layers to configure which MAP Layers are used in the Source list in the MAP LabelPro dialogue box—these source layers can be set as obstacles, as labels, or both. Obstacles are map objects that are included in the conflict resolution decision making process and are considered objects that must be avoided when trying to place a label. The Setup Layers dialogue box displays all valid MAP Views and their MAP Layers in the document. To show layers in the Source list, check the appropriate Show check box to the right of the layer name. All layers are listed in the dialogue box, but only layers that are checked will be included in the labeling process or considered as obstacles. All label settings (including styles and rules) are remembered even if a layer is subsequently not shown.

 Layers may be used as both a label and an obstacle concurrently. It is possible to perform labeling operations for multiple MAP Views simultaneously, however, source data layers and output text layers must belong to the same MAP View.

Advanced Options

In the Advanced options dialogue box set the Label Placement Area option to the extents based on the current artboard or the extents of labeled source layers. To set Label Margins, enable the option and enter the extents of the label container in increments of the current document units. Data that is outside of the label margins is disregarded in the labeling process. Right-click Label Margin boxes to change measurement units.

 These settings are applied in conjunction with the settings from the Source Art section in the main MAP LabelPro configuration dialogue box. Units for margins are determined by Document Setup in Adobe Illustrator.

Labels and Obstacles

The Source column shows the MAP View, Area, Point, Line and Text layers that are enabled in Setup Layers. Select a layer in the Source list and view its settings to the right of the Source list. Each layer can be set to either be labeled or be an obstacle. Click in the Label column beside the layer to set it to be labeled or click in the Obstacle column to set it to be an obstacle. Obstacles are used to prevent labels from being placed over or around specified features.

When a layer is set to be labeled, its label settings become enabled. Choose the appropriate attribute as the source for labels in the Label source drop-down list (see how to style labels in the MAPublisher LabelPro Styles section).

 By default, label case matches the attribute table exactly. To modify a label's case, use the Label case setting located in the Style dialog box.

Output and Suppression Text Layers

Generated labels are placed on layers specified in the Output layer and Suppression layer drop-down lists. Choose an output layer to contain only the labels that could be placed successfully on the map based on the defined rules. Existing Text layers can be used as output layers or use the [Create on label generation] option to create a Text layer automatically when labels are generated. These layers will be named [layer name] Labels.

Suppression layers are repositories for labels that could not be placed successfully according to the rules and have not met all placement conditions. For best viewing results after labeling, hide the suppression text layers. Alternately, set the suppression layer to [Ignored] and unsuccessfully placed labels will not output to any layer.

 Locked output or suppression layers are displayed in red in the Source list in the configuration dialogue box. It is normal for a certain percentage of labels to not succeed in being placed due to rule or data conflicts. Information regarding the success rate of placement can be reviewed in the MAPublisher Log.

Priority

The Priority setting allows for complex hierarchical labeling sequences. The priority is the order of preference in which labels are placed. Set priority by selecting a number in the Priority setting for a respective layer. Layers with a priority of 1 will be placed first (high priority). Layers with a priority of 12 will be placed last (low priority). Consequently, layers with a low priority may have more labels sent to suppression layers (dependent on how styles and rules are set up).

 A maximum of twelve priorities may be assigned at any given time, however, the same priority number can be assigned to multiple layers.

Label Filters

Label filters are used to label unique values for a specified attribute. For example, a road layer contains multiple codes to classify its type (local, highway, ramp, etc). The label filter can be based on the classification code where rules and styles for each filter can be customized to label each road type differently.

To add a label filter to a selected source MAP layer, click the Add Label Filter button (below the Source list). In the Label Filter section, the Limit by expression option provides settings to enter an expression (or use the Expression Builder or Expression Library). The labels limited by expression will follow the label settings specified above the Label Filter section. A label filter can effectively be "disabled" by choosing Apply to all. This means that any remaining labels in the source layer that are not filtered by an expression will follow the rules and styles set in the label filter with the Apply to all option enabled.

Reorder label filters using the up and down arrows to the left of the Source list. The order is important if the Stop if art satisfies this expression option is enabled. This option can prevent subsequent label filters from being executed.

Add multiple label filters to a MAP layer to create flexible labeling options. To create multiple label filters at once, click the Batch generate label filters button. In the Batch Label Filter Generator dialogue box, base the label filter on an attribute in the Attribute drop-down list and click the Load button to view how many values the chosen attribute has. Then choose a data classification method (Equal Intervals, Quantiles, Natural Breaks or Unique Values). The number of data classes will determine the number of label filters generated. Optionally, in the Default Settings section, choose whether the label filters should be an obstacle, a label, or both. All the settings in this section are considered the default for all of the generated label filters. Click the Show distribution histogram button beside the Method drop-down to display a distribution histogram and chart.

After adding label filters, the settings for each label filter can be further customized. Select a label filter and its settings appear to the right of the Source list.

To copy a label filter, click the Copy Label Filter button. To delete a label filter, click the Remove button.