LabelPro Introduction

MAPublisher LabelPro™ revolutionizes the way users can label map data, including using symbols as labels, conflict resolution, and highly configurable rule-based labeling options. The MAP LabelPro engine uses map data attributes for labeling with styles, rules and controls configured through an intuitive, easy-to-use Graphical User Interface.

This tutorial assumes that the user is familiar with Adobe Illustrator and has at least a basic understanding of MAPublisher tools and features. Not all MAPublisher tools are explained in this document and this tutorial should be used in conjunction with the Help.

By following this tutorial, you will learn how to set up and use the MAP LabelPro labeling engine to label your map created in MAPublisher. Working on a provided map, users learn to create rules and styles for labeling in an automated and efficient way.

Important note for MAPublisher LabelPro evaluation users

The evaluation version of MAPublisher LabelPro scrambles the text of placed labels but preserves the case, spacing and punctuation so that it simulates how actual labels would be placed. Therefore, evaluation users will experience a different result with the MAP LabelPro settings of this tutorial than licensed users. The results will be shown and differences explained at the end of this guide. In evaluation mode, the scrambling process noticeably slows the speed of labeling.

Scenario

The purpose of this tutorial is to use MAP LabelPro to create labels for a simple map of downtown San Francisco, California, USA. For this tutorial, Avenza has prepared the necessary map file created with MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator, based on City and County of San Francisco GIS data (San Francisco Enterprise GIS program SFGIS). The map contains all the different types of features (point, line, and area) for labeling and obstacle purposes.

You will start by preparing the file and examining the data to familiarize yourself with the prerequisites to using MAP LabelPro. Then, the labeling will be done in two steps: the main labeling session (labeling public schools, streets, interstates, highways, and land areas in one run) and a secondary session (labeling parks only, using the other labels as obstacles). Although the presented settings are valid only for the map data they are based on, the principles are applicable for your own designs.

Tutorial data

The MAP LabelPro Tutorial data folder contains a ready-to-use Adobe Illustrator template file containing a map of downtown San Francisco (MAPLabelPro_Tutorial.ait). Here is a description of the layers present in the file and how they will be used during the labeling process:

All map layers were imported from City and County of San Francisco GIS data (San Francisco Enterprise GIS program SFGIS) in Esri shapefile format and cropped to the area of interest. The map design (symbols and line styles) was created by Avenza Systems.

This tutorial will use Adobe Illustrator files and MAP LabelPro rules installed with MAPublisher 11.4. You can find the MAP LabelPro Tutorial data in the following location on your hard drive:

Windows: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Avenza\MAPublisher 11.4\Tutorial Data\MAP LabelPro Tutorial Data

This data may be accessed through shortcuts available in the Windows start menu

Mac: /Applications/Avenza/MAPublisher 11.4/Tutorial Data/MAP LabelPro Tutorial Data

You are encouraged to experiment with your own data to gain additional experience with MAPublisher tools.

Tutorial data courtesy of City and County of San Francisco (San Francisco Enterprise GIS program SFGIS).

Tutorial styles and rules

MAPublisher is installed with predefined styles and rules to use for the MAP LabelPro settings in this tutorial. These configuration files are saved to one of three folders depending on the data type layer(Area, Line or Point) they are associated with.

The style and rules for the Parks_area layer will be created during the second labeling session of this exercise.

The default location of the Rules and Styles folders is:

Windows: C:\ProgramData\Avenza\MAPublisher 11.4\LabelPro\Rules

Mac: /Applications/Avenza/MAPublisher 11.4/MAPublisher Plug-In/LabelPro/Rules

 The MAP LabelPro tutorial data folder also contains a backup for these rules and styles

Start the tutorial

Go to the MAP LabelPro Getting Started tutorial to begin.