What's new for text in ArcGIS 10.1
Labeling and annotation
New Label Expression parser
At ArcGIS 10.1 there has been a new label expression parser added. You can now use Python to add logic to your label expressions, including conditional logic and looping. For example, you could produce labels that have only the first letter of each word capitalized, regardless of how the text strings are stored in the attribute fields.
Internationalization
Improved internationalization support for text display of complex scripts (for example, Arabic, Hebrew, and Thai).
Default label engine and font name
At ArcGIS 10.1 you now have the ability to set a default label engine and font name for your .mxds.
Learn more about setting a default label engine and font name
Maplex Label Engine
The Maplex for ArcGIS extension functionality has been moved into the core ArcGIS for Desktop product and is referred to as the Maplex Label Engine.
Label density
A new Label Density tab has been added to the Placement Properties dialog box to organize the parameters that affect the density of labels. The following labeling parameters are on the tab:
- Remove duplicates
- Repeat label (for lines and polygons)
- Label buffer
- Minimum feature size (for lines and polygons)
- Label largest feature part for polygons
- Connecting line segments (for lines only)
Line connection and multipart polygons
The global label placement parameters controlling line connection and multipart polygons have been moved from the general Maplex label options to the label class level. This allows the parameters to be set per label class instead of for the data frame.
Spread words in polygon
The spread words parameter can now be applied to polygon labels. It is available for the Regular Placement style and the River Placement style.
Learn more about spreading the words of a label inside a polygon
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Key numbering
Key numbering has been added as a label-fitting strategy. In areas of a map where there is a high density of features (for example, small subdivisions or groups of buildings, such as a museum or university), you can use key numbering to provide a table showing the key numbers and the original labels.
Learn more about key numbering
Managing white space in a label
The ability to control the white space that is used in your label has been added to the Label Expression dialog box. These settings allow you to remove extra spaces and line breaks from your labels.
Learn more about controlling white space in your labels
The images below illustrate how the Remove extra spaces from label and Remove extra line breaks from label options affect how a label expression is displayed. In the label expression below, you can see that spaces have been used to spread out the top line of the label, and several new lines have been added to expand the stack. When the white space options are unchecked, you will see the image on the left where the white space is maintained. When the options are checked, you will see the image on the right where the white space has been removed from the label.
"This is" & vbnewline & vbnewline & vbnewline & "the label text"
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Offsetting stacked labels
The ability to stack a label on either side of a line feature when you are using an offset label style has been added. You can access this parameter through the Regular Placement style options.
Learn more about offsetting line labels
The images below illustrate the difference in placement when Allow stacked labels to straddle lines is enabled. The image on the left illustrates how the offset placement style offsets the stacked label to one side of the street feature. The image on the right shows how the Ventanna Ln label straddles the street feature once Allow stacked labels to straddle lines is checked.
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Labeling line features near junctions and borders
The ability to label line features near junctions and the map border has been added to the repeat line labels parameter. This is useful when using Data Driven Pages to create map sheets as they often have features that cross the entire map and continue on into the next sheet. Labeling near the map border in this case will make interpretation much easier.
Learn more about repeating labels along lines
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Truncation
Options have been added to the truncation parameter to allow you control over what characters are removed first, the minimum word length, and the marker character.
Learn more about truncating labels
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Offset point label from exact symbol outline
An option has been added to the point label offset parameter to allow you to measure the offset from the exact symbol outline. The offset is measured from the boundary of the feature symbol to the outer edge of the label. The boundary for simple geometric symbols is the edge of the symbol; for graphic and font symbols, the bounding rectangle around the symbol is the symbol boundary unless you check the Measure offset from the exact symbol outline check box.
Learn more about offsetting point labels
The images below illustrate the difference in placement when Measure offset from the exact symbol outline is enabled. The image on the left is a default offset. The image on the right is measuring the offset from the exact symbol outline.
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Removing duplicate labels
The Search Radius value of 0 is now a special default value that uses the extent of the map from which to remove duplicates.
Line labeling options added
The line options from the Standard Label Engine (one per feature, one per feature part, and one per feature segment) have been added to the line connection parameter.
Learn more about placing multiple labels per line feature
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