Configure labels

Note:

This functionality is available only for ArcGIS feature layers or layers created using your data.

Maps can display large amounts of geographic data in layers that typically overlap. The way you style data can help describe and identify features. However, you may need more than a symbol or color to communicate information about the map, which is when labeling features can help.

Labels are short pieces of text that describe the features in a layer. The text for a label is derived from the available layer attributes. You can select which attribute you want to show, for example, the name or type of feature.

When you enable labels on a layer, ArcGIS for Excel automatically places the label on the map on or near the feature it describes. You can control the text size, color, and style to differentiate labels on different layers or use the halo effect around the label to ensure that it stands out from text on the basemap or another layer. You can also specify the zoom levels at which labels are visible on the map.

Use the Labels section to control how features in a layer are labeled on the map. You can add multiple label classes, filter labels, change label appearance, and control label visibility by scale.

To configure labels, complete the following steps:

1. From the map tools, click Layers to open the Layers pane.
2. Click the Layer Properties tab .
3. Choose a layer to modify from the Active layer drop-down menu.
4. Expand the Labels section, and turn on the Show labels toggle button.

   The +Add label class button becomes visible.

   Note:

   The toggle button controls label visibility only. Turning labels on does not create a label. Labels are created by adding label classes.

5. Click +Add label class to create a label class.

   You can add multiple label classes to the same layer. There is no limit to the number of label classes. Each label class is configured independently.

6. Click any of the following buttons in a label class:
   • Expand/Collapse —Show or hide the label class settings.
   • Name—Identify the label class.

     Note:

     The name does not affect labeling.

   • Rename —Click the ellipses to access this button. Rename the label class. Optionally, you can also double‑click the name to make edits.
   • Duplicate —Click the ellipses to access this button. Create a copy of the label class. A copy suffix is added.
   • Delete —Remove the label class.
7. Click the Label field drop‑down menu to select an attribute from the layer.

   The selected field determines the label text. Each label class can use a different field. Field selection is controlled by the map author.

8. Turn off the Enable labels toggle button to hide labels from the selected active layer.
9. Click Close to close the Layers pane.

Filter labels

Use Filter labels to control which labels are displayed based on feature attributes. Filters apply to labels only. Feature visibility is not affected. If no filters are applied, all labels are displayed.

To filter labels, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Filter labels button .

   The Filter labels pane appears with the +Add new button enabled, which you can use to specify where the feature labels will be shown.

2. Click +Add new.

   A new condition group opens with SQL clauses.

3. Click the Delete button to delete individual conditions or condition groups.

   Optionally, you can click Delete all to delete and clear the entire pane of all conditions.

4. Click the back arrow or the Done button to apply the filters and return to the label class in the Labels section.

Considerations

You can do any of the following with the conditions and condition groups:

• Add one or more conditions to a group.
• Combine conditions using AND or OR.
• Add multiple condition groups.
• Combine condition groups using AND or OR.

Note:

• There is no limit to the number of conditions or groups.
• Only labels whose features meet the filter conditions are displayed.

Label style configuration

Use Label style to change how labels appear on the map. To update label settings for the active layer, do any of the following:

• Click the Label style button .The Label style pane appears where you can do the following:
  • Specify the label's Font styling configurations, including font family, point size, font color, and emphasis settings.
  • Specify the label's Placement option relative to the feature's location from the example images.
  • Adjust Offset values to horizontally and vertically offset label properties (in pixels).
  • Turn on the Enable halo toggle button to add a halo outline around the text and, optionally, specify the halo color and size in pixels.
• Click the back arrow or the Done button to apply the filters and return to the label class in the Labels section.
• Set the Label visible range value to set a minimum and maximum label visibility. Drag the slider handles outward to expand the range or inward to lower it. The scale identifier arrow and label below the slider, such as Country or Building, indicate the current zoom level. To set a more precise scale, click the scale identifier, and choose a zoom level from the drop-down menu.

Label classes work independently. You can use multiple label classes to label different attributes in the same layer, apply different filters, use different styles, and set different visible ranges. This provides more process control than a single label configuration.