Label features in ArcGIS Explorer?

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05-02-2010 05:44 AM
BradfordFolta
Occasional Contributor
Unless I'm missing something, the inability to label features in ArcGIS Explorer is inexplicable to me and basically renders this product useless. Why isn't something as simple as labeling a feature included?
21 Replies
LuisSanchez
New Contributor
Thank you Peter.
I went to ArcMap and set my minimum scale and then create the file layer.
As you mentioned, Arcgis explorer honored these values and I was able to set to the right scales.
Thanks,
Luis
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logannissenson
New Contributor II
This forum was a lot of help. Thanks to those who contributed.
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KevinCaldwell
New Contributor
I'm an oldschool GIS user (3.3...yeah, its medieval) so I just downloaded ArcGIS Explorer. So far its excellent but for the labeling function which doesn't exist (huh???).  So - I downloaded the feature labeller, as suggested by the ESRI engineer above but still am unable to label as I (or anyone!) would ideally need.  I have an odd scenario however. 

I have 462 waypoints grouped in five major regions along the Appalachian Trail (southeast).  I simply need to simply label each of these five areas on a map of the whole region, but when I use the labeler - it labels EVERY SINGLE POINT as the region - so I get my region name 100 or more times!!!

I realize the function is saying to label every single point not knowing how to group any given point based on a region (though points have fields ascribing them to one of five regions by name and number)...but this is truly confounding.

Why does a simple map label and title or legend function not exist in this program - or rather - can anyone point me to a rational / sane add-in that allows you to place simple labels on a map?  Am I also missing something - it seems like adding five simple labels would be among the most basic and required functions - even mid 1990's USGS map programs have that feature...any advice out there? I've tried everything to do with Notes also - and they simply don't work.
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SteveBruce
New Contributor
theoldjam;12312 wrote:
This is an existing enhancement, NIM052362- Enhance ArcGIS Explorer to support dynamic labeling of feature layers.


Is there a timeline on this enhancement?
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DavidHaines
Occasional Contributor
You can make labels for points,  but not lines or polygons.  So the workaround is to get the label point for the polygon/line, then create a new point note at that location, label it, and set the symbol to transparent.  You then have labels.

For example -
Point myPoint = myPolygon.Graphic.Geometry.GetLabelPoint();
Note myLabel= new Note("Label", myPoint );
myLabel.Graphic.Label = "My Label Text";
myLabel.Graphic.LabelVisibility = LabelVisibility.Visible;
myLabel.Graphic.Symbol = ESRI.ArcGISExplorer.Mapping.Symbol.Marker.Transparent;
ESRI.ArcGISExplorer.Application.Application.ActiveMapDisplay.Map.ChildItems.Add(myLabel);
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joesather
New Contributor II
I am using Build 1750 and I have had luck labeling Layer packages, as long as they were exported from shapefiles.  I am not able to get Polygon labels to work when exporting layer packages from a File Geodatabase.  I have had good luck with simple VB scripts such as VBNewLine, and many different symbol masks and rotation angles for points seem to displaying just fine.
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NikkiSmith1
New Contributor
I was able to label by feature using the Labels tab in the Layer Properties dialog box...I'm not sure if this is the same situation, but I just thought I'd comment.
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markharris3
New Contributor
Rob,

To use an Annotation Feature Class you'll first need to create a Layer file (.lyr) for it in ArcGIS Desktop - we don't support adding it directly from a Geodatabase.

Another option for quickly labelling content whilst in the application is the Feature Labeller Add-in on ArcGIS.com: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=856431c3611b4ffa847938906a5ea43d.

Cheers

Mike


It would seem I, like most other users, are incredulous at the inability to label in this "viewer" software.

This "feature labeller" (something I recall not being an issue in the old skewl ArcExplorer??) is not available for download it seems (it says there is an error which I have encountered for the last 3 days).

When trying to make data available to business streams, as ESRI suggests it wants to, but without wanting to pay the hefty licensing fee (which is also obvious that ESRI wants us to) the is no way of demonstrating the versatility of ESRI as a product to users (which will never use even a fraction of the power of Explorer let alone the purchased products) a viewer is a way of getting GIS out there and digestible.

But these people have seen google maps/bing and the like, and would demand as a minimum capabilities similar to those other products they use at home and in their daily life.
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Joeysmith
New Contributor
I can't seem to find where you would turn on labels.
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DiegoLlamas
Esri Contributor
Hi,

You'll need to set up the labelling in ArcMap then create a Layer File / Layer Package and add that to ArcGIS Explorer. Alternatively you try annotation feature classes.

Regards

Mike


Hi,

I follow your instructions about creating a layer file to see labels on ArcGIS Explorer and it worked. I did this from a computer that has ArcMap, I add this layer to explorer and I could see it perfectly. The thing is that I need to see this layer in computers that does not have ArcMap. I copy and paste my Layer File to this computers and when I try to add this layer to Explorer I receive an invalid source error [ATTACH=CONFIG]25462[/ATTACH] but for some reason if I add the same layer file from my usb It can be added correctly. I checked my USB and I had my shapefile there So, I copy all my folder exactly like it is on the USB and I got the same error.

what am I doing wrong?


Hope you can help!

Best regards

Diego Llamas
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