Creates text labels for features using the MapText Label Manager.
Note: The MapTextLabeller transformer is available as an extra-cost package from Safe Software. Please contact sales@safe.com or call 604-501-9985.
Input Ports
The input ports are dynamically generated via the Rule Configurations parameter.
Output Ports
The output ports are dynamically generated via the Rule Configurations parameter.
For each configured layer with name <layername>, two ports called <layername>_TXT and <layername>_UNL will be created.
The text labels will be output through the <layername>_TXT port.
Features for which a label could not be placed will be output through the <layername>_UNL port. An attribute named _ez_unlabeled_reason will be added to the feature. Possible values for this attribute are Suppressed, Excluded and Unplaced.
Parameters
General
Target Format
Specifies the format used for the text labels.
Ground Units Per Font Point
Specifies the size of the text labels. The specified value represents the size on the ground that the label would occupy if a 1-point sized font were used.
Prefer Source Feature Color
If this parameter is enabled, the color specified by the feature's fme_color attribute will be used for the labelling.
If this parameter is not enabled, or the feature has no fme_color attribute, then the color specified in Rule Configurations will be used for the labelling.
Rule Configurations
Specifies which layers are to be labelled and how the labelling will be performed.
Usage Notes
The following steps are typically used when specifying the Rule Configurations parameter:
- Use the Import button to choose which layers and attributes are to be labelled.
- Click the Configure button to bring up the Label Manager dialog.
- For each layer to be labelled, select the geometry type (Point, Line, Polygon) of the feature from the Feat Type column. If the geometry type remains unselected, this layer can continue to be used as an obstacle.
- Click the Style button to specify what text should be displayed for the selected layer.
- Ensure that the Label checkbox is selected.
- Select the Obstacle checkbox if labels should not overlap features in the selected layer.
- Click the Rule button to customize the rules used to determine how the labels are placed.
For more information on label configuration, see the Label Manager documentation provided by MapText, Inc. Note that some Label Manager features, such as shared rules, are not supported by the MapTextLabeller.
The MapTextStyler can be used with this transformer to specify no-label zones around features.
The MapTextLabeller automatically deaggregates features and attempts to label the individual pieces if they meet the labelling criteria. For more control over how labelling of aggregates is done, it is recommended that aggregates are split apart and possibly recombined prior to the MapTextLabeller, using transformers such as the Deaggregator and AreaAmalgamator.
Note: The MapTextLabeller requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 4 to be installed.
Some of the target formats have the following specific issues:
Bentley MicroStation Design
If colors are set within the MapTextLabeller, the MicroStation writer will try to select the closest color from the seed file. To set colors properly, the desired font number from the seed file can be used for the Index Color parameter in the DGNStyler.
TrueType fonts should be specified in the seed file, since MapTextLabeller only uses this type of font. The FME igds_font format attribute must be set to the font number from the seed file. The igds_font attribute can be set using an AttributeCreator, ValueMapper or another suitable transformer.
ESRI ArcGIS
There is no color for shields and leaders (fme_color/fme_fill_color doesn't work).
It is not possible to write composite leaders to writer (a leader that is an aggregate of a polyline and filled polygon).
GeoMedia
There is no color for shields and leaders (fme_color/fme_fill_color doesn't work).
It is necessary to manually set the Nominal scale and scaling to Paper in the GeoMedia workspace.
Note: Powered by MapText, Inc., Copyright © MapText, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Editing Transformer Parameters
Using a set of menu options, transformer parameters can be assigned by referencing other elements in the workspace. More advanced functions, such as an advanced editor and an arithmetic editor, are also available in some transformers. To access a menu of these options, click 
beside the applicable parameter. For more information, see Transformer Parameter Menu Options.
Defining Values
There are several ways to define a value for use in a Transformer. The simplest is to simply type in a value or string, which can include functions of various types such as attribute references, math and string functions, and workspace parameters. There are a number of tools and shortcuts that can assist in constructing values, generally available from the drop-down context menu adjacent to the value field.
How to Set Parameter Values
Using the Text Editor
The Text Editor provides a convenient way to construct text strings (including regular expressions) from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and constants, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.
Using the Arithmetic Editor
The Arithmetic Editor provides a convenient way to construct math expressions from various data sources, such as attributes, parameters, and feature functions, where the result is used directly inside a parameter.
Conditional Values
Set values depending on one or more test conditions that either pass or fail.
Parameter Condition Definition Dialog
Content
Expressions and strings can include a number of functions, characters, parameters, and more.
When setting values - whether entered directly in a parameter or constructed using one of the editors - strings and expressions containing String, Math, Date/Time or FME Feature Functions will have those functions evaluated. Therefore, the names of these functions (in the form @<function_name>) should not be used as literal string values.
Content Types
| These functions manipulate and format strings. | |
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Special Characters |
A set of control characters is available in the Text Editor. |
| Math functions are available in both editors. | |
| Date/Time Functions | Date and time functions are available in the Text Editor. |
| These operators are available in the Arithmetic Editor. | |
| These return primarily feature-specific values. | |
| FME and workspace-specific parameters may be used. | |
| Creating and Modifying User Parameters | Create your own editable parameters. |
Dialog Options - Tables
Transformers with table-style parameters have additional tools for populating and manipulating values.
Table Tools
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Row Reordering
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
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Cut, Copy, and Paste
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Enabled once you have clicked on a row item. Choices include:
Cut, copy, and paste may be used within a transformer, or between transformers. |
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Filter
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Start typing a string, and the matrix will only display rows matching those characters. Searches all columns. This only affects the display of attributes within the transformer - it does not alter which attributes are output. |
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Import
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Import populates the table with a set of new attributes read from a dataset. Specific application varies between transformers. |
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Reset/Refresh
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Generally resets the table to its initial state, and may provide additional options to remove invalid entries. Behavior varies between transformers. |
Note: Not all tools are available in all transformers.
FME Community
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