We got one of those perennial 'tough nut' questions on Ask a Cartographer today. The question has to do with using annotation versus on the fly labeling with Maplex and what are often called overflow labels, which I have also heard called ''key lists''. While we are able to recommend tips and tools for specific circumstances or implementations, ...

If you're making a map that is either a large format print map or a map that will be served via ArcGIS Server, squeezing every bit of wasted time out of drawing performance is critical.  Don't get tired of sitting there drinking extra cups of coffee watching the word ''Drawing'', all your layer names, and that little blue globe. If you're ...

So, you have just spent a few minutes deep in concentration setting up your labeling rules and applied them.  ArcMap's little globe is spinning, spinning... spinning... and nothing.  Several of your labels didn't draw. Panic and go to MappingCenter. Right? Not exactly.  There are a few things we always do when diagnosing the ...

Complex maps such as topographic maps present several significant challenges for setting up labeling rules and creating annotation.  The first challenge is that these maps typically have many layers and types of features, requiring map authors to create and manage numerous label classes. Second, these layers may have a high density of ...