Label Object Data Areas

This command labels selected Object Data fields within MPolygon areas with smart rules for different methods to handle any labels that overlap the area perimeter. This command requires AutoCAD Map 2006. The program starts by prompting for the object data table name at the command line. To check the object data table name of an MPolygon entity, double-click on the MPolygon to bring up the Properties dialog. In the dialog, object data is shown in sections labeled OD:Object Table Name.

After selecting the object table name, there is an options dialog. The dialog lists all the field from the object table and you can select which fields to label by adding them to the list on the right. The Annotation Rules are used to position the labels. The rules are applied in order until the labels fit inside the MPolygon. You can choose which rules to use and their precedence:
Inside Area At Centroid: Places the labels at the centroid of the MPolygon
Inside Area Not At Centroid: Searches for any space inside the MPolygon that fits the labels.
Resize To Fit Inside Area: Places the labels at the centroid of the MPolygon at smaller text sizes. The options for this rule control the minimum size to use and the size increments to try starting from the initial size.
Outside Area With Leader: Places the labels outside the MPolygon and draws a leader from the label to the MPolygon center. The options for this rule control the max length of the leader as a factor of the text size, the size of the leader arrowhead, and the number of directions to try as leader positions.
Outside Area With Table: Places the labels in a separate data table and a data id label inside the MPolygon. The settings for this rule control the size of the table and the id label.

Prompts

Specify map property table: UP
Object Data options dialog
Select regions to annotate
Select objects:
select the MPolygons
Processed 9 of 9 regions.

Pulldown Menu Location: GIS Tools
Keyboard Command: label_area_obj
Prerequisite: MPolygons with object data