Area Defaults

This command allows you to specify default settings for area labeling. The Area Defaults dialog is divided into 3 tabs. The first is the Label Fields and Settings tab. The top portion of the Label Fields and Settings tab contains two listboxes which are used to control which of the possible ten area fields will be used for area labeling. You use the Add and Remove buttons to control which fields will be included in area labels. You can also add to the Used Fields list by double-clicking on items in the Available Fields list. The area label will include the values in the order as specified in the Used Fields listbox. To change the order you use the Move Up and Move Down buttons.

When a grid projection is defined in Drawing Setup, the Available Fields with include geodetic areas where the areas are adjusted by the projection. The Base Z from Drawing Setup is used for the elevation factor for this adjustment.

Field Settings Dialog: To control the appearance of the fields in the drawing, use the Edit button to edit the highlighted item in the Used Fields list, or double click on a field in the same list. This will call up the Field Settings Dialog.

User Defined: The Field "User Defined" can be added to place a custom fixed label in all areas. To control the value and appearance of the custom label in the drawing, use the Edit button to edit the "User Defined" item in the Used Fields list, or double click on a field in the same list. This will call up the Field Settings Dialog. In this case the "Value" setting becomes the custom label.
Scaled labels: The "Scaled Sq. Feet", "Scaled Sq. Meters", "Scaled Acres" and "Scaled Perimeter" fields can be used to include area labels that are scaled based on Drawing Setup "Report Scale Factor".
User Defined

Text Style: This allows you to set a text style for the area labels. You can enter the name manually or use the Select Style button to call up a dialog which presents a list of known text styles.
Text Size: This value is multiplied by the horizontal scale to obtain the actual text size.
Text Layer: This allows you to assign a layer for the area text. You can enter the name manually or use the Select Layer button to call up a dialog which presents a list of known layers.
Text Color: This allows you to assign a color for the area text. Use the Select Color button to call up the standard color picker dialog. To use the default for the Text Layer, select ByLayer.
Prefix and Suffix: Although most area labeling uses the suffix, as in 1.25 Acres or 3.515 Hectares. But for those who prefer a prefix, as in Ac: 1.25, this routine can create that area labeling style automatically (see below for example of results of using a prefix with square feet and acres).
Justification: Use this to control whether the label field is left, centered or right justified.
+/-: This allows you to display + or - in the Prefix or Suffix of the area labels, or choose None.
Precision: Choose precision level for the currently selected field.

Below the Available and Used Fields lists the following items for further controlling area label generation:

Use Commas in Labels: This allows you to use commas in the area labels.
Use MText: Check this box to turn on the use of MText for area labels. If this is checked all area labels will be grouped into as few MText entities as possible. Area labels with different text styles, justification or layers will not be combined into the same MText entity.
Erase Previous Labels: When checked, previous area labels for the area being relabeled will be erased.
Label Placement: When auto placement of area labels is used, the labels can be placed either at the centroid of area or at the rear side. This is accomplished by selecting either the Center or Rear Side radio button, respectively. When Center is selected the user can choose to have the labels oriented according to the side lines of the area by checking the Align By Sides checkbox. When either Align By Sides or Rear Side is selected, the checkbox Flip Text for Twist Screen can be selected to have the label rotated 180 degrees to present it in the best reading orientation relative to the current Twist Screen rotation setting.
Draw Symbol Around Lot Description: When the Lot Description field is included in the Used Fields list, the user can check this checkbox to have a symbol drawn around the Lot Description field. When this box is checked, you specify the symbol name in the Symbol Name field or click on the current symbol (drawn to the right) to graphically choose the desired symbol. You specify the layer by entering the name in the Layer box or by clicking on the Select button to choose from a dialog that presents all known layers.
Symbol Buffer Offset: By default, the symbol will be automatically scaled according to the text length and size of the Lot Description value for the area. For additional control of symbol scaling, the user can enter a number in text size units in the Symbol Buffer Offset box. This value will be added to the automatically generated default scaling value.
Avoid Label Overlap: If this box is checked the area labels will be checked for overlaps after they are generated. Please see the Overlap Manager documentation for more information.
Overlap Settings: Click this button to go to the Avoid Label Overlaps dialog where you can review or modify the Overlap Manager settings. Please see the Overlap Manager documentation for more information.

Table Process Settings

Table Process Settings Tab:
Use Area Tables: Use this control to determine whether area labels are sent to a table or not. Options are "Never", "Always" or "By Scaler".
To Table Area: When the user has selected "By Scaler" in the "Use Area Tables" list this item is enabled. When "By Scaler" is selected and the area is less than this minimum, the area label is sent to a table.
Area Reference Numbering: There are three different methods for setting the reference number: Next Available will automatically use the lowest available number. Specified With Prompt will prompt you for a number for each area. Specified with Auto Numbering will automatically use the lowest available number starting with the specified number.
Auto Place Table References: When checked, will automatically place the area reference label according to the settings for the area labels as specified in the Label Field and Settings tab (see above). Otherwise you will be prompted to pick each label location manually.

Area Commands Tab:
Max gap to join: You use this option during Area by Lines & Arcs command. When connecting lines and arcs that define the perimeter, the program will join endpoints if the distance between the two points is less than the specified gap. Otherwise the program will report an error and will not report an area.
Prompt whether to retain polylines created by Area by Interior Point: When checked the user will be asked whether to retain the polylines created by the "Area by Interior Point" command.
Polyline Layer: Will be enabled when "Prompt whether to retain polylines created by Area by Interior Point" is checked to allow the user to select the layer that any such created polylines will be placed in.

Load/Save: These buttons save and recall all the Area Default settings to a .ARS settings file.

Tip: Keep in mind that changes in Area Defaults, if changed from the Area/Layout pulldown menu, only apply to that work session. If changed within the Configure command, the changes apply to all new work sessions as well.

The results of using a prefix with square feet and acres

Pulldown Menu Location: Area/Layout
Keyboard Command: defarea
Prerequisite: None