topic Re: Label visibility depending on basemap in ArcGIS API for Flex Questions

Label visibility depending on basemap

EdSaunders — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:17:20 GMT

Hi all,

I couldn't see any posts on this so apologies if there is a whole thread out there I've missed.

Problem: In my web apps, I'm referencing basemaps and some operational layers containing labels (features that are labelled in the msd). These labels look fine when a "road" type basemap is selected, e.g. Bing Road or whatever. When the user switches to an aerial basemap, however, these labels become tricky to read.

I'm wondering how I can overcome this issue. Ideally, I would use haloes for the road basemap and outlines for an aerial basemap but there doesn't seem to be any easy way to move between them depending on the basemap. Some ideas:

1. Create duplicate services that are only activated when the backdrop is aerial. This is a lot of work since I might have lots of operational layers. Also this would involve a fair amount of code as well.
2. Forget the labels and let the user work it out with an identify function.
3. Keep the labels, forget the extra work and let the user squint to read the text.

Er, that's all I could think of.

Anyone got any other ideas?

Thanks heaps in advance,
Ed Saunders

Re: Label visibility depending on basemap

YungKaiChin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:18:53 GMT

I don't think you need another service.

If I were you, I probably would ...
1. Create another layer with labels that are easier to see.
2. Make its visible property to be the same as the imagery and toggle between two layers

Re: Label visibility depending on basemap

EdSaunders — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:39:10 GMT

YungKai,

Thanks for your reply. Your idea sounds interesting, I guess I could add another aerial-friendly label layer in each service and then toggle this layer when the aerial basemap is clicked.

Thanks for your idea.

Ed