idea ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

Amanda__Huber — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:56:46 GMT

Hello Pro Team,

We've recently discovered a limitation in labeling that we believe would be a beneficial addition. There currenly is not a setting for map labels to be aware of Map Frame's layout boundary, therefore they get clipped/truncated.

We would like for there to be a setting to 'label within map frame boundary', and that the labels respect this boundary and either label within it, or don't get labeled at all.

Here are a few examples of the issue-

Thank you for this consideration,

Amanda Huber

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

AdrianWelsh — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:58:10 GMT

Yes, this is a great idea! I have seen this and never thought to suggest an idea for it. Please make this happen!

This is not necessarily a work around but I have used the "minimum feature size" for the labels and that has solved many problems (usually setting it to something small-ish like 1 inch or less).

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/text/specify-a-minimum-feature-size-for-labeling.htm

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:05:04 GMT

This may be helpful?

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/text/general-label-settings.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_45643AD509104546A7CACCDD81AF4FA2:~:text=Allow%20labels%20to,Note%3A

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

Amanda__Huber — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:27:18 GMT

@AdrianWelsh and @AlfredBaldenweck ,

Thanks for your responses. Unfortunately, I don't think either of those solutions will resolve the issue.

From my understanding, "Specify a minimum feature size for labeling" is reducing the number of labels in X size space, like labeling along a line or inside a polygon. While our labels are along lines, they have unlimited room to label anywhere else, but instead label within the map frame and get truncated.

Also, it's not ideal that the labels "Overlap the border" of the map. Since these are Map series with inset maps, we're looking to keep the layouts clean. It unfortunately would look strange on a map sign in the fireld to have a bunch of words falling into the whitespace of the sign.

Thanks again, and my hopes is that someone from the Pro team sees this and can implement!

Best,

Amanda Huber

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

AlfredBaldenweck — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:29:35 GMT

Yeah, I think to expand on your Idea, perhaps a "must be X points inside map frame to render" setting might be a good way to go about it?

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

Amanda__Huber — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:33:20 GMT

@AlfredBaldenweck I agree, I think a threshold setting would be ideal for this enhancement.

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Labels- Ability for labels to be aware of map frame in layout

CraigWilliams — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:54:46 GMT

Labeling respect the map frame edge in all cases except when it's told not to. Settings that tell it not to include:

Label class level property: Never remove (place overlapping)
The map level property: Allow labels to overlap border

There is zero buffer applied to the boundary, so labels may be right against it if they fit. It's a bit hard to tell in your images, but some examples may be that. As for the overlap case, it's hard to determine what is going on there, but perhaps Never remove is enabled.