idea Label leaders should not cross in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Label leaders should not cross

wilwaters — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:18:48 GMT

As shown in the attached image, the label leaders cross. I'm using Maplex. A search of the forums and help does not offer instruction how to set Maplex to avoid this.

If I use standard labeling, one label loses a leader but at least the positioning makes sense:

Please ensure Maplex does not produce overlapping leaders.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

AlderMaps — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 21:36:07 GMT

I would at least like an option to completely disallow the possibility of cross leader lines, in the same way that one currently has the option to remove duplicate labels and always place all labels.

From what I have read online there is currently no way to completely rule out crossed leader lines, only minimize their occurrence. Perhaps this is because it is, programmatically speaking, easier said than done? Even so, I think it makes a lot of sense, aesthetically and cartographically, and I would love to see it implemented in the future.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

KeithAddison1 — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:51:28 GMT

A do not cross leader option would be really handy. I end up in situations where the feature being labeled is too small to fit the label at 4pt font, (i.e. minimum readable size when printed) key numbering is not acceptable for space & presentation reasons, so leaders are the solution. But the engine (both standard and maplex) makes them cross leader lines with a vengeance, so convert to graphics and manually move them is what I end up doing. It gets rather time consuming when there are a lot of labels and I think if only the program could automatically avoid crossing leaders.

Re: Label leaders should not cross - Status changed to: Closed

WendyHarrison — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:34:47 GMT

@wilwaters @AlderMaps @KeithAddison1

Hi all,

Leader lines should not cross like this. With each release we include improvements to the Maplex label engine. If you see this issue with crossing leader lines, please contact support with the data and we can look into resolving it.

https://support.esri.com/en/contact-tech-support

thanks

Wendy

Re: Label leaders should not cross

hparis — Mon, 02 May 2022 19:21:07 GMT

I still have crossing leader line issues @WendyHarrison

Re: Label leaders should not cross

KoryKramer — Mon, 02 May 2022 19:30:21 GMT

@hparis are you able to report this to Technical Support as Wendy suggested?

Re: Label leaders should not cross

Vandal_WSU — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 23:13:49 GMT

I've done a lot of work with utilities (water and sewer) and this has always been an issue (with both ArcMap and Pro). The worst offenders are water valves. Often, there are many clustered together and I've always struggled with leaders.

Here's a small sample, there are hundreds of valves and dozens of intersecting lines like this.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

KoryKramer — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 23:41:49 GMT

@Vandal_WSU did you see Wendy's closing comment here? https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/label-leaders-should-not-cross/idc-p/1053943/highlight/true#M15861

I think the team will need the data (map package with the label settings) so that they can investigate and improve the label placement to avoid crossing leaders.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

Vandal_WSU — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:01:06 GMT

I tried to drop a map package in this post, but it says .mpkx is not supported.

Here are screen shots of my label settings:

Re: Label leaders should not cross

WendyHarrison — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 18:46:44 GMT

@Vandal_WSU the easiest way to get the data to us is to go through Technical Support. you can reach them here

https://support.esri.com/en/contact-tech-support

once it's logged they will notify us and we can look into it.

thanks

Wendy

Re: Label leaders should not cross

IamAG — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:25:54 GMT

I get crossed leaders, too.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

RTPL_AU — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:54:26 GMT

@WendyHarrison just found this Idea.

Leader Lines have always been crossing? Now reading that it is not normal and should not happen is a bit funny.
Commented so that absence of evidence doesn't become evidence of absence. Would Kudos if possible.

When I next do something that ends up with crossed lines I'll see what the security level of the data is, and then decide if lodging a case with the locals is warranted.

I did something a few weeks ago on a mine site that ended up with crossed lines - default workaround if Maplex loses the plot is to convert to Annotation and go from there. Takes less time to just edit and go, than trying to coax Maplex out of the corner.
Project owner would 100% not want this data sent out all over the world.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

RandyMcGregor_BMcD — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:40:45 GMT

I experienced crossed leader lines in 2025. This is not 'closed.'

Re: Label leaders should not cross

CalvinHarmin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:25:08 GMT

My leader lines have always crossed on every ArcGIS Pro version I've used since 2.x up to 3.2.x now. I never knew the intended behavior was to prevent crossing. I've always had to convert to anno/graphics and go manual if I wanted complex leader-line/callout labeling to look decent for production.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

WendyHarrison — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 20:43:39 GMT

Hi all,

With each release we include improvements to the Maplex label engine. If you see this issue with crossing leader lines, please contact support with the data and we can look into resolving it.

https://support.esri.com/en/contact-tech-support

thanks

Wendy

Re: Label leaders should not cross

RTPL_AU — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:14:04 GMT

Hi @WendyHarrison
Now that you are aware that many of us think crossed lines is just normal Pro behaviour, and the fact that the majority of users will likely not be lodging a case against 'normal' behaviour, I'd suggest updating this Idea to 'Under Consideration'.

While making your improvements for each release, the devs can have a sticky note on their desk to also write tests to see why this, now abnormal, behaviour is allowed to take place.

It is quite simple. Crossed lines happen. That means your code allows it to happen by not being able to detect when it happens.

Having man-hours spent across the globe to lodge cases, creating dummy data, documenting it to make it repeatable by the local resellers, who then have to do the same for pushing it up the tree is not being efficient.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

WendyHarrison — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:45:45 GMT

@RTPL_AU

The Ideas site is meant for enhancement requests to the software - new functionality. Crossed leader lines are not normal and if we have a case of them it will be considered a bug and a reproducible case needs to go through Technical Support.

We need to figure out why you are seeing the leader lines cross. Do you have the Never remove setting enabled? This would be the first thing to look at and having it checked will result in crossed leader lines as the label will place instead of going unplaced due to the crossed leader lines. See image below

Have you reviewed the Label Summary for any out of the ordinary settings?

I recommend submitting a reproducible case to technical support.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

CalvinHarmin — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 20:28:14 GMT

@WendyHarrison Thank you, that is exactly the kind of basic information we were looking for! It wasn't apparent to me that this rule is the only thing preventing/allowing crossed leader lines, as place overlapping option overrides other proximity issues in addition to leader lines.

The documentation you linked doesn't mention callout/leader lines but now it makes more sense to me. That would be great to have this issue added to documentation as well.

Given that info, I wonder if we ought to create a new idea that increases the granularity of these rules regarding 'forced label drawing' beyond this one monolithic option. I wonder if there could be sub-options that, for example, do not allow crossing leader lines in particular while still forcing all labels to draw.

This probably means such an option would have to make exceptions or trade-offs, that maybe the user could provide weights for these exceptions. For example, make offset value exceptions (more or greater than what is defined in preferred/maximum offset), or 'External Zones' exceptions to force placement of callouts in different angles around a feature beyond what the user specifies. Things like that would be great to have to dial in callout labels a bit further.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

RTPL_AU — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:31:17 GMT

@WendyHarrison
So it is expected behaviour? "having it checked will result in crossed leader lines"

So how is this Idea not valid?

Please mark as Under Consideration and please continue to work at the Maplex logic so that the clear example in the OP does not occur even if Never Remove is enabled.

I understand that there is a significant level of complexity in labels that has to be carried by someone in the map chain. That will be the user (current) to figure out workarounds, or your developers who have to continue to extend their checks and logic.

Re: Label leaders should not cross

RandyMcGregor_BMcD — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:38:44 GMT

They still cross: