Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels

Crinoid — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:36:55 GMT

I'm labeling some linear geographic features (canyons, etc.) and am having struggles with the abbreviation strategies in my dynamic labels. I created a field with abbreviated versions of my feature names and set Abbreviate to draw from that field. Abbreviate is the only fitting strategy I'm using for these features - if the full name can't fit, use the abbreviated one, and if that can't fit either, leave the label off.

However, when I turned abbreviations on, the label engine was way too liberal about using it. It abbreviated the labels on all but the longest lines for no discernible reason.

Label with "street" placement

I'm currently using Street placement, because I want the ability to control the spread of both words and letters. If I use the default settings of any other placement style, "Canyon" in the example above is spelled out fully.

Label without "street" placement

My desired spreading is 500% for words and 200% for letters, but even with 0% "end of street clearance" and no potential conflicts with other labels or features, the labels like to abbreviate when they don't need to. Is this a bug or is there some functionality I'm not understanding?

To troubleshoot, I used the Main Canyon feature above at a single scale and tried every potential combination of word and letter spreading to look for a pattern. If there was an option to spread by a percentage, I tested 1%, 500%, and 1000%. In the end I didn't see anything obvious. Here's what my results were, if it means anything more to you:

Use default word spacing, Use default letter spacing
Result: "Canyon".

Use default word spacing, Spread letters up to a fixed limit
Result: "Canyon".

Use default word spacing, Spread letters to fill feature
Result: "Canyon".

Spread words to fill feature, Spread letters to fill feature
Result: "Cyn".

Spread words to fill feature, Spread letters up to a fixed limit
Result: Varied. 1% letter spread is "Canyon," 500% is "Cyn," 1000% is "Canyon".

Spread words to fill feature, Use default letter spacing
Result: "Canyon".

Spread words up to a fixed limit, Use default letter spacing
Result: "Canyon".

Spread words up to a fixed limit, Spread letters up to a fixed limit
Result: Varied. All spread combination produced "Cyn" unless both were set to 1000%, then it was "Canyon".

Spread words up to a fixed limit
Spread letters to fill feature
Result: Varied. 1% and 500% word spread are "Cyn," 1000% is "Canyon".

Re: Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels

ZenMasterZeke — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:33:35 GMT

My guess as to why Cyn shows up is because at that scale, the labelling engine is picking out a line segment from your canyon lines, so that it sees it as a smaller feature. Maybe try merging the line segments for each canyon into one. Just a guess!

Re: Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels

Crinoid — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:05:20 GMT

This was it! If I use Smooth Line to make the line a nicer curve (which was the eventual plan anyway), the label generates like you'd expect it to. Weird but ok! Thanks for the help.

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Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels

Re: Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels

Re: Fixing uncessary abbreviations on dynamic labels