topic Re: Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS in Python Questions

Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS

MaeganSalinas — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:04:22 GMT

What I'm Trying To Do:

To begin, I am very, VERY, new to Python and can't wrap my head around scripting. So I need all the help I can get. Bear with me, please.

I am intending to use four fields as a stacked label for each polygon in the shapefile. I want them to look like this:

What I have:

So far I have two of the four fields prepared. I wanted to make sure that I could successfully stack at least two fields before going on and finalizing the other two. Wouldn't want to do all that work just to be told I have to redo it. So in the example, I will provide the two attribute fields that I have.

CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First

CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second

First representing what I want for the first line, second representing the second.

I am aware that this discussion title is only reworded a bit in the ArcGIS Help 10.2 seen here: ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2)

"Create stacked text. For example, this expression creates a label with the Name field and the two address fields all on separate lines:

"Name: " + [NAME] + '\n' + [ADDRESS_1] + '\n' + [ADDRESS_2]"

This is what I'm exactly looking for! To stack multiple attribute fields into one label. In Label Expression, I attempted to copy and paste this code into my expression dialogue window. With my code looking like:

def FindLabel ( [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First], [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second] 😞

return [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First] [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second]

"Name: " + [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First] + '\n' + [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second]

After selecting the first and second attribute fields, it automatically added the "def FindLabel" code so I kept it thinking this was standard beginning for all codes...

But I receive an error message each time.

What I'm Receiving:

In the words of a very, most surely, well-known Beatles' song... "HELP. I need somebody."

Also....

Is there are a way to make multiple, individual fields on the same line? (If I decide to create different excel cells for the remainder of attributes I have yet to create. This would make it faster, I think. As far as inputting them in the spread sheet, anyway.)

Cheers!

Re: Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS

XanderBakker — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:30:46 GMT

It should be possible to label the attributes without the need to switch on the advanced editor:

although I would not recommend using labels based on joined text file...

To concatenate multiple field you can just add them together with for instances spaces ( + " " +) instead of using a new line (+ "\n" +).

Re: Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS

MaeganSalinas — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:41:18 GMT

Hi Xander, I am in advanced editor.

How come you wouldn't recomment it? Do you think that is what is causing the error message?

Thank you for the multiple field help, though.

Re: Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS

DarrenWiens2 — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 16:39:58 GMT

It's hard to tell exactly what your final code block was (not sure if you had the important keyword 'return' in there), but this should work:

def FindLabel ( [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First], [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second] ):
  return "Name: " + [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.First] + '\n' + [CV_Ranches_Table_ArcGIS.txt.Second]

At least, that type of syntax works for simple field names, not sure about field names with '.' (honestly, I didn't know that was possible).

Re: Stacking labels with Python code in ArcGIS

MaeganSalinas — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:45:47 GMT

Awesome! It worked. Thank you so much, Darren