topic Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy? in Python Questions

How can I change label style using ArcPy?

brusselsboy — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:03:08 GMT

Hello everyone, I have created a label class to display labels for my feature layer.

However, the default label style is not ideal, and I want to customize the font, size, color, and other properties.

I noticed that the LabelClass object does not have a symbol attribute. https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.4/arcpy/mapping/labelclass-class.htm

Could someone advise how I can achieve this using ArcPy (ArcGIS Pro 3.4)? I have searched various platforms but haven’t found a solution.

# Enable layer labels but toggle off all existing label classes layer.showLabels = True for lc_old in layer.listLabelClasses(): lc_old.visible = False # Create a new Label class and toggle it on lc_new = layer.createLabelClass(name = 'School Name - Python', expression = '[NAME]', labelclass_language = 'Python') lc_new.visible = True

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

HaydenWelch — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:53:26 GMT

I think it's as simple as running an `aprx.save()` after you finish.

# Enable layer labels but toggle off all existing label classes aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") layer.showLabels = True for lc_old in layer.listLabelClasses(): lc_old.visible = False # Create a new Label class and toggle it on lc_new = layer.createLabelClass(name = 'School Name - Python', expression = '[NAME]', labelclass_language = 'Python') lc_new.visible = True aprx.save()

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:54:24 GMT

Look into CIM, but beware it suuuuuucks.

Python CIM access—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

cim-spec/docs/v3/CIMVectorLayers.md at 809fb365d8d204d1fbdc51b3fab5bd17d88de2d1 · Esri/cim-spec · GitHub

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

brusselsboy — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:04:30 GMT

Simply adding aprx.save() doesn't help. I want to change the font, size, color of labels.

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

HaydenWelch — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:43:34 GMT

Ah, in that case Alfred is correct. You'll have to do CIM editing. The Python API is awful, but you can do it. Here's a little starter with a re-implemented LabelClass CIM def with proper type hinting:

from arcpy.cim import CIMSymbolReference from arcpy.cim.CIMLabelPlacement import ( CIMLabelClass, CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties, CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties, ) from arcpy.cim import ( LabelExpressionEngine, FeaturesToLabel, ) class CIMLabelClass(): """ Represents a label class which describes how to generate a set of text labels from a group of features in a feature layer. """ def __init__(self, *args, **Kwargs): self.expressionTitle: str = '' self.expression: str = '' self.expressionEngine: LabelExpressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.VBScript self.featuresToLabel: FeaturesToLabel = FeaturesToLabel.AllVisibleFeatures self.maplexLabelPlacementProperties: CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties = CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties() self.maximumScale: float = 0.0 self.minimumScale: float = 0.0 self.name: str = '' self.priority: int = -1 self.standardLabelPlacementProperties: CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties = CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties() self.textSymbol: CIMSymbolReference = CIMSymbolReference() self.useCodedValue: bool = True self.whereClause: str = '' self.visibility: bool = False self.iD: int = -1 aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r'path/to/project') _map = [m for m in aprx.listMaps() if m.name == 'Map Name'][0] lay = [l for l in _map.listLayers() if l.name == 'Layer Name'][0] label = lay.listLabelClasses()[0] label_def: CIMLabelClass = label.getDefinition('V3') label_def.expressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.Python label_def.expression = "[Name]" label_def.name = 'My Label Class' ... aprx.save()

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:05:49 GMT

Okay, I had some more time to look at this.

#Get layer aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") mp = aprx.activeMap lay = mp.listLayers("label")[0] # Get definition laycim = lay.getDefinition("V3") # For each label class, do the following for lc in laycim.labelClasses: sym = lc.textSymbol.symbol # Change font size and style sym.fontFamilyName = "Arial" sym.fontStyleName = "Bold" sym.height = 25 # Change the fill to red fill = sym.symbol.symbolLayers[0] fill.color.values = [255,0,0,255] # Turn it red and opague # Add an outline outline = arcpy.cim.CIMSymbols.CIMSolidStroke() outline.color = [0,100,255,255] #idk what color this is. outline.width = 2 # Overwrite current symbol with the fill and the outline sym.symbol.symbolLayers= [fill, outline] # Apply the new label symbols lay.setDefinition(laycim)

This didn't take me too long, but it wasn't fun.

What you aren't seeing is liberal use of print(dir(variable)) to determine what I had, e.g. for the colors

Steps I took:

Label Class
Clicked on link next to "textSymbol", took me here CIMSymbolReference
Clicked on link next to "symbol", took me here Symbol
I opened up the link for "CIMTextSymbol", that got me font size, style.
I clicked the link next to "symbol" and it took me here: CIMPolygonSymbol
I then clicked the link next to "symbolLayers" and it took me here: Symbol Layer
I picked "CIMSolidFill", scrolled down to "color", and clicked the link : Color
Using dir(), I know I had a CIMRGBColor object. I change its values.
To add the stroke, I go back to the SymbolLayer page and look for something that matches.
I pick SolidStroke
I know from a bunch of trial and error (and also print statements) that the general way to make this work is to create an empty object that I want. It's generally "arcpy.cim.----". For best results, I use a combination of the documentation linked above and the Python Window in Pro because it has intellisense
I then look at the documentation to get the attributes I want
And then I save the definition.

All this to say it's a lot of work and trial and error to get what you want and you might have a much easier time applying properties from another layer. CIM is awful and should be avoided if you can.

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

GISDepartmentMFM — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:17:26 GMT

hu, I had a crack at layer styles a couple years back and was only able to get as far as unique values, when I tried doing stuff like hatching I ran into a wall and didn't really know how to progress but having knowledge that CIM exists in my back pocket if I touch it again will be useful.

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

HaydenWelch — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 18:27:44 GMT

I use a combination of the documentation linked above and the Python Window in Pro because it has intellisense

It's not actually intelisense, terrifyingly it's actually passing the contents of the REPL box to some metafunctions that live in the arcpy.utils module.

All they do is reformat the docstring with XML tags and such. It also traverses the stack frame looking for variables defined in scope.

It's worth a read:

Re: How can I change label style using ArcPy?

brusselsboy — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 20:58:39 GMT

Thank you @AlfredBaldenweck so much. I have applied your script and solved the labeling properties issue. I can change the font, color, and size of the labels using ArcPy.

import arcpy # Get layer aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") mp = aprx.activeMap lay = mp.listLayers("Ottawa_Census")[0] # Enable labeling and turn off old label classes lay.showLabels = True for lc_old in lay.listLabelClasses(): lc_old.visible = False print('Old labels turned off') # Create new label class lay.createLabelClass(name='Label - Python', expression='[DACODE]', sql_query="POP_2016 >= 1000", labelclass_language='Python') print('New label class created') # Placed after creating the new label class laycim = lay.getDefinition("V3") # Change the label style for lc in laycim.labelClasses: if lc.name == 'Label - Python': sym = lc.textSymbol.symbol sym.fontFamilyName = "Cambria" sym.fontStyleName = "Bold" sym.height = 8 # Set the fill color fill = sym.symbol.symbolLayers[0] fill.color.values = [255, 0, 0, 255] # red # Set the outline color and width outline = arcpy.cim.CIMSolidStroke() outline.color = [0, 100, 255, 255] # blue outline.width = 1.5 # Apply the new style sym.symbol.symbolLayers = [fill, outline] # Apply the new defintion lay.setDefinition(laycim) print('Label class style updated and applied')