PolyLabel has been derived from spCarto as an interactive tool for labelling polylines and regions with curved text.

It has an efficient smoothing algorithm written in “c” which produces a PolyLabel layer and label placement for features such as freeways, tightly meandering rivers and regions.

Character-alignment to the polylabel layer rather than word- or string-alignment ensures a pleasing and balanced label placement, regardless of display scale.

Auto-labelling allows the label style properties (justification, alignment, offset) to be applied at a fixed font size. The polylabel features may be selected, resized, shifted or deleted.

PolyLabel is scale-sensitive in two respects:

1. Text is placed on the polyline using a label expression with built-in scale and spacing parameters. As the zoom changes and the label is no longer able to fit, it is turned off. This functions on an individual label basis. (Use traditional zoom layering to further control display.) Thus, as you zoom out, only the longer features are likely to be labelled, achieving a priority labelling of most significant features.
2. As the display scale changes, the label stretches to fit the available space or repeating labels appear.

Version 2.31, 18 May 05

1. Registration dialogue now provides the facility to transfer PolyLabel registration to another PC, without needing to call Spatial Projects. Useful when upgrading to new hardware or at a change of responsibilities. Only valid for registered installations.

Version 2.30, 1 May 05

1. Corrected a problem during startup that may have caused an immediate or subsequent MapInfo crash on some configurations.
2. Current version tested on Win/XP and MapInfo 7.8. Supported on MapInfo versions 5.5 to 7.8 .
3. Previous button pad position restored.
4. Improved usage information in the help file. Description of how to prepare large tables for processing and distribution of PolyLabel workspaces to other users; Method for creating mixed PolyLabel and conventional autolabel output to satisfy the full range of display scales; Using spatialSQL (touch ends,combine) query to merge lines of common name and dramatically improve label density.

Easy to use.

Select a feature and click the PolyLabel button.

Character-aligned labelling produces an improved result over traditional MapInfo "string to one segment labelling".

Adjust the initial spacing from preferences

As you zoom, the label adjusts to maintain the spacing and to suit the new display window.

Drag, reshape, or delete the label.

Package comprises:

• table_pl, polylabel layer in a workspace with your other layers and settings
• polylabel.msi for end-user install (ensures correct settings at each zoom for map scale, label expression, label overlap, label duplicates)

Distributing PolyLabel Output
To distribute PolyLabel layers through your organisation, simply create a workspace as you would for other data, and ensure users have PolyLabel installed.