Maplex for ArcGIS

Maplex Overview
Maplex for ArcGIS is an automated high-quality cartographic text placement and labeling extension for ArcGIS Desktop that minimizes the need for manual editing. Maplex for ArcGIS gives you greater control over how labels are placed in relation to map features and other labels. This not only improves map quality but also reduces time spent editing and manipulating text.

With Maplex for ArcGIS you can:
 * Drastically reduce the time it takes to place labels exactly where you want them
 * Create high-quality maps with text for digital or print distribution
 * Share quality text placement by saving Maplex labels to a map document or geodatabase annotation.

Maplex Label Engine
Maplex Label Engine is intuitive but it is also simple to use. After the user opens ArcGIS and opens the DataFrame Dialog box, the user simply selects the "Maplex Label Engine" from the Label Engine dropbox. Once Maplex Label Engine has been selected the software automatically recalculates the label placement on the map.

With the intuitive user interface and rule-based label engine, Maplex for ArcGIS gives you greater control over how labels are placed in relation to features and how they interact with other labels on the map. And, as content in your geodatabase changes, maps created with Maplex for ArcGIS will adjust to find the best placement for the new text. Likewise, as your map changes labels that have already been placed can be adjusted and modified to allow for more space or to resolve conflicts between layers. Some examples of the uses of the Maplex Label Engine are:


 * Advanced placement styles for polygons including styles that represent land parcels, rivers, and boundaries
 * Special placement for lines that represent street, river, and contour features
 * Control of label placement zones
 * Flexible placement to allow more labels to fit in an area
 * Enhanced weighting of features to determine label placement
 * Control over the minimum feature size that will be labeled
 * Key numbering
 * Ability to control the order in which the label fitting strategies are applied

Maplex for ArcGIS is included at no cost with ArcInfo at releases of ArcGIS 9.1 and higher.