Spreading a label inside a polygon

You can choose to allow the characters of labels to be spread. You can specify a maximum distance that will be allowed between characters, expressed as a percentage of the font width. The ESRI Maplex Label Engine will stretch the label until it either encounters the boundaries of the feature, conflicts with other labels, or reaches the maximum character spacing distance. If you set the maximum spacing to 0, the label will be stretched to the extent of the feature. This option is not available with the boundary label position or the offset horizontal position.

The image below shows the lake label set with a spread characters maximum distance of 0. You can see that Rice Lake is stretched along the trend line of the lake polygon.

Steps:

1. Click the Label Manager button on the Labeling toolbar.
2. Check the check box next to the layer you want to label.
3. Choose a label class under the layer.
4. Click the Properties button.
5. Click the Label Position tab.
6. Check the Spread characters check box.
7. Click Options.
8. Type a distance to set the maximum character spacing.

The maximum character spacing is measured as a percentage of the font width. It must be greater than the default character spacing, which is set on the Label Symbol Text Properties Editor dialog box. A value of 0 will spread the characters to stretch the label to the extent of the polygon.

9. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.

Tip:

You can also open the Placement Properties dialog box by clicking the Placement Properties button on the Labels tab of the Layer Properties dialog box for the layer you want to label.

Tip:

When setting the maximum character spacing, 0 is treated as a special value that instructs the Maplex Labeling Engine to stretch the label proportionately across the length of the polygon feature.

Tip:

The label text symbol properties control the default character and word spacing. These values become the minimum values when you use the Spread characters or Spread words labeling options. You can change the base properties of the label text by clicking the Symbol button in the Text Symbol section on the Label tab of the Layer Properties dialog box, then clicking Edit Symbol.

Tip:

The Spread characters option for polygon layers is not available for the Offset Horizontal positions.