Applying Parcel Area Labels

The labels that you have seen at the center of each parcel are known as parcel area labels. They do not have to contain information about the area of the parcel; however, they often do. You can create parcel area labels by using the Add Labels command as you have done before to create other labels. One unique capability of parcel area labels is that they can also be assigned through the Parcel Properties command. As with all other labels you have learned about, the appearance and content of parcel area labels are controlled by styles.

To see how parcel area labels are used to provide information about parcels in your drawing, follow these steps:

The Exercise File can be downloaded at the end of the article  

1. Open the drawing named Applying Parcel Area Labels.dwg located in the Chapter 13 class data folder.

2. Click the Adjoiner : 3 label, and then click Parcel Properties on the ribbon
3. Click the Composition tab of the Parcel Properties dialog box. For Area Selection Label Style, select Existing Description And Area.
4. Click the Information tab. In the Description box, enter JOHN SMITH on the first line and DBV 1234, PG 567 on the second line, as shown in Figure 13.4. Click OK and press Esc to clear the selection. The appearance and content of the label changes dramatically. This is a possible format for labeling a parcel that is not part of the main project but is adjacent or nearby. It includes the owner’s name plus the deed book and page where the official documentation of the parcel is recorded. Notice how this label style combines the handentered Description value along with the calculated area value.

   Figure 13.4  Entering a description for the Adjoiner : 3 parcel


5. Click the ROW : 6 label located within the cul-de-sac at the end of Madison Lane, and then click Parcel Properties on the ribbon.
6. On the Composition tab of the Parcel Properties dialog box, change Area Selection Label Style to <none>. Click OK. This removes the label from the parcel.

   Tips:Now that there is no parcel area label, the only way to select this parcel is by rightclicking it in Prospector and then clicking Select.

7. Click the parcel area labels for both open space parcels hatched in green. Right-click and select Properties.
8. Use the Properties window to change the Parcel Area Label Style value to Proposed Description And Area. The labels now display the lot description and area using a different text style and color.

   Tips:The descriptions of COMMON AREA and RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA were already entered for you.


9. Press Esc to clear the selection from the previous command. On the Annotate tab of the ribbon, click Add Labels.
10. In the Add Labels dialog box, do the following:
    1. For Feature, select Parcel.
    2. For Label Type, select Replace Area.
    3. For Area Label Style, select Lot Number.
    4. Click Add.
11. Click several parcels labeled as Lot and press Enter. The labels are updated and appear simply as a number within a circle.
12. On Prospector, expand SitesLot Layout. Click Parcels to list all of the parcels in the item view.
13. Click the Area Label Style column to sort the list of parcels by this value.
14. Click the first item in the list with an area label style of Standard. Then hold down the Shift key, and select the last item with an area label style of Standard.
15. Right-click the Area Label Style column heading and select Edit.
16. In the Select Label Style dialog box, select Lot Number and click OK. After a pause, all of the lot area labels are updated to appear as a number within a circle. Now all of the parcel area labels have the desired style.

Download Exercise File :

• C13 - Applying Parcel Area Labels - Metric     --- ( 647.45 KB )
• C13 - Applying Parcel Area Labels - Imperial  --- ( 1006.78 KB )