How to only labeling points that have text in the “name” field and not with null values?

Ditching the Clutter: Smart Labeling for Your Geospatial Data

Ever stared at a map so crammed with labels you couldn’t actually see the map? Yeah, been there. When you’re dealing with geospatial data, labeling points is key to showing what’s what. But blindly slapping a label on every single dot? That’s a recipe for visual disaster, especially when some of those dots are missing names or have fields filled with, well, nothing. Let’s talk about how to only label the points that matter – the ones with actual text in that “name” field – so you can create maps that are both informative and easy on the eyes.

Why Less is More: The Power of Selective Labeling

Think of it this way: a cluttered map is like a noisy room. You can’t focus on anything specific. Selective labeling is about turning down the volume and creating some breathing room. It’s about:

• Cutting Through the Noise: Get rid of the visual junk and make the important stuff pop. It’s about making your map less of a chaotic mess and more of a clear story.
• Making it Readable: A clean map is a happy map. And a happy map is one people can actually understand. It’s about guiding the reader’s eye, not overwhelming it.
• Highlighting What Matters: Want to draw attention to specific spots or features? Selective labeling lets you do just that, focusing on locations with actual, useful data in that “name” field.

Getting Selective: How to Show Only the Labels You Need

Okay, so how do we actually do this? The exact steps depend on the software you’re using, but the core idea is the same: you’re going to use a bit of clever logic to tell the software when to show a label. Basically, if the “name” field has something in it, show the label; if it’s empty, keep it hidden. Here’s how it generally works in a couple of popular programs:

1. ArcGIS Pro: The Expression Route

ArcGIS Pro is a powerhouse when it comes to mapping, and its labeling engine is seriously powerful. The trick here is using what’s called a “label expression.”

• The Magic Words: The label expression is where you tell ArcGIS Pro what to display as a label, and, more importantly, if it should display anything at all.
• If This, Then That: You’ll use a bit of conditional logic – basically, an “if this, then that” statement – to check if the “name” field has text. If it does, you tell it to display the name; if it doesn’t, you tell it to display nothing (an empty string).
• Speak the Language: ArcGIS Pro speaks a few different scripting languages, like Arcade, Python, and VBScript. Arcade is often the easiest to pick up.
• Arcade Example: Here’s a snippet of Arcade code that does the trick:

arcade