Connect labels to their map locations

How-to 1

Understand the label and the anchor

A leader line links the displayed artwork to a map anchor. Moving the logo changes where the artwork is shown. Moving the anchor changes where the connector points. Use the interactive illustration above to see why these need separate decisions.

Businesses added from Search normally have a location anchor. Other supported overlays can also show lines, but a line drawn from arbitrary artwork does not automatically verify a real business address. Review the endpoint before using the line in a presentation.

How-to 2

Show a line and move the artwork

1. 1

   Reveal the overlay toolbar

   Hover the overlay in the 2D editor or tap it on a touch device to reveal the available controls. Use the button titled Toggle leader line. The available buttons depend on the overlay type.

2. 2

   Move the displayed logo

   Drag the artwork away from the crowded location into clear space. Watch how the connector links the moved artwork to its anchor. Leave enough distance to make the line useful without stretching it across unrelated areas.

3. 3

   Check the line path

   Avoid running the connector through another logo or across the property name. A line should help the reader match the label with the intended site, not create another ambiguity.

How-to 3

Reposition a 2D anchor dot

1. 1

   Find the map end of the line

   Show the leader line and locate its endpoint on the map. If the dot is hidden, use a visible dot size where the relevant style controls allow it. Zoom in enough to distinguish the storefront or parcel you intend.

2. 2

   Drag the dot to the intended location

   Grab the anchor dot and move it to the reviewed point. This is a location correction, so use the property or business information as your reference. Do not move an anchor to an unrelated empty area solely to make the layout look tidy.

3. 3

   Recheck at the final zoom

   Zoom back to the presentation scale. Confirm the line still points unambiguously to the intended site. Save and reopen after important anchor corrections, especially before reusing the business record elsewhere.

How-to 4

Style business lines together

1. 1

   Open Leader Line Style

   Use the floating toolbar button titled Leader Line Style. The panel displays Leader Lines and is intended for business overlays. If it reports no business logos, add a business through Search before using these batch controls.

2. 2

   Set the pattern and line appearance

   Choose the line color, width, and Pattern. Solid, dashed, and dotted treatments change how prominent the connector appears. Thin neutral lines often work well when logos should carry the emphasis.

3. 3

   Set the anchor dot

   Choose Dot Color and Dot Size. A larger dot makes an endpoint easier to find; zero hides the dot. Check location accuracy before hiding it.

4. 4

   Apply the style

   Click Apply to Business Lines. Inspect multiple business connectors, including the longest and shortest. The batch action applies to business lines, so style other overlay types through their supported individual controls.

How-to 5

Control visibility without confusing it with deletion

1. 1

   Use Show Business Lines for the set

   The switch in the Leader Lines panel shows or hides business connectors together. This affects their visibility; it does not remove the business records or their displayed artwork.

2. 2

   Make individual exceptions

   Use Toggle leader line on a specific supported overlay when its line is unnecessary or needs to be shown again. Check the result after applying a later batch visibility change.

3. 3

   Use 3D selection controls in 3D

   Select a non-shape overlay in 3D and use Show line or Hide line in its selection panel. Return to the 2D editing workflow when you need to review or refine a map endpoint using the 2D anchor controls.

How-to 6

Untangle a crowded intersection

Suppose three businesses are clustered around an intersection. Verify each business address first. Move the three displayed labels into open spaces around the intersection, keeping their order consistent with their actual locations. Recheck each anchor, then use a light dashed style to reduce visual clutter.

If two connectors still cross, move the displayed labels again before considering an anchor change. An anchor belongs at the reviewed location. A tidy line pointing to the wrong storefront is a worse result than a slightly longer line pointing to the right one.

How-to 7

Diagnose a missing or unhelpful line