[GIS] How to use rotated text labels in GeoServer based on attribute value

geoserverlabelingsld

I have several text layers in GeoServer, which are now shown as point layers with tiny graphic size and with labels (As mentioned in my previous question). All thses labels are, as expected, drawn horizontal. But I want them to be drawn at an angle, available in corresponding database table.
I can not use simple rotation property, since it rotates all the labels at a specific angle.
How can I accomplish this?

Best Answer

You can use the Rotation tag together with a PropertyName which lets you draw the label based on an angle specified in a corresponding database table:

<Rotation>
    <ogc:PropertyName>rotation_column</ogc:PropertyName>
</Rotation>

You can see more about rotation and labeling here:

Labeling in GeoServer

Related Solutions

QGIS – Preventing Text Labels from Overlapping Other Markers

The best consistent solution I have so far is along the lines of what I have laid out above. Assuming a SHP file is used, the steps are:

Open the dbf file either with a spreadsheet application such as LibreOffice, Excel, or the QGIS Table Manager plugin.
Add a column to the table. If a data type is required, use string.
Fill the cells with a non-breaking space. Once complete, save the changes. (See this Wikipedia page for information on how to type a non-breaking space.)
Open the Layer Labeling Settings for the point layer. On the Advanced tab, set the Placement to Over Point and set the Priority such that it is higher than any other labeled layers.

[GIS] MapServer: How to display and style a Text layer

As Julien pointed out in a comment, you should make sure you have defined a valid FONTSET and reference one of its fonts in your layer. Indeed, the images you are showing are using BITMAP labels (which are the default if not overridden in the mapfile), which do not support rotation.

Here's a minimal set of keywords you might want to try:

map
 ...
 fontset "fonts.lst"  #make sure your fonts.lst file references an "arial" entry
 ...
 layer
  ...
  styleitem "auto"
  class
   ...
   label
    type truetype
    font "arial"
    ...
   end
  end
 end
end

Best Answer

Related Solutions

QGIS – Preventing Text Labels from Overlapping Other Markers

[GIS] MapServer: How to display and style a Text layer

Related Question