problem with state polygon labels

[Fawcett, David]

Douglass, 

Your best strategy, particularly for a layer like states that hopefully won't be changing any time soon, would be to create a point layer with one point in the spot where you want to label each state.  Then, add this to your map file as a layer of type annotation and include the label in that layer.  

David.

David Fawcett
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
david.fawcett at moea.state.mn.us
651.215.0200


-----Original Message-----
From: UMN MapServer Users List [mailto:MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU]On
Behalf Of Douglass Davis
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 3:48 AM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] problem with state polygon labels


I have a shapefile of the U.S. states. Some states have multiple 
polygons... For example, those states with islands.

The problem is, mapserver will do a label for each polygon in the 
state.   The only way I know of to correct this is just to use a 
different shapefile with either: some data item to say which polygon is 
the "main" part of the state.  Or some shapefile with points that 
represent the center of the state.  That's my guess anyway.

Can any one point me in the right direction to correct this problem?

--
http://www.douglassdavis.com