NoiseMap Forums
NoiseMap Software => Hints and Tips => Topic started by: roger on October 04, 2014, 04:36:00 PM
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There are several ways that you could do this.
If you have an OS digital map, then if you search the various layers you will find that several layers contain text labels. This should include house numbers and house names.
Although the OS standardises the feature codes used in its maps, you may find that if they have been supplied by, say, a local authority, you will have to do a bit of searching to find out the feature codes that are most useful to you. You may be able do this by opening the dbf part of the shapefile in Excel and looking through the columns to find the most useful one. Make a note of the feature code that identifies the house numbers and also the column that contains the house numbers (or other labels that you want to use). You should ensure that the house numbers are defined as text rather than numeric values, as NoiseMap needs you to import these as a text descriptor. [If they are numeric values, you will need to use the Excel TEXT function to convert them to text values. A slight issue is that although Excel will read in dbf files, it will no longer export in that format and you will need a third-party add-in to restore that function.]
Then import the shapefile, choosing the column containing the feature codes for 'use as layers'. this will ensure that each different type of feature will be put into a separate layer. This is essential so that you can use the 'convert layer' function. Choose to import as a 'descriptor' the column containing the house numbers. Thus, you will now have a layer that contains the house numbers.
Now go to Convert Layer and select the layer that contains the house numbers. Choose to import this as an outline and choose outline type 'Annotation 1'. [This has the smallest font.] The houses will now be numbered/named! Commit the changes. [Remember to do this in a base scenario so that the house numbers will be available in all child scenarios.] If you can't see the house numbers, make sure that labelling for outlines and also for the 'Annotation 1' outline type is on in Display options.
If you don't have the OS house numbers, you might have an AddressPoint file. This also has house numbers and you can convert these using a similar procedure. One difference is that OS usually label house numbers selectively, whereas AddressPoint has every house numbered - often several numbers per house - so it is not as neat.
You can use a similar approach to labelling street names.