Block Model Properties: Labels

To access this screen:

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Control the formatting of the labels for block models in the active 3D window.

A 'label' is represented by one or more text items. These can be freeform text, calculated values or values of point object attributes, or any combination. Labels are first defined by setting up the Text field with one or more text items (over one or multiple lines) and then defining that particular label's visual formatting.

You can define as many labels as you need, with each label supported by its own formatting settings. This means you could have, say, a large green label indicating the XYZ position of one aspect of your data on the left and a smaller label on the right of your data indicating another attribute value, for example:


In the above image, 2 separate labels have been defined for the same object overlay. You can quickly view all labels assigned to a particular overlay using the Label drop-down menu. This lists all labels in a table, letting you enable or disable particular labels as you need to, and even delete unwanted labels, for example:

You can add labels to the list (and format them independently afterwards) by clicking New.

To define general label settings for your block model data:

  1. Display the Block Model Properties: Labels screen.

  2. If you plan to display labels, check Display labels. Otherwise, label configuration options are hidden and no annotation is shown for the target overlay.

  3. Expand the Label list to select a previously defined label item, or click New to add a new item to the list for configuration.

  4. In the Test group, construct the components of your annotation over one or multiple lines:

    • Column—pick an attribute value of the data object to display, for example, to display a Z coordinate value or lithology description.

    • DP—if a numeric Column value is part of the label, this determines the decimal places displayed.

    • Freeform text—enter text directly into the annotation preview field directly below. Text outside of square brackets is displayed as-is, for example; "Drillhole: [BHID]" could display as "Drillhole: VB725".

    Click Insert to add your label element to the annotation preview.

  5. Define your label Font settings:

    • Type—specify either a 2D or 3D text style for labels.

      • 2D—the size of labels remains constant, regardless of the viewing distance. If 2D is selected, then Plane cannot be selected in the Orientation group.

      • 3D—the size of labels varies depending on the viewing distance, although when viewed at an excessively long distance, their display is turned off. If 3D is selected, then either Screen or Plane can be selected in the Orientation group.

    • Font—specify the font style using the accompanying dropdown list.

    • Size— specify the size of font using the spin buttons.

    • Alignment—allows you to justify multiple rows of text to the left, right or centre.

  6. Click Apply or OK to update all 3D views displaying the target overlay.

To configure the position of your label:

Block model labels can be positioned with the following options:

  • Blocks—adds a label for each block. This is the only available option and is selected by default.

  • Group by—if selected, then labels are displayed by any groups of blocks that have the same value for the column selected in the accompanying dropdown list. The labels are positioned at the centre of the groups.

  • Offset—allows you to set the position of the label relative to the block. By default, the label is positioned at the centre of the block. The block is represented by the central black box in the grid, and the position of the label is set by clicking the required button.

    For example, the setting shown below results in the label being positioned above, and to the right of the block.

  • Horizontal and Vertical—enter a distance to offset the label (in the direction shown above).

  • Click Apply or OK to update all 3D views displaying the target overlay.

To orient your label:

    1. Define the Orientation of your label:

      • Screen—labels are shown in the plane of the screen, according to the specified rotation angle. This option is available for both 2D and 3D labels.

      • Plane—labels are orientated in a specified plane, either defined with an absolute Azimuth and Dip, aligned with an existing 3D Section or aligned with the current Intersection / Quick Section.

        Note: this option may cause labels to appear back-to-front or upside-down, depending on the viewing angle.

    2. Set the Rotation of your label. Labels are rotated around their center, within a range of  -360 to 360 degrees and this transformed in addition to any other orientation settings (consider the rotation applied 'after' the orientation). This option is available for both 2D and 3D labels.

      If using a Plane orientation (see above), you can also force labels to show as upright (in relation to the screen). Checking Keep upright forces the label to be drawn in the positive Z direction when looking at the label from above. Labels may still appear upside-down, however, depending on the viewing angle.

    3. Click Apply or OK to update all 3D views displaying the target overlay.

To define the colour of your label:

Set the Color options:

  • Use  a Fixed colour—use the same colour to render your chosen item. Note that this colour will also be used to colour data that cannot be matched to a legend interval when the Legend option is chosen (see below).

  • Use a Legend to determine colour values. Select a legend from the list and the data Column to which the legend applies.

    The standard legend tool cluster contains the following options:

    Preview the currently selected legend intervals and display properties

    Edit the currently selected legend using the Legend Manager.

    Select a default legend for the selected data column if one already exists, or if no default legend is available, the Create New Legend wizard will appear to let you create a new legend.

  • You can also specify attribute columns containing an RGB colour index value:

    RGB: if your data object contains attribute reflecting RGB colour information, select them here to colour your data using this in-object information. Only numeric fields will be available.

    Any colour depth is supported; define the Maximum Value for the colour attributes. For example:

    • 4-bit colour depth is described a Maximum Value of 15 (0-15 = 16 per colour channel)

    • 8-bit colour depth is described using a Maximum Value of 255 (0-255 = 256 per colour channel)

    • 12-bit colour depth is described using a Maximum Value of 4095 (0-4095 = 4096 per colour channel)

    • 16-bit colour depth is described using  a Maximum Value of 65535 (0-65535 = 65536 per colour channel)

    • 24-bit colour depth is described using  a Maximum Value of 16,777,215 (0-16,777,215 = 16,777,216 per colour channel)

To define general label options:

  1. Set your general label Options:

    • Always on top—set this option to prevent labels being obscured by the displayed data. This is particularly useful when labeling 3D data which may make it difficult to see labels due to their shape.

    • Group thousands—if labels contain long numbers, selecting this option makes them more readable by separating each group of three digits with a comma.

    • Hide absent values—if selected, then the '-' character (used to denote absent data values) is hidden.

  2. Click Apply or OK to update all 3D views displaying the target overlay.

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