You can only add overlay graphics to an overlay file that is selected as the Foreground Overlay.
For more information, see Selecting Foreground & Background Overlays.
✎ Adding Text
1. Open the Add Text Tool
From the menu: Add → Text
Or click the Text speed button on the toolbar.
2. Stages of Adding Text
Adding text involves three stages:
Set the text attributes – Text content, fonts, styles, height, alignment, halo options.
Position the text – Horizontally or rotated, with anchor point selection.
Enter attribute data – On the overlay form after placing the text.
🎨 Stage 1 – Text Attributes
When you start adding text, the Set Text Attributes dialog appears.
Text Content & Styles
Enter the required text string.
Select fonts, styles, and colours in the normal way.
Note: If the text comes from a data source layer:
You may enter or edit the text content.
You cannot change default attribute styles — these controls will be disabled.
If you click on a non-text geometry when trying to edit text, the message will appear:
"No text features found to edit".
📏 Height & Alignment
Units: Pixels, Points, or Real-world units (metres).
Metres keep text size consistent with map scale.
Alignment: Choose left, centre, or right within the text frame.
Line spacing: Adjust as required. For multi-line text, manually insert carriage returns.
If multi-line text is rotated, the entire geometry is rotated as a single block.
⚙️ Make Session Default
Stores the current attributes for graphic text as the default for the overlay until you exit the add function.
💾 Save Settings
Saves the new settings into the overlay’s detail record in the Overlay Table.
Changes will take effect after restarting GGP (other scripts may still be open).
🔒 "No Text" Box
The No Text checkbox is disabled in this process — you cannot use Edit Attributes to switch text symbolizers on or off.
📍 Stage 2 – Text Position
Horizontal Text
Left-click to create a horizontal text box attached to your mouse cursor.
Move it to the correct position.
Left-click again to digitise the text on the map.
Rotated Text
Right-click anywhere to choose orientation:
Visual rotation – Drag a line representing the desired angle.
Exact angle – Enter a specific numeric value.
Left-click to confirm the rotation.
The floating text box appears — move it to your desired location.
Left-click again to place it.
Tip: GGP’s status bar displays the angle of the line while selecting.
Until you left-click to place text, you can right-click again to return to the attributes dialog and make changes.
🎯 Anchor Point
Default anchor: Bottom-left corner (South West) of the text box.
Can be changed to centre, top, or other positions using the anchor point buttons.
The Preview pane shows anchor position relative to the text.
This setting changes where the box is positioned from, not the text alignment itself.
💡 Halo Effects
Halo boxes make text more visible:
Halo – Mirrors the text shape.
Rectangle – Can obscure the background map for maximum readability.
Box size – Adjustable in the same units as the text.
Border – Optional, with adjustable width for added prominence.
Height – Defines space above and below text limits.
Example: Text height = 6m, Halo height = 2m → box extends 2m beyond text in all directions.
Halos and boxes rotate with text if rotation is applied.
🗂️ Stage 3 – Overlay Data
After placing text:
Save – Click the Save button to store graphics, then complete the overlay form.
Clear – Click to discard without saving.
✏️ Editing an Existing Piece of Text
Select the overlay containing the text to the Foreground.
Use Edit → Foreground Overlay or click the Edit Attributes speed button.
You can amend text content or other attributes — but not the location or rotation.
To relocate or rotate text, use Edit Graphics.
⚠️ Data Source Layer Restriction
If text is from a data source layer:
You can amend the text content.
You cannot change attribute styles — these will be disabled.
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