Clicking the Placement button opens the Placement properties dialog box where the following properties can be configured: location, orientation, duplicates, etc. The options available in this dialog box will depend on the geometry of the layer in question (point, line or polygon):

Point layer

Placement properties for a point layer

If the layer is a point layer, the following options can be configured:

• Point settings

This options allows the user to place the labels on top of the points, or else to offset them around the points.

In the latter case, the label position can be selected from pre-defined placement configurations, which are accessed by clicking the Change location button. This opens the Placement priorities selector from where existing placement styles can be selected. It is also possible to modify a placement style by highlighting it and clicking the Properties button:

Label priority placement around a point feature

By using the tools on the right and applying them to the location grid on the left it is possible to set the label position priority relative to the point:

1 = High precedence

2 = Normal precedence

3 = Low precedence

0 = Prohibited

• Duplicate labels

Here it is possible to choose between 'Remove duplicate labels' (eliminate any duplicate labels and only draw one label per feature), 'Place one label per feature', and 'Place one label per feature part' (in the case of multipoint features).

Line layer

For line layers the following options are available:

Placement properties for a line layer

• Orientation

The label can be oriented horizontally, parallel or perpendicular to the line, or can be set to follow the line.

• Position

The label can be placed above, on or below the line.

• Location

Place the label at the beginning, middle or end of the line, or at the best position.

• Duplicate labels

The options here are the same as for point layers (described above).

Polygon layer

If the layer is a polygon layer, the Placement properties dialog box provides the following options:

Placement properties for a polygon layer

• Polygon settings

Labels can be set to be always horizontal, or else to follow the orientation of the polygons (always straight). There is also an option for fitting the labels inside the polygons. This last option is used to ensure that labels are placed inside polygons even if they have islands, or are U-shaped.

• Duplicate labels

These options are the same as for point and line layers.

Multigeometry layers

In the case of multigeometry layers (dwg, dxf, gml...) the Placement properties dialog box contains a tab for each of the three geometries (points, lines, polygons). These tabs are identical to those shown above.