Template:OSM Location map/ArcText
Text on an arc
ArcText is a facility to place text on an arc within {{OSM Location map}}.
As of 2025, there are now two alternative ways of adding the parameter data. The 'traditional' version has upto 8 named parameters, to set all the variables needed. It is also possible to use the 'Concise' format, rolling exactly the same set of data into a single comma-separated parameter. In this case the order of the values is crucial to assigning the right values. To help with the order, it is useful to have a comment line naming the correct order, as well as the arc parameter itself, hence the addition of the handy comment line in the concise format examples below.
Note. when using the concise format, if the text is to include commas or quote marks, the whole text should be enclosed in double-quotes.eg | arcA="'little' Mountain, east",etc...
| How to use arc-text, with starter-examples for different arc-patterns. |
|---|
| Below are some 'starter values' for different patters, but having selected your basic version, trial and correction will still be needed to get the shape and effect desired. As a general rule, identify the coordinates of the required start-point, then choose a starter-pattern from the selection below, and then adjust parameters to fit the requirement of the map. Paste the settings that are nearest to your needs into the template code, and adjust as required.
The sets of ArcText parameters are distinguished by a final capital letter, and any of the 26 capitals, A to Z can be used. (nb, it is unwise but possible to mix the two forms of parameters, but the same letter cannot be used on two different arcs, even if using different formats). The text can notionally be of any length, and will continue arc-ing untill all the letters are printed. |
Shallow smile:
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = -170
| arc-gapA = -1.1
| arc-radiusA = 1.6
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,,,-170,-1.1,1.6
|
Deeper smile:
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = -150
| arc-gapA = -3.5
| arc-radiusA = 0.4
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,-150,-3.5,0.4
|
wide eyebrow:
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = -20
| arc-gapA = 3
| arc-radiusA = 0.8
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,-20,3,0.8
|
opening bracket (reading up):
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = -110
| arc-gapA = 1.5
| arc-radiusA = 0.6
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,-110,1.5,0.6
|
opening bracket (reading down):
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = -60
| arc-gapA = -2
| arc-radiusA = 0.5
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,-60,-2,0.5
|
closing bracket (reading up):
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = 120
| arc-gapA = -1.5
| arc-radiusA = 0.8
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,120,-1.5,0.8
|
closing bracket (reading down):
| arc-coordA = {{coord| | }}
| arc-textA =
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- default is 12 -->
|arc-text-colorA = <!-- default is grey-->
| arc-angleA = 60
| arc-gapA = 2.5
| arc-radiusA = 0.4
or
<!--text, lat,lon,size,color,angle,gap,radius [,ellipse-factor]-->
| arcA = yourtext,lat,lon,12,grey,60,2.5,0.4
|
| Blank starter-code for text on an arcs, with starter-examples for different arc-patterns. |
| arc-coordA={{coord|xxx|yyyy}} <!-- coordinates of first letter -->
| arc-textA= <!-- Add your text here -->
| arc-angleA= <!-- in degrees, -180 to 180. 0 will start as horizontal, -90 straight up, 90 straight down -->
| arc-gapA= <!-- 1= a notional 'standard'. 0.2 is very tight, 10 is very wide-->
| <!-- negative gap will invert the letters and run the other way around the circle -->
| arc-radiusA= <!-- 1= a notional 'standard' 0.5 is quite a tight circle, 8 is so wide as to be almost flat -->
| arc-text-sizeA = <!-- standard font sizes. If undefined, default is 12 -->
| arc-text-colorA= <!-- sets text color. #000000 color hexes and standardised OSM Location map colors are accepted -->
| ellipse-factorA=1.0 <!-- 1= notionally circular, 0.5 to 1.0 will flattern top and bottom, above 1.0 flattens the sides -->
|
| This template now works independently of the zoom and latitude values being used. Unlike the original version of this template, which had some variation in an arc at different latitudes and at different zoom levels. The program will produce the same arc, gap size etc, regardless of location and zoom level. Change in radius continues to have an effect on the gap size, with a larger radius opening out the gap somewhat, due to the way the arc and spacing are calculated. |
This sub-template is used by {{OSM Location map}} to provide a facility to place text that follows an arc across the map. In conjection with other labels, markers and map features, this allows text for larger geographic features to convey a sense of a broader area, or to follow the curve of a river, mountain range, coastline, etc. This works entirely separately from the other labels in the template. It does not attach itself to any mark or dot, and does not create any fullscreen markers. It requires coordinates for the location of the first letter, and additional parameters for the starting angle, radius of arc and gap between letters. Text size and color can also be specified, or inherited from Default settings (grey text at size 12).