Labeling features

Once your map layers are styled, the next step to creating a complete map is labeling features. We'll explore the basics of labeling in this recipe.

Getting ready

Download the following zipped shapefile from https://geospatialpython.googlecode.com/files/MSCities_Geo_Pts.zip.

Extract the shapefile to a directory named ms in your qgis_data shapefile.

How to do it...

We will load the point shapefile layer, create a label object, set its properties, apply it to the layer, and then add the layer to the map. To do this, we need to perform the following steps:

1. First, to save space, we'll specify the path to the shapefile:

   src = "/Users/joellawhead/qgis_data/ms/MSCities_Geo_Pts.shp"
   

2. Next, we'll load the layer:

   lyr = QgsVectorLayer(src, "Museums", "ogr")
   

3. Then, we'll create the labeling object:

   label = QgsPalLayerSettings()
   

4. Now, we'll configure the labels, starting with the current layer settings being read:

   label.readFromLayer(lyr)
   label.enabled = True
   

5. Then, we specify the attribute for the...