QGIS labelling dramas Episode 4. Zooming in/out makes labels disappear.

[Andrew james]

Hi everyone, 

We have critical information in our labels and they disappear in print layout space. 

For example: A3 page. labels appear and disappear depending on the screen GUI zoom level. One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears. 

One must get the view rigtht and then print a PDF without touching the mouse wheel. This is absurdly inconvenient. 

Noting as a major QGIS usability issue. 

Thank you, 

Andrew

[Andrew Jeffrey]

Hi Andrew,

Regarding the "One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears" in the layout. There is the ability to lock layout items, which might help avoid the unintentional changing of scales which affects your output.

As for labels appearing/disappearing at different scales. Labels and their rendering are affected by scale e.g the perfect placement at 1:10,000 might not work at 1:25,000 and vice versa. Having a scenario where you have all labels, shown all the time, at all scales always in the ideal placement I don't think is done well in any application. 

Speaking from personal experience where I have scenarios where a label must be shown and I need control of the placement. I do the following.

Force labels to "Always Show".

Then override the placement with this tool.

Even with these options, the labels are only suitable for the scale of the map which I have modified the labels for. They may work okay slightly either side of that scale, but it's the only way that "I know" for managing label placement and forcing visibility.

Hope this helps ease the frustration somewhat.

Andrew 

[Andrew James]

Hi Andrew 

My map item in print layout is locked already. I tried.

Thanks for the other tips, that's great. I'll have a look tomorrow at work.

Got most working now tweaking the settings and changing text size. 

Still crazy how that could happen

Andrew

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[box...@iinet.net.au]

Hi Andrew,

 

Have you tried setting and locking the scale in your main map canvas, then arrange labels, then open your print layout?

 

Does that work?

 

Cheers Grant

 

 

From: australian-qg...@googlegroups.com <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Andrew James
Sent: Monday, 6 October 2025 4:36 PM
To: australian-qg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [QGIS-Australia-User-Group] Re: QGIS labelling dramas Episode 4. Zooming in/out makes labels disappear.

 

Hi Andrew 

My map item in print layout is locked already. I tried.

 

Thanks for the other tips, that's great. I'll have a look tomorrow at work.

 

Got most working now tweaking the settings and changing text size. 

 

Still crazy how that could happen

 

Andrew

 

 

On Mon, 6 Oct 2025, 6:16 pm Andrew Jeffrey, <aljef...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Andrew,

 

Regarding the "One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears" in the layout. There is the ability to lock layout items, which might help avoid the unintentional changing of scales which affects your output.

 

 

 

As for labels appearing/disappearing at different scales. Labels and their rendering are affected by scale e.g the perfect placement at 1:10,000 might not work at 1:25,000 and vice versa. Having a scenario where you have all labels, shown all the time, at all scales always in the ideal placement I don't think is done well in any application. 

 

Speaking from personal experience where I have scenarios where a label must be shown and I need control of the placement. I do the following.

 

Force labels to "Always Show".

 

 

Then override the placement with this tool.

 

 

Even with these options, the labels are only suitable for the scale of the map which I have modified the labels for. They may work okay slightly either side of that scale, but it's the only way that "I know" for managing label placement and forcing visibility.

 

Hope this helps ease the frustration somewhat.

 

Andrew 

 

 

On Monday, 6 October 2025 at 16:14:01 UTC+11 andrewfra...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi everyone, 

 

We have critical information in our labels and they disappear in print layout space. 

 

For example: A3 page. labels appear and disappear depending on the screen GUI zoom level. One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears. 

 

One must get the view rigtht and then print a PDF without touching the mouse wheel. This is absurdly inconvenient. 

 

Noting as a major QGIS usability issue. 

 

Thank you, 

 

Andrew

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[Colin Mazengarb]

I can endorse the two opinions provided. While not perfect, the key is deciding the output scale of the print layout and locking it (I use the scale data defined override setting personally), then locking the canvas scale to be the same (lock button next to the scale display). From then on I use the same method by showing all labels and manually shifting those that overlap. Should get you almost there! Minor manual adjustments may be required after checking the Print Layout.

Hope this helps.

Colin

Sent from my iPad

On 6 Oct 2025, at 10:40 am, boxerg via QGIS Australia User Group <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



Hi Andrew,

 

Have you tried setting and locking the scale in your main map canvas, then arrange labels, then open your print layout?

 

Does that work?

 

Cheers Grant

 

 

From: australian-qg...@googlegroups.com <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Andrew James
Sent: Monday, 6 October 2025 4:36 PM
To: australian-qg...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [QGIS-Australia-User-Group] Re: QGIS labelling dramas Episode 4. Zooming in/out makes labels disappear.

 

Hi Andrew 

My map item in print layout is locked already. I tried.

 

Thanks for the other tips, that's great. I'll have a look tomorrow at work.

 

Got most working now tweaking the settings and changing text size. 

 

Still crazy how that could happen

 

Andrew

 

 

On Mon, 6 Oct 2025, 6:16 pm Andrew Jeffrey, <aljef...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Andrew,

 

Regarding the "One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears" in the layout. There is the ability to lock layout items, which might help avoid the unintentional changing of scales which affects your output.

 

 

 

As for labels appearing/disappearing at different scales. Labels and their rendering are affected by scale e.g the perfect placement at 1:10,000 might not work at 1:25,000 and vice versa. Having a scenario where you have all labels, shown all the time, at all scales always in the ideal placement I don't think is done well in any application. 

 

Speaking from personal experience where I have scenarios where a label must be shown and I need control of the placement. I do the following.

 

Force labels to "Always Show".

 

 

Then override the placement with this tool.

 

 

Even with these options, the labels are only suitable for the scale of the map which I have modified the labels for. They may work okay slightly either side of that scale, but it's the only way that "I know" for managing label placement and forcing visibility.

 

Hope this helps ease the frustration somewhat.

 

Andrew 

 

 

On Monday, 6 October 2025 at 16:14:01 UTC+11 andrewfra...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi everyone, 

 

We have critical information in our labels and they disappear in print layout space. 

 

For example: A3 page. labels appear and disappear depending on the screen GUI zoom level. One zoom level / mouse notch and a label disappears. 

 

One must get the view rigtht and then print a PDF without touching the mouse wheel. This is absurdly inconvenient. 

 

Noting as a major QGIS usability issue. 

 

Thank you, 

 

Andrew

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