- Enable the Maplex Label Engine.
- Click the Label Manager button on the Labeling toolbar.
- Check the box next to the layer you want to label.
- Choose a label class under the layer.
- Click the Properties button.
- Click the Fitting Strategy tab.
- Check Abbreviate Label.
- Click Options.
- Check the May truncate label check box.
- Optionally, specify values for Minimum word length, Marker character (to end the truncated label), or Characters to remove first.
- Click OK to close all dialog boxes.
Although the steps are the same, the dialog boxes for point, line, and polygon layers differ.